Home / Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Building inspection FAQs.
Answers before you book.
Our building inspection FAQs explain choosing a service, arranging access and understanding your report in Canberra and nearby NSW.
Find an answer
Choosing & booking
For a new build, consider staged inspections while work is visible and a practical completion inspection before handover. For an established property, a pre-purchase building inspection can be combined with timber pest assessment. ACT sellers can enquire about our vendor package. If you are unsure, tell us about the property and we will help agree the scope.
Ask the builder, owner or agent to confirm when the relevant work is ready and how safe access can be provided. Send the property address, proposed timing and any relevant plans or previous reports with your enquiry. We confirm the arrangements before attendance.
Yes. Our service area includes Queanbeyan, Googong, Karabar, Bungendore, Yass and surrounding areas. Tell us the address so we can confirm availability, travel and the applicable fee.
An enquiry starts the conversation. We confirm the inspection scope, availability, access arrangements and price with you before the booking is finalised.
Construction & pricing
Yes. Tell us the current stage and what is scheduled next. We can discuss the remaining inspection opportunities. Work that is already concealed cannot be assessed in the same way as work that is still exposed.
No. An independent inspection provides additional information about the agreed work. It does not replace mandatory inspections, approvals or certification. Your builder and certifier remain responsible for their respective roles.
Yes. A standalone construction stage is $497 + GST. Subsequent visits in an agreed package are $397 + GST. Practical completion and 90-day defects inspections are $547* + GST; these fees may vary with the property and agreed scope. Standard property size and access conditions apply; confirm the scope with us before booking.
Arrange the inspection when the membrane is ready to inspect and before tiling conceals it. Confirm timing with your builder, including curing and safe access. A finished tiled bathroom with a suspected leak needs a different inspection scope.
Our Prices page lists the standard fees and applicable conditions. Tell us the property address, size and inspection required so we can confirm the relevant fee and any additional work before proceeding.
Access & your report
The report records relevant observations, their locations and supporting photographs, together with recommended next steps where appropriate. It also identifies inspection limitations and areas that could not be accessed. For more background, NSW buyers can read the NSW Government guide to inspection reports.
A visual inspection is limited to the agreed scope and safely accessible areas. Furniture, stored items, linings and other concealed construction can restrict what is visible. Relevant restrictions are recorded, and further investigation may be recommended where warranted.
No. Water entry can depend on rainfall, wind and other conditions that are absent during the inspection. Visible staining or damage can be recorded, but a dry-weather inspection cannot confirm performance in every weather condition.
They assess different matters. A building inspection records the accessible building condition. A timber pest inspection considers visible evidence of timber pests, damage and conducive conditions. They can be arranged together.
No. The report records the accessible property’s condition, relevant defects and limits at the time of inspection. An older house may have different maintenance needs from a new home. Read the findings and any recommended follow-up before making your decision.
Check its date, scope, access restrictions and whether the property has changed since the visit. If important areas were blocked, repairs have been made or you want your own assessment, discuss a new pre-purchase inspection. Your conveyancer can advise on your purchase deadlines and how the supplied reports are used.
Yes. Our bulk handover service covers an agreed programme of apartment, townhouse or commercial-tenancy inspections. Send the property count, floor plans, handover dates and reporting requirements so we can confirm scope and capacity.
A clear next step
Let’s take a
closer look.
Tell us about your property and what you need to know. We’ll help you arrange the right inspection.
info@canberrabuildinginspections.com
Canberra · Queanbeyan · Googong
Bungendore · Yass & surrounding areas