Building a new home is one of the most exciting steps in anyone’s life. However, it is also one of the most nerve-racking. There are a million little things to take care of and it’s natural to start second-guessing yourself. How do you know that everything you’ve poured your hard-earned money into is up to scratch?
Building inspections are a means of allowing a third party to check your build throughout various stages of the project to ensure everything is up to code. This will be someone independent of your builder or real estate agents. Sounds useful, but how much does a building inspection cost? That’s exactly what we’re inspecting in this article. We’ll be looking at building inspection costs, how they work and why they’re an important part of the building process.
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Why building inspections are essential for new builds?
Whether you’re purchasing a property with an existing house or building a home from scratch, it’s important to know that everything is up to code. A lot of money is on the line and it would be devastating to later discover you’ve ended up with a lemon.
A pre-purchase building inspection occurs when you’re buying a pre-existing house. They’ll look for signs of illegal additions, structural damage, fire hazards and rusting frameworks among other issues. A building inspection is an important part of buying a property as it offers an opportunity for professionals to check for defects and offer a value of the home. The results of the report will help you determine if you’re making the right decision before you buy a property.
A building inspection for a new home involves numerous inspections throughout the building process. Remember, a building inspection won’t check if your contract is being met, only whether you’re building is meets legal requirements.
What are the key factors that impact the building inspection costs?
There isn’t a flat rate when it comes to building inspections and a lot of factors will determine how much you’ll end up paying in the end. Here are the main variants that will affect how much your final bill will be.
Size of the home
The property size and complexity of the home being inspected is going to play a big role in the cost of a building inspection. Prices will vary depending from property to property but expect to pay around $200-$300 for a smaller house, $400-$500 for a larger home. For metropolitan areas, prices can get as high as $1,200 per inspection. Any extras like pest inspections will add to your price and will also increase with the size of the house.
Number of inspections
When building a home, you’ll likely require multiple inspections over time. The number of inspections you decide to have will influence your final costs. As most home builds need at least a few inspections throughout the process, expect to be paying in the thousands for your total cost.
Location
Usually, houses in a regional area cost less to inspect than those in a metropolitan area. Different suburbs and cities will also have different average prices for inspections.
Inspection experience and reputation
Like any industry, hiring an experienced building inspector with a good reputation will cost you more than hiring someone who’s new or has a spotty record. Ideally, you’ll be able to find someone who has a good reputation but isn’t taking advantage of this by asking for a ridiculous price.
While it may be tempting to cut corners and hire the cheapest option, be sure to make sure they’re still a reliable option. We love a bargain as much as the next person, but it’s important to know that it won’t come at a price!
Scope of inspection
Inspections come in different shapes and sizes, and therefore, the scope of your inspection will be influential in your final price.
When looking for potential building inspectors, find out what exactly their inspection will cover. The last thing you want is to think you’re saving money only to discover you aren’t getting a thorough inspection.
Typical inspection costs in QLD
Stage inspections
During construction, you’ll need a number of inspections to ensure everything is going to plan. It’s also because checking things like the frame is a lot easier to do when it is still fully exposed.
Below is a rough idea of how much each stage will cost you.
Pre-slab inspection cost: $400-500
Frame stage: $400-500
Lock-up stage: $400-500
Each stage will come with its own building inspection report that will outline the property’s condition and outline any structural issues.
For a pre-purchase building inspection, the inspection will cost anywhere between $250 for a small apartment to 800 for a duplex.
Handover inspections
The handover inspection is the final inspection before you receive the keys and you get to live in your new home. These are usually more detailed than previous stages because a) there’s more to examine, and b) this is the final chance to find any issues. This does mean, however, that the handover stage tends to be slightly more expensive. On average in QLD, the handover inspection will cost between $400-$1,200, depending on a variety of factors.
It’s not unusual to find issues that need fixing or correcting so don’t panic if this happens during your handover inspection. Your builder needs to correct these problems in due course.
What are the different inspection types for new builds?
When building a new home, there are a few mandatory inspections you’ll need to undertake to ensure your home is for any new home build which include:
- Excavation Stage: This occurs after the excavation occurs but before any material has been laid.
- Footings: If your building requires footings, they’ll need to be inspected to ensure safety and stability.
- Slab: This is the main foundation of your home.
- Frame: The framing stage is when your house really begins to take shape.
- Final: This is also known as the handover stage. This is the final inspection, where everything will be checked and any repairs that need to be made will be reported.
What should you expect during a building inspection?
Once your arrange an inspection, you’ll no doubt be curious as to how exactly the process works. A licensed building inspector will visit your site and inspect your building. They’ll check every is up to code and look for signs of defects. Some things they’ll inspect include:
- Significant defects in building’s structure
- Walls ceilings and floors
- Fixtures and features.
- Electrical systems
- Structural integrity
Once the inspection is complete, you and your builder will receive a comprehensive property inspection report outlining the inspector’s findings and any flaws that need to be rectified.
Our cost saving tips for home building inspections
- Talk to a few different building inspectors and get quotes from each. This allows you to get an idea of what’s available on the market.
- Be sure you’re hiring a qualified building inspector and understand your building inspection covers everything it needs to.
Buildi is here to help with your next home build
A building inspection provides peace of mind when buying a house or building a new home. However, they only check whether your building is safe and meets legal requirements. If you want to ensure everything in your contract is being met and you’re getting what you agreed to, Buildi can help you!
Buildi is also here to help you reduce stress throughout your building journey. For further information about how we can save you time and money, get in touch with us today!
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