Just imagine you’re planning to buy a property or have got a new property to call home and even have thrown a housewarming party to show off your new place. However, soon after the walls have started to crack, there’s water leakage in pipes that you might have missed in the initial walk-through. This is when you need a building inspection that can help save time, money and future expenses.
A building inspection is an important thing to consider. Like monthly maintenance, it is needed to maintain and improve areas that are damaged. Not just homes but even commercial properties require a building inspection to ensure the safety of the property and the employees. It’s the first step to identify problems and solve them further. If the damages are severe, necessary steps are taken. Let’s first understand what building inspection is, its benefits, and why it is needed.
Building Inspection
The inspection is performed by the building inspector, who is a certified person, to inspect the property or building for damages and make a final decision about the property. The inspector is usually appointed by the government to monitor areas of the city or town.
Benefits of a Building Inspection
The benefits of a building inspection include:
- Identify Problems- The main agenda of a building inspection is to identify problems, such as cracks, leakage, or electrical problems, which can cause expensive damage to the building or property. Identifying these problems earlier can help fix them before they reach a stage where identifying won’t be a solution; rather they have to be demolished.
- Save Money- A building inspection can save money in the long run by solving or fixing a problem that needs attention right now rather than addressing them later before they turn into a significant problem that requires more resources and money to fix.
- Get Peace of Mind- When you know that the building inspection is already done, you will be at peace of mind, knowing that the property is in good condition and won’t cause any trouble in the future.
- Maintain Value- If the property is well maintained and taken care of, its future value or price may increase with changing times, giving you the power to negotiate for a better price.
- Legal Protection- If you’re planning to sell the property, getting a building inspection done will save you from legal disputes. If there’s any unidentifiable issue that a buyer finds later, he may sue you for compensation. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to get a building inspection done.
How to Choose a Qualified Building inspector?
Here’s how you can choose a qualified building inspector:
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Experience and Certification
When choosing a building inspector, it’s best to have a thorough check on their experience and certification. A legitimate and experienced professional will have all the certifications and a licence to prove that he’s good at work and can safely conduct an inspection in your building.
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Reviews
Reviews are a way to analyse past work and check if the building inspector has a good reputation and testimonials to prove his work. Check online reviews from past clients, hire a professional from a reputable company or ask a friend to recommend one.
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Good Communication
A building inspector should be able to communicate easily about all the problems with the property, and how they can be fixed. He should be able to effectively communicate all his findings in clear and simple language.
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Sample Report
To understand the inspector’s work better, you can ask him to provide a sample report that describes what problems he will cover and solutions to them in an easily understandable language.
Why Is Building Inspection Required for the Building Owner and the Buyer?
For a building owner:
Buying a property is nothing but a future investment and to maintain its value, it’s important to be aware of any damages that require fixes. Another thing to consider is the safety of people living in.
For a buyer:
It’s important to be aware of whether the building’s inspection has been done or not because if you are looking for building insurance you will first have to get the building inspection done. The insurance company will not invest in a property that’s already damaged. The report can help you quote a better price or you can ask the property owner to get them fixed.
On the other hand, the inspection report can help keep safety on priority by identifying issues related to faulty wiring, unsafe staircase or water leakage.
Overall, a building inspection is for everyone – the seller, the buyer and the neighbours because safety is a major concern here followed by other things like property value, money and legal issues down the road. It’s the first step in property maintenance and improvement that should not be overlooked.
As a responsible property owner, it’s good to have a building inspection done to improve safety, functionality and longevity. So, if you’re planning to renovate or repair your house, use a construction cost estimator to check the amount spent on damages and fix your budget.