The hidden cost of skipping inspections
Termite damage, structural defects and pest infestations are not always visible during a standard property viewing. A home that looks pristine can have tens of thousands of dollars of concealed damage. In the Hunter region's high termite risk zone, skipping a pre-purchase inspection is a gamble that too many buyers lose. A pre-purchase pest and building inspection costs under $900 — the problems it can reveal can cost tens of thousands to repair.
What a pre-purchase inspection covers
A combined pest and building inspection assesses both the structural condition of the property and the presence of timber pests. It's the most comprehensive pre-purchase assessment available.
- Termite activity — current or past, including damage assessment
- Other timber pests — borers and fungal decay (wood rot)
- Structural inspection — foundations, framing, roof structure, walls and floors
- Moisture assessment — rising damp, leaking, drainage issues that attract pests
- Conditions conducive to termite attack — timber-on-ground, poor ventilation, weep hole issues
- Accessible areas — subfloor, roof void, internal and external
What it can reveal
Pre-purchase inspections regularly uncover issues that would not be visible to the average buyer:
- Active termite infestation — termites currently feeding on the structure
- Previous termite damage — old damage that may or may not have been repaired
- Structural defects — cracked foundations, sagging roof frames, compromised load-bearing walls
- Borer activity — furniture beetle or other timber borers in structural timbers
- Fungal decay — rot in structural timbers from moisture ingress
- Conditions conducive to future pest attack — poor subfloor ventilation, timber-on-ground, blocked weep holes
How to use the inspection report
A pre-purchase inspection report gives you three options: proceed with the purchase knowing the property's condition; negotiate a reduced price to cover the cost of repairs; or walk away from a property with serious problems. In a competitive market, some buyers are tempted to skip inspections — but the cost of discovering termite damage after purchase, with no recourse against the seller, far exceeds the inspection cost.
In NSW, standard building and pest inspection clauses in contracts of sale typically allow you to terminate the contract if serious structural defects or active pest infestations are found. But you only get this protection if you include the clause and commission the inspection before exchange.