Purchasing a new property in a new upcoming suburb can be very exciting. However, there is an enormous amount of decisions to be made with tile selections, colours, landscaping and so on. The one thing most Perth first home buyers forget, especially with new properties under construction – is a building inspection.
One of the most amazing feelings in the world is to buy your new home, for most it is the start of a new chapter in their lives with their partners and planning for the future. With the cost of living and affordability of housing, a building inspection in Perth is often missed. Most will save every dollar they have for a deposit, leaving little left for anything else and often overstretching themselves to get the purchase over the line.
Why is a building inspector so important for Perth first home buyers?
We do not believe any builder sets out to construct a property for their clients incorrectly. In fact, most set out to build amazing homes with no to little issues.
What most people do not know, especially first home buyers, is when you purchase a new property, you enter a new phase where you no longer have detailed discussions with your salesman you have spent so much time with. You now have in length conversations with the construction team.
The building company may very well be a licensed builder, but the actual people building and supervising your home for the most part may not.
As we highlighted before, no builder sets out to build a poor home for their client. However, like in any business in the world, you have employees who have different skill levels. Some are fantastic at what they do and a credit to their company and some are really poor at what they do. Some will come to work fit and healthy and in complete control of your project, where some will be ill, going through breakups or looking to move on and may not be able to give your new home their full attention. I’m sure we have all known someone at work like that!
Builders want a smooth process, a well-built home and a happy customer, workmanship issue eats into their profit and upsets their valued customer. When things go wrong, the exciting glow of your new home starts to become stressful.
Can I do building inspection myself?
Well yes and no. Most homeowners will walk around the property when signing for their new home and spot things that aren’t quite right, such as doors not closing properly, poor painting, loose towel rails etc. All this is normal and happens on every home handover.
What most new homeowners do not do is look inside the roof space and ensure the roof structure is built correctly and to code, the extractor fans are connected to the ducting, the ceilings are back blocked and so on.
What can I do if I am on a tight budget?
Most building inspectors in Perth can carry out a 5 stage inspection at differing points of construction. If money is tight when building your new home, we would recommend at least one inspection is carried out as a minimum, that inspection is called the Practical Completion Inspection (PCI). A PCI is quite unique in that not only does it cover a full inspection of your property, but a defect list will also be provided.
We recommend PCI inspections to be carried within a week prior to your hand over inspection with the building supervisor. After inspecting the property, if any defects are found they will be listed for you in a detailed report and you simply hand the report over to your building supervisor in the meeting.
Easy right? A small additional fee allows someone to look after your interests and take the stress out of a very exciting time. It also to give you piece of mind.
While inspections are very important, we have six other tips for first homeowners.
Knowing the new chapter in your life will get off to a great start is priceless. For more information on PCI, speak to SMART building specialists.
Related Articles:
Our Top Pick Homes for Every Lifestyle (WA Edition)
New Home Build Timeline: What You Need to Know
North vs South: Where to Build Your New Home in Perth
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SMART Building Specialists
SMART Building Specialists offer specialised Building Inspection Reports and Maintenance Services to the general public, real-estate and local councils within the Perth area.
1800 184 284
