A lot of the calls I get lately are from people who aren’t here yet. Melbourne, regional Victoria, New South Wales. They’ve seen the place online, maybe done a video walkthrough with the agent, and now they’ve got a contract with a building and pest clause and a few days to get it done.
If that’s you, here’s how it works when you’re buying from a long way off.
You're relying on my eyes, so pick someone you can actually talk to
When you can’t walk through the house yourself, the inspection is the closest you’ll get to standing in it. That’s why it matters who does it and whether you can get them on the phone afterwards.
I do every inspection myself. I’m QBCC licensed, I’ve been in the building industry for over 40 years, and I’ve done over 4,000 inspections across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie. When you book, you get me, and you can ring me about what I found.
Booking from interstate
You can book online or give me a call on 0469 904 139. When you book, I’ll ask who the agent is, and I’ll sort access to the property with them directly. You don’t need to coordinate anything from the other end of the country.
What happens on the day
I go through the house the same way whether you’re standing next to me or sitting in an office in Melbourne. Outside first, then the roof space, the subfloor where there’s access, inside room by room, and the timber pest side of things. A moisture meter comes on every inspection, and the thermal camera comes out where the property calls for it.
If you can’t be there, I’ll give you a call when I’m done and talk you through what I found. That’s usually the most useful ten minutes of the whole process, because you can ask questions while it’s fresh.
The report is written for people who weren't there
Your written report comes within 24 hours, and most go out the same day. It uses a red and green system:
- Red flags what needs attention.
- Green confirms what’s in good shape.
It’s written in plain English so you, your solicitor, your partner back home and your agent can all read it without ringing me to translate. Since I moved to this format, far fewer people need to call back to ask what something means.
Things interstate buyers often ask me
Is Queensland different from what I'm used to?
In some ways, yes. Up here it’s the humidity, the salt air if you’re close to the coast, and a lot of timber and lightweight construction. A house that would be fine in Melbourne can wear differently here. I know what the local conditions do to a house, so I know where to look.
How long does it take to get the report back?
Within 24 hours of the inspection, and most go out the same day. If you’ve got a tight finance or building and pest deadline, tell me when you book.
What does it cost?
Building and pest starts at $479 for a unit, and a standard three or four bedroom house is $599. The full price list is here, and I’ll confirm the exact price before you book.
I'm buying a new build in Aura. Is that different?
It is. For a new home you want a handover inspection before you take the keys. I’ve written a separate page on handover inspections in Caloundra and across the Sunshine Coast.
What the inspection covers, and what it doesn't
The inspection covers the house: the structure, the inside and outside, the roof space and subfloor where I can safely get to them, and timber pests. A few things sit outside it. If the property has a pontoon, jetty or canal wall, that’s a job for a marine or structural engineer, and I’ll tell you so. Pools aren’t part of my inspection either. In a unit, I inspect the unit itself and the parts of the building I can reasonably get to. Common property and body corporate matters are a separate question for the body corporate. The full detail is on my scope and limitations page.
The short version
Buying from interstate means trusting someone else’s eyes. Pick an inspector you can talk to, get the report fast, and make sure it’s written so you can actually use it.
If you’re buying on the Sunshine Coast or in Gympie from interstate, book online or ring me on 0469 904 139.
Waza