What is Caveat Emptor?
Increasingly property buyers are aware of their responsibility to discover building defects before sale – this is known as the Latin principle Caveat Emptor or ‘buyer beware’.
The full quotation is ‘caveat emptor, qui ignorare no...
Read moreTiming of a building inspection
THE TIMING OF A BUILDING INSPECTION MOSTLY DEPENDS ON THE METHOD OF SALE.
As the findings of a building inspection report may prompt you to withdraw an offer, you should always ensure that you are correctly informed of your rights and options. This ...
Read moreInadequate Site and subfloor drainage
A sub-floor is the structure and crawl space between the lowest floor and the ground. High moisture levels in these areas promote fungal decay and other timber pests such as termites.
All sub-floors and crawl spaces should be considered as having ...
Read moreHouse Inspections Take Time
Okay, random question: How long would you spend inspecting a house before buying it?
In Australia, more than half of homeowners (58%) spend less than an hour inspecting before the big buy, according to research put out by ME bank. Thus, it’s not...
Read moreDo you think that property you are looking to buy has asbestos?
If the house you are looking to buy was built or renovated before 1990, it is likely that it will contain some form of asbestos-containing materials.
Did you know that approximately one-third of homes built in Australia contain asbestos products?
...
Read moreBlacklists For Potential Tenants? You Betcha!
Yes.
Blacklisting tenants is a thing and may not be talked about because of shame-related issues.
According to the ABC, a person can be blacklisted without even being aware. His or her name in such a case will pop up on tenancy databases meanin...
Read moreRe-stumping red flags
A guide to Re-Stumping
Re-stumping - or re-blocking as it's known in Victoria - is big business in Australia and can be a very costly exercise, particularly if you don't know what you're looking at and you don't understand what you've bought into....
Read moreIs Your Smoke Alarm Up To Scratch
Fires can spread rapidly (in less than five minutes) through your house, according to findings from a Fire & Rescue NSW report. Interesting also is that homeowners are encouraged to look at how many fire alarms in their house to cover all potenti...
Read moreHow do I go back to my home after Fire Damage?
A fire is a traumatic experience, and it can cause more damage than what you can see initially. Beyond the physical fire damage, you must also consider the smoke and soot contamination. Both can be dangerous and costly.
Fire damage can extend to t...
Read moreBuilding Inspection Reports - the ultimate negotiation weapon
Rising damp and termite damage. Two issues that would normally send shivers down your spine and see potential buyers running for the hills.
But what if you could you turn a negative building inspection report, into the ultimate negotiation weapon?...
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