Thread: Pre- purchase Building Inspections - some sort of scam ?

Originally Posted by POD

Sounds like he was in between his lawn mowing and dog washing jobs.

Has to do something , he is not allowed to mow grass in Vic , probably cant wash doge either under restrictions.

Originally Posted by scarry

Wifes father used to say that all the time, guess who went first, he wasn't long after though.

One of my sons also had a building inspection on his place about 2 yrs ago, by some prospective buyers.
The whole report was a joke,biggest load of garbage ever written on paper.

He also mentioned a huge issue with an old retaining wall out the front, it had a hairline crack along a morter joint.
For its age it was perfect,no lean or anything at all.

Anyway,the son didn't sell the place, decided to stay.
Last year, started to have water leaks, the tiles on the roof were shagged,he had to replace the whole roof, at huge cost.
Nothing in the building report about the roof tiles, even though the inspector was on the roof as part of his inspection.
So a major issue with the property was not noted,apart from the hairline crack in the retaining wall.

Nothing in the building report about the roof tiles, even though the inspector was on the roof as part of his inspection.

Maybe said "Inspector" busted a few by walking on them incorrectly. OR, on purpose? Easily done as you know.


Cynical? Moi?

Originally Posted by scarry

Wifes father used to say that all the time, guess who went first, he wasn't long after though.

One of my sons also had a building inspection on his place about 2 yrs ago, by some prospective buyers.
The whole report was a joke,biggest load of garbage ever written on paper.

He also mentioned a huge issue with an old retaining wall out the front, it had a hairline crack along a morter joint.
For its age it was perfect,no lean or anything at all.

Anyway,the son didn't sell the place, decided to stay.
Last year, started to have water leaks, the tiles on the roof were shagged,he had to replace the whole roof, at huge cost.
Nothing in the building report about the roof tiles, even though the inspector was on the roof as part of his inspection.
So a major issue with the property was not noted,apart from the hairline crack in the retaining wall.

Before anyone asks, the 2A is going with me sort of like the Aztec Chariot to the Gods.

Move on and wait for another potential buyer. If a buyer wants a reason not to buy then they can also move on - it is a match that is never going to work out.

With the exception of getting a termite inspection (a must in WA), all the places I have bought and sold I never once engaged someone to do a pre-purchase inspection, or had a buyer want to do the same prior to buying.

But have had the same issue once with a Rangie sale - buyer insisted on a LR Indy to do an inspection. Indy rocks up, takes the Rangie for a drive with the potential buyer and I, does some donuts in a gravel car park (it was a fun drive), and then tells the potential buyer all that was wrong with it. It was a 13 year old car - I had already pointed out its faults.

I said that is fine - if it is not right for you move on as I am happy to keep it and to be honest it deserves a better home.

Same again with a Disco sale and this time a different LR Indy doing the inspection was from the garage that had just done some work for me a few weeks earlier. But then the owner of the garage doing the inspection then criticised the recent repair saying it was not good and would fail again.

I said thanks - now your guys did the repair so let’s talk about what you will do to fix it. They sorted it but I never went back to them. The potential buyer wasn’t to impressed either.

Originally Posted by DiscoDB

Move on and wait for another potential buyer. If a buyer wants a reason not to buy then they can also move on - it is a match that is never going to work out.

With the exception of getting a termite inspection (a must in WA), all the places I have bought and sold I never once engaged someone to do a pre-purchase inspection, or had a buyer want to do the same prior to buying.

But have had the same issue once with a Rangie sale - buyer insisted on a LR Indy to do an inspection. Indy rocks up, takes the Rangie for a drive with the potential buyer and I, does some donuts in a gravel car park (it was a fun drive), and then tells the potential buyer all that was wrong with it. It was a 15 year old car - I had already pointed out its faults.

I said that is fine - if it is not right for you move on as I am happy to keep it and to be honest it deserves a better home.

Same again with a Disco sale and this time a different LR Indy doing the inspection was from the garage that had just done some work for me a few weeks earlier. But then the owner of the garage doing the inspection then criticised the recent repair saying it was not good and would fail again.

I said thanks - now your guys did the repair so let’s talk about what you will do to fix it. They sorted it but I never went back to them. The potential buyer wasn’t to impressed either.

I have never required the services of this type (the house not a LAND ROVER) but when we bought this gaff in '87 I had seen enough houses in my work to get a good idea of whats what with the assistance of my very reliable Electrician who ripped all the olde worlde wiring out & replaced it with 20th Century stuff & upgraded the Switchboard. Well the power came through this area in about 1926-8

I could see the Free Standing Electric Water Heater was leaking from the internal tank so knew that had to go, like for like, so no dramas there. The irony of doing that was that 4 months before, we had the same model heater in the previous house, replaced.
I could see some shonky roof repairs were required & could see where possums had ****ed over the open fireplace so that piece of ceiling was cut out & new piece was fitted. Had half the corro roof & gutters replaced in the front & did the second half later after funds became available.

The outside dunny was certainly olde worlde & we didn't like the idea of have to transit from the house across a yard at 0200hrs in the middle of Winter in thick fog & torrential rain. I think they originally used a chamber pot located in a bathroom Alcove previously but we weren't having any of that ta very much. Fun Fun fun. I knew some(4) of the original ceiling joists over the now Dining Room (pre Bedroom) were twisted but they had been in since the house was built in circa 1900 so left them as they were still strong plus it added a bit of character although not visible from inside the room. Ripped all the woolen Carpets out back to Baltic Pine flooring & had the floors sanded & coated, with Rugs.

A few minor alterations have been done inside & Painting of all rooms but that was expected.

Had the bathroom tiled & brought up to date & built a separate dunny & added a small Laundry inside the back lobby so no more cogitating sitting on one's arse in thick fog with damp Toilet paper.. I guess I was lucky in some ways but we really could see the house was very solidly built of local Sand Stone so had a lot going for it to start with. I installed a 2.5 hp Ducted heat pump later & that has been really good. (Well you would wouldn't you).
Being on a slope with 2m of old concrete apron surrounding the house meant we didn't have any drainage problems.

33 years on things are still good apart from a couple of little niggling things but one lives with those things & smiles.
If we had tasked a Building Surveyor to give a report most likely we would have been put right off, but glad we didn't need to.
Sorry what was the question?

Sounds great but why do I need to know

Back to the initial post, it is generally a tactic ("just look what I have to spend to fix up your house if I buy it and I'll deduct said $s from your stupidly high a$king price")

Is it a scam? It could be if they recommend repairs by a nominated builder (eg. Jims building repairs)

Insofar as all franchises may be scams on innocent people (mainly the franchisee), it is now seen as a convenient means that people have to buy themselves a job.

It can be very misleading for customers because many are built on the "respect/recognition" the name brings and are constructed to provide a bit of income for the franchisee and much for the franchisor - another legal ponzi designed to get yet another drop of blood squeezed from the stone, in this case the general economy of the community.

In the unregulated market place I hope will never eventually see Jims dentistry and Jims brain surgery.

In the dodgy "building inspection" field the home owner always has the option of not permitting these home-grown experts on site or the option asking to sight the their quals and registration certificate ....(uhoh, I'll bet we don't have such anymore for "building inspectors" as it could limit trade).

The owner/seller could have a reputable report lodged with the agent along with a copy of the contract - any older house is going to have faults, and tell them it's a take it or leave it world.

I know of a building inspector his main income is from doing inspections for insurance co's so they can get out of paying pay-outs for white ants.