Buying & owning
Pre-purchase inspections
An independent, visual inspection of a home you are thinking of buying, covering its accessible areas and visible signs of timber pest activity. We explain what we observed in plain language, so you know what to ask about before you commit.
Illustration. Not an actual property or real inspection work.
- Buyers of an existing house, townhouse or unit who want to understand its condition before committing.
- First home buyers who want the condition of a home explained in plain language.
- Investors looking at a property before they buy.
- Buyers heading to an auction who want to inspect before auction day.
- Anyone considering a home that has been renovated, extended or left unoccupied for a while.
- Already own the home? Choose a building and pest inspection instead. It takes the same approach.
- Accessible areas of the home's interior and exterior, including walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors.
- The roof space and subfloor, where there is safe and reasonable access.
- Visible signs of timber pest activity, and conditions that can make it more likely, such as excess moisture or timber in contact with soil.
- Visible signs of cracking, movement or water entry that are worth asking about.
- Site elements close to the home, such as paths, driveways, retaining walls, fences and outbuildings, as agreed in the scope.
- A written report describing what was observed at the time of the inspection, area by area.
- Photos supporting key observations.
- A clear list of areas that couldn't be inspected, and why.
- Items you may want to ask the agent about, or have a specialist look at, noted in plain language.
- A plain-language explanation from VicWide, with the chance to ask questions.
Tell us your key date when you enquire, such as an auction day or a contract deadline.
Arrange access with the selling agent, and confirm the time and keys.
Ask whether the roof space, subfloor, meter box and outbuildings can be reached on the day.
Share any documents you have, such as the vendor's statement, permits for recent building work or earlier reports.
Tell us what you noticed at the open inspection, and the main question you want answered.
Can’t see your question? Send an enquiry and we’ll come back to you.
More detail
More about pre-purchase inspections
How it works
Tell us the address, the type of home and your key date, such as an auction day or a contract deadline. We'll confirm the scope and provide a quote, and access is arranged with the selling agent. On the day, we inspect the accessible areas visually and take photos to support key observations. You then receive a written report, and we can talk you through it so you know what to raise with the agent, your conveyancer or a specialist.
Already own the home? Choose building and pest inspections instead. They take the same approach.
Timing your inspection when you buy
Auctions and private sales work differently, and every purchase has its own dates. Many buyers inspect before auction day, or make a private sale contract subject to an inspection. Your conveyancer or lawyer can explain the conditions and timing that apply to your purchase.
When you enquire, tell us the date you are working to. We'll confirm the scope and let you know what we can arrange.
Reading the report as a buyer
Start with the scope and the list of areas that couldn't be inspected. Then read the observations area by area. Some items may be routine maintenance. Others may need a closer look by a specialist before you decide. If anything is unclear, ask us to explain it in plain language. The decision to buy, and at what price, stays with you.
What this inspection is not
It isn't a valuation, a statutory inspection for a building permit, a structural engineering assessment, or a promise that the home is free of defects or timber pests. It can't see behind walls, under floor coverings, or into areas that are closed off or unsafe to reach.
Where an observation raises a question outside the scope, the report can recommend further investigation. We can suggest the type of professional to speak with, such as a structural engineer, a licensed plumber or a licensed electrician.
Learn with VicWide
Showing 3 topics
Inspections
Which inspection do I actually need?
Pre-purchase, strata, new-build and specialist inspections each suit a different need: buying a house or an apartment, building, or looking into a concern such as cracking, damp or older materials. This topic explains what each type looks at, when people usually arrange it, and how to describe your situation so we can suggest the right scope.
Key points 7
- Buying a house: a pre-purchase inspection looks at its visible condition and for signs of timber pest activity. For a home you already own, choose building and pest.
- Buying an apartment, unit or townhouse: a strata report covers the lot and the common property you can access, with help reading the owners corporation papers.
- Building: independent stage and handover inspections are checks you choose, separate from the mandatory inspections for the building permit.
- A specific concern: structural, mould and asbestos inspections look at visible cracking or movement, visible mould and signs of moisture, or materials that may contain asbestos.
- Pools and land: pool barrier inspections focus on the barrier, gates and fences. Land inspections look at the block, its site features and its surrounds.
- Before nearby works: a dilapidation report is a dated, photo-supported record of visible condition.
- If you're unsure, describe the property and the decision you're facing, and we'll help you choose.
Related service: Pre-purchase inspections
Inspections
What should I do before the inspection?
Good access makes for a more complete inspection. This topic covers arranging keys and permission, clearing the way to key areas, and gathering documents that help explain the property.
Key points 5
- Confirm access with the owner, agent or renter, and arrange keys ahead of the day.
- Make sure the roof space access, subfloor access, meter box and outbuildings can be reached.
- Secure pets and mention anything that could affect safe access.
- Have plans, permits, certificates or previous reports ready to share.
- Areas that can't be reached safely are recorded as limitations in the report.
Related service: Building & pest inspections
Inspections
How do I read an inspection report?
An inspection report records what was observed at the time of the inspection, where it was observed, and what couldn't be inspected. This topic walks through a typical report structure and how to use it when you talk with builders, agents or other advisers.
Key points 5
- A report describes observations at the time of the inspection. Conditions can change afterwards.
- Read the scope and limitations first, so you know what was and wasn't inspected.
- Observations are grouped by area, so you can find what matters to your decision.
- A report is not a certificate of compliance, a warranty or an insurance policy.
- If something isn't clear, ask us to explain it in plain language.
Related service: Compliance & reporting
Ready when you are
Enquire about pre-purchase inspections
Tell us about the property. We confirm the scope and a quote with you before anything is arranged.