Considering purchasing a property in McDowall? Building and Pest Inspection Brisbane have been serving home buyers in Greater Brisbane since 2010 with more than 5000 happy customers. We guarantee a comprehensive pre-purchase Building and Pest inspection report by a licenced builder in Brisbane within 3 business days at a very reasonable price. You can see from our reviews what Building and Pest Inspection Brisbane customers value most:
Read on to discover more about what we inspect, plus when and why you need OUR comprehensive pre-purchase Building and Pest Inspection report.
We guarantee a maximum of 3 business days turnaround from booking to receive your building and pest report.
Your comprehensive building and pest report with photos is emailed on the same day as your inspection.
We provide a no-nonsense breakdown of your report to ensure you understand what it found
Your Inspector is an experienced, fully insured and licensed building and pest inspector.
Very reasonable prices keep us constantly in demand with new customers and referrals.
Many of our customers are referred by buyer’s agents, mortgage brokers & conveyancers.
Our knowledgeable staff will go beyond your expectations to provide valuable advice on if the property is likely to contain asbestos, estimated cost of repairs and even builder’s advice if you’re thinking about doing some DIY renovations.
For most people when they purchase a property there are usually two experts on your side, your conveyancer and your Building and Pest Inspector. Conveyancers rely on our reports and refer clients to our inspection service because we’ve perfected it since 2010 to give you EVERYTHING you need, plus any extras you may wish for peace of mind, BEFORE you invariably buy a house.
For bookings, all we need is your first name, mobile & email, inspection address, agent name & number. We contact the agent to arrange access, then we email you the confirmation details.
Our Pest and Building Inspectors are skilled & fully insured Licenced Builders.
Our Building Inspection is a visual inspection of all accessible areas of the interior, roof void, sub-floor & exterior of the property to detect safety hazards, major defects, minor defects & general maintenance.
Our Pest Inspectors are qualified with full Professional Indemnity insurance.
We do a thorough visual inspection of all accessible areas including the interior, roof void, sub-floor, & exterior of the property for termites & termite damage using state of the art Termite Detection technology, including a moisture meter and a thermal tool to detect termite movement in the walls.
NOTE: Moisture is the cause of ALL termite problems. We apply our Moisture Meter extensively to identify leaks and dampness issues, commonly found in the wet areas.
We take time to explain our findings clearly and simply. Your inspector will speak directly with you after the inspection in person or by phone. You are welcome to call the inspector back after reading your reports.
We will discuss any MAJOR ISSUES with you to help you make any important decisions such as negotiating on price, asking for defects to be repaired or terminating the contract.
Our comprehensive Building & Pest Inspection report gives you the Peace of Mind and knowledge you need to complete, renegotiate, or terminate, this property purchase with confidence. One or more photos are included to highlight each defect.
MOISTURE is by far the Number 1 cause of COSTLY building defects and ALL termite problems. We apply our Moisture Meter extensively to identify defects relating to leaking and dampness issues, commonly found in the wet areas.
We conduct the electrical checks that we can by law, including turning on light switches to check for flickering; the condition of the meter box; plus the presence of smoke alarms and safety switches.
Our plumbing checks include flushing toilets to check function and drainage; plus the gutters and downpipes for rust, damage and blockages. We also turn on taps to check for hammering and poor drainage.
In the yard we note defects to boundary fences and gates, the clothesline, garden shed, paths, driveways and retaining walls. The yard is more often less well maintained with more major defects and safety hazards found.
On the roof exterior we check the condition of cladding, fascia/barge boards, flashings, gutters and downpipes, the soffit/eaves and valleys. Broken tiles, rust and water damage are noted. Fungal growth is a sign that water is pooling
Masonry walls are closely examined for defects such as bricks fretting, cracking, damp damage, differential damage, inadequate joint sealant, mortar eroding, blocked vents, visible flashings and weep hole ventilation.
In the exterior, we note the condition of paint, any damp damage or cladding defects; maintenance items for outdoor structures including decks, balconies, patios, verandahs or pergolas; plus defects and safety hazards relating to handrails, steps, stairs and ramps.
In the interior, all rooms are inspected for building defects to the ceiling, doors, floor, painting, walls and windows. We carefully check if the floors are levels, windows and doors function normally and other signs of movement relating to major structural defects.
In the laundry and kitchen, we also note visible defects to bench tops, doors, drawers and cabinets; sinks, splashbacks, taps and waste traps. The range hood fan is tested for function. Common defects include failed or inadequate waterproofing plus leaking taps and pipes.
Built elements that commonly have defects due to wear and tear in bathrooms include the vanity, basin, bath, mirror, shower, shower screen, splashbacks, taps, waste traps, toilet cistern and pan. Ventilation, and exhaust fan function, is noted.
In the roof space we identify any issues relating to coverage, framing, insulation, parti wall and sarking. We commonly find insufficient insulation, even in new homes. Even when there is sufficient insulation we try our best to enter the roof void to traverse all accessible areas.
For structural reasons, it is very important to check the condition of bearers, joists, piers or stumps; note any cracked or leaking pipes, dampness, ventilation or drainage issues. We recommend removal of debris or stored items that encourage termites and other pests including rodents!
Our pre purchase Pest Inspection investigates for signs of termite damage, live termites and conducive conditions that could lead to termite attack. We report on whether the property has a current termite management system and we advise what you can do to reduce the risk of termite attack to protect your valuable asset
Brisbane’s council can identify areas within the municipality where buildings are likely to be attacked by termites.
The Regulations require all new buildings, including alterations and extensions, built within designated termite-infested areas, to have management against termite attack.
So, if you are buying an established property in a Declared Termite Area, does this increase your risk of termite attack?
The short answer is no, because Building and Pest Inspection Brisbane have found termites in suburbs all over Brisbane. Yes, all of Brisbane is at risk of termite attack IF conducive conditions exist at your property.
Every property owner fears the news that they have a termite infestation on their property. Termites can affect the structural integrity of a home and cause long-term damage.
There are more than 300 species of termites in Australia, however the most common termite around McDowall is Coptotermes. This species of termite will look for food and travel more than 50 metres from their nest. They are drawn to moist timber.
You’ll find Coptotermes nests at the base of trees, but also in sub-floors or areas with inadequate drainage or poor ventilation.
Before an inspection, ensure the sub-floor, slab edges and weep holes are clear of obstructions. This will make it easier to identify possible termite infestation. Because termites can enter the property by travelling up stumps, external walls and over the slab edge into weep holes, all vegetation should also be removed for easy visual inspection.
At Building and Pest Inspection Brisbane we also use non-invasive methods to manage termites. These include our moisture meter and Termatrac with thermal radar. When our inspectors locate an area with high moisture content, they will apply the Termatrac to determine if there are termites present.
A Building and Pest clause should exist as a condition of a property purchase sale when you buy a home by private treaty. The Building and Pest clause allows you to get written reports from a qualified Building and Pest inspector within a set time frame to AVOID BUYING a property infested with termites or with significant building repair costs.
You also have a 3 day COOLING OFF period under standard contracts. We guarantee your Building and Pest report within 3 business days of booking our services, so book us as soon as your offer is ACCEPTED!
The only way to get a Building and Pest inspection for a property under auction is to book it prior to signing the contract. This is a common option for buyers and vendors who don’t want to add a subject to Building and Pest clause into the contract. When finance is approved or it’s a cash sale, it also decreases additional contract risk.
| Suburb | 5 year population change | Population 2016 | Population 2011 | Total houses 2016 | Total units 2016 | Median monthly mortgage repayment 2016 | Median weekly rent 2016 |
| McDowall | 419 | 7237 | 6818 | 2386 | 55 | $2,037 | $398 |
McDowall is a suburb of Brisbane North. McDowall population increased from 6818 to 7237 between 2011 and 2016 Census, an increase of 419. In 2016, McDowall real estate consists of 2386 houses and 55 units. In 2016, McDowall median monthly mortgage repayment of $2037 and median weekly rent of $398. [Source ABS]
