Should You Engage a Building Inspector When You Build a House?

The importance of a building inspection when you build a house is often something that many people overlook. However, it is vital, for many reasons, that you invest in an independent building inspection during multiple stages of your build as well as before the keys are handed over. The overall reason that you should engage a building inspector is to make sure your house is safe for your family. That means it meets the Australian Building Code and best practices. There is nothing more important than the well-being and safety of your family, right? But there are many additional reasons that could save you money and the stress associated with defects to your new home. We must stress that our member builders all have certification and experience building homes, but robots aren’t building your home (yet) so there is always the chance of human error. When you build a house it is not a cheap process, it will be one of the biggest financial commitments you make. Therefore, it is well worth engaging a quality and independent inspector to give you the peace of mind that everything is to the highest standard.

7 Reasons Why You Need a Building Inspection When You Build a House

Naturally, the main reason to get a building inspection is to pick up on any defects to the home that you or the builder might have missed. Building inspectors are thorough and will look at things that you might not have even considered. They should do this at all 5 stages of the build.

1. Building inspectors will keep track of whether your builder is sticking to the building codes. This will guarantee that builders have built your home in compliance with all the builder codes and regulations.
2. Although many builders have their own building inspectors, hiring your own independent inspector means that you have someone who is solely working on your behalf. They become your eyes and ears throughout the process, providing you comfort in the integrity of your new home build.
3. Cohesion is important when building a home. With so many different components in a new home, from plasters to kitchens, flooring, and painters, having someone who can survey the work with a compressive understanding of the entire process is a huge benefit. Contractors will come and go throughout the building process, but having an independent inspector means someone is looking at the whole project for you holistically and continuously.
4. Building inspectors are generally retired builders who are off the tools with many years of experience behind them. This is a huge benefit for you! Having worked in the building industry for years, they know what to look out for and where some of the potential shortcuts may creep in, sometimes not even intentionally.
5. If you hire a Jim’s Building Inspector then you have the added bonus of receiving a report and photos after they have surveyed the building site at each stage of the process. You will get this before you are required to pay each progress payment, giving the builder incentive to fix any issues before you pay. Not only that but Jim’s Building Inspection also guarantee their work, so if they overlook something they should have picked up they will come back and fix it themselves at their cost.
6. Although a building inspection is an additional cost, it could really save you money down the track if they pick something up that you might have missed. The builder will have to fix it before they can finish the house, so you won’t have to deal with it later on.

It must also be noted that the cheapest inspector will most likely not be the best. You pay for what you get for, and ultimately it’s up to you how important a building inspection is for you. Building inspectors should be fully qualified and up to date with Australian building codes and best practices. They should also have insurance and can be liable for defects and errors which are overlooked. Investing a little bit more when you build a house into a building inspection is a great way to reduce the stress and protect your family for the long term! If you're an existing RACV member, you're also entitled to discounts on building inspectors in Australia.

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