Since the RBA’s decision to cut interest rates, many buyers are clamouring to get their hands on property in Melbourne. Sometimes, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement, whether that’s bidding at auctions, racing to sign contracts, or buying a property without doing your due diligence.

Before you hand over a deposit, there’s an important question to ask: is a pre-purchase building inspection really necessary? The short answer is yes, and for more reasons than you might expect. An inspection often reveals what glossy brochures and slick online listings won’t, from hidden structural faults all the way to termites quietly chewing through timber.

As we’ll go on to explain, this simple step is a great way to avoid costly surprises and know exactly what you’re getting into.

Building Defects and Faults: A Growing Issue in Melbourne

You may have heard it from friends, family, colleagues, or on the news, but the quality of Australian homes has really come into the microscope in recent years. In fact, a 2024 report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute revealed that “70 per cent of the estimated 10.9 million homes across the country have quality problems.” (Source: ABC News)

In 2021, another report prepared for the Australian Building Codes Board outlined that there was “growing anecdotal evidence of unacceptably high levels of non-compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC)”.

For buyers, the findings of these reports underscore the value of obtaining as much information as you can before proceeding to purchase a property.

The Value of Pre-Purchase Inspections

A home that looks flawless isn’t always what it seems, even if it’s a new build or newly renovated. Fresh paint, new fixtures and well-styled rooms all look great at first glance, but sometimes they’re masking deeper issues.

Melbourne’s property landscape is diverse, with heritage terraces in Carlton, mid-century brick homes in the suburbs and modern apartments appearing everywhere in between. Despite their architectural differences, they share one thing in common, and that’s that every type of property brings its own risks.

Older homes might be hiding asbestos, faulty plumbing, outdated wiring, or long-forgotten termite damage. Unfortunately, brand-new builds aren’t immune either. With tight construction schedules and multiple subcontractors coming and going, corners get cut and important details are missed, as evidenced by the reports we mentioned above!

Fortunately, you do have options. Arranging a pre-purchase inspection puts an independent professional on your side. This means they’re not working for the agent, the builder or the vendor. Instead, their sole responsibility is to assess the property with an objective eye and give you an honest picture of its condition.

What a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection Involves

This isn’t just a casual stroll through the house with a clipboard. The best pre-purchase inspections involve an in-depth assessment of the property, both inside and out.

Typical areas assessed include:

• Roofing and guttering: Detecting cracked tiles, rusted gutters or poor flashing that might allow water to seep in.
• Walls and ceilings: Looking for cracks, sagging areas, stains or bulging plaster that suggest movement or moisture damage.
• Floors and subfloors: Identifying soft spots, uneven areas or signs of structural stress.
• Plumbing and electrical systems: Testing for faults, poor workmanship or safety hazards.
• Doors and windows: Assessing whether they fit properly, seal well and aren’t warped or rotting.
• Insulation and ventilation: Checking if the home will stay comfortable during Melbourne’s extremes.

Of course, a professional inspection also involves the use of cutting-edge tech such as FLIR C5 Thermal Imaging Cameras and Tramex ME5 Moisture Meters. These devices detect what the naked eye misses, including moisture trapped in walls, termite activity behind skirting boards, or even leaks starting to form under a bathroom floor.

Need a qualified building inspector in Brunswick, Lilydale, or Werribee? Inspect 365 is available Melbourne-wide, and will provide detailed, accurate, and easy-to-read reports to you within just four hours. Call 1800 783 785 or info@inspect365.com.au to get in touch!

Why You Also Need a Pest Inspection in Melbourne

A building inspection offers invaluable information, but it’s only half the story. Pests are often overlooked in the buying process, and that’s where many new homeowners get caught out.

Melbourne’s temperature, mild climate creates a perfect atmosphere for termite activity. Termites are a major threat capable of working their way through timber beams, floors and roof trusses. By the time visible damage appears, they’ve often caused serious structural harm.

Booking a combined building and pest inspection addresses these risks in one go. Our Melbourne-based inspectors use tools like thermal cameras and moisture metres to spot early signs of termites or other infestations.

Hidden Issues Uncovered During an Inspection

The biggest value in a pre-purchase inspection is what it brings to light. These are the kind of problems you won’t see during a 10-15 minute walk-through with a real estate agent. Let’s take a look at some of the hidden issues we uncover across the city of Melbourne.

Water Leaks and Moisture Damage

Water is one of the most destructive forces in a home. A small leak from a roof tile, an ageing pipe or poor drainage at the back of the block gradually seeps into walls, ceilings and floors. Left unaddressed, that moisture leads to mould, rot and a serious compromise to air quality.

Moisture metres and thermal imaging reveal leaks before they become obvious, often long before you’d spot a stain or musty smell yourself.

Termite Infestations

Few issues are as quietly devastating as termites. They chew through structural timber for months or even years before an untrained eye notices anything is wrong.

A professional inspector doesn’t rely on guesswork. Using the Termatrac T3i scanner and thermal imaging, they trace even subtle signs of activity behind walls or under floors. Detecting them early is the difference between a small treatment and an enormous repair bill.

Structural Damage

Homes that look rock solid at first glance sometimes hide significant movement or deterioration. Sagging ceilings, cracks in walls or uneven floors hint at foundation issues, shifting soil or decaying timber.

Structural repairs are among the most expensive jobs an owner might face. A pre-purchase inspection flags these risks so you don’t walk into a property that will drain your savings.

Roof Issues

The roof is the property’s first defence against Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather. When tiles are cracked, flashing is damaged or gutters are rusting out, that shield weakens. Water slips in, insulation gets wet and energy costs climb.

Spotting roof problems before settlement puts you in a much stronger position to negotiate repairs or rethink the purchase altogether.

Safety Hazards

Inspections also pick up less obvious dangers, like asbestos in older homes, dodgy wiring that might cause fires or missing smoke alarms. These aren’t just inconvenient, they’re safety risks that could have legal implications if you plan to lease the property later.

What Happens if You Skip an Inspection?

Skipping a pre-purchase inspection might feel like a quick way to save a few hundred dollars, but it often turns into an expensive mistake.

Surprise Repairs

Hidden problems have a way of showing themselves after you’ve moved in. A leaking roof in the first storm, a crumbling subfloor when you pull up the carpet or a pest infestation that’s already widespread are all unpleasant surprises.

Spotting these issues before you buy gives you a chance to negotiate, walk away or plan repairs instead of being blindsided later.

Insurance Headaches

If you discover defects after the sale, your insurance won’t necessarily come to the rescue. Most policies exclude pre-existing issues. An inspection report provides a clear record of the home’s state when you bought it, which is vital if you ever need to make a claim.

Liability Problems

If you’re buying on a subdivided block or next to other structures, there’s another risk — being blamed for damage you didn’t cause. A dilapidation report records the condition of neighbouring properties before work starts, protecting you from accusations down the line.

What You Get From the Inspect 365 Team

A Detailed On-Site Assessment

A qualified inspector spends one to two hours going through the property in detail, covering everything from the roof to the subfloor.

Specialist Equipment

Thermal imaging, termite scanners and moisture metres expose issues that aren’t obvious to the naked eye, helping identify concerns that might otherwise be missed.

A Clear Report with Photos

The findings are laid out in plain language and backed by clear photographs of each issue. This means you’re not left guessing what the inspector saw or how serious the problem is.

Quick Turnaround

Most reports are sent to you within hours of the inspection, giving you the information you need to make timely decisions on the property.

That report is more than paperwork. It’s a tool you can use to negotiate the price, plan repairs or simply buy with confidence.

Ready to Book a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection?

House hunting? Inspect 365 is ready to help. With over 25 years of experience and more than 10,000 inspections under our belt, we’ve seen it all. From pre-purchase inspections to pest inspections across Melbourne, we’ve got you covered.

Call 1800 945 313 or enquire online. Whether you’re buying in Carlton, Ringwood or St Kilda, you’ll receive a detailed report within hours, complete with photos and the detailed insights you need to buy with clarity.