Does anyone know if building and pest inspectors usually work together, so if you want an inspection you only make the one call and pay the one inspection fee? Do many building inspectors also do pest?
I’d definitely have a pest inspection on a timber building, but is this step really necessary in a 2 br brick/tile unit built in the last 20 years?
Thanks,
PeterHey there Peterp.
Usually it is done by the same person cause they are examining the framework of the house and they can spot evidence of termites and other insects. If you need references often your solicitor will be able to provide you with some reputable inspectors. I wouldn’t rely on references from real estate agents as the people they’d recommend are probably not that thorough, after all the real estate agent wants to the sell the house for the highest price and wouldn’t want an inspector to be too fussy to cast doubt in your mind.
Hi all,
In my opinion I would not purchase a property with out both Pest, electrical and building inspections . I would prefer them seperate as the inspectors specialise in their different areas.
RE: 2 br brick/tile unit built in the last 20 years?I have personally seen white ants go straight up a brick wall to get to wood. In the hidden corners of a brick wall heading up to the ceiling and more.
RE: tile floor> My scary story: I have personally experienced white ants comming up through a crack in the foundation eating out the grout of the tiles getting to wood. They also ate all the underlay of the lino, when all the outside was treated and sealed off the termites created new queens and built new nests within the walls of the house> IT WAS A NIGHTMARE! It has taken nearly 2 years to get rid of them and still we are not sure if they have totally gone. At least $10,000 later in pest control bills. The rennovations will be scary! and the trees garden etc demolished. ( the frightening thing is we had always done pest control each year on the buildings.I feel climate and drought had an influence as well as the chemicals of today NOT doing their job!)
I don’t think the age of a building has anything to do with whether white ants will be around or not. There are quite a few new Brick houses where I live. 2 years old with major white ant problems. The chemicals used only hunt the termites away from the barrier of the treated house, the ants will re enter the treated house if they can find a path under or around the barrier. There is a new product out now called Termidor and it is meant to kill the queen and her nest.
The inspections fees might cost all up $600 , it could be the best (insurance) use of $600 you ever spent.Cheers Isagold
Termites are a bit of a sore spot with me at the moment because I am currently rendering my house, and uncovered (last week) an area that has been eaten away by white ants. Luckily the ants are no longer active, which means the pest inspection I had done when I bought the house 6 months ago was in fact correct! There were a few tense days where I thought I’d been ripped off big time!
I rented a 2br brick and tile unit last year which was only 6 years old. The termites moved in about the same time we did and were viscious enough that they ate through the plaster to get to my timber furniture (let alone the ‘soggy’ walls that we ended up with).
Put simply – definately get a pest inspection with what ever you buy (incl. ‘solid’ brick buildings), and as a precaution, have your property checked every 12 months at least. There’s no insurance for termite damage… so who can afford to have their precious investments literally eaten away??I have been reading the posts and agree with all of them! On the building side of the coin, a few months ago I was talking to somone who was caught out. He purchased a brick 3 br unit without a building inspection and a few months later found that the building had underpinning issues which the body corp could not pay for. After all was said and done it cost just over 26K to rectify the problem!!
][!]Happy and safe investing [
]Cheers,
Nathan.
if yoou’re going to spend $100k on property, don’t cheap out on spending $200 for the pest. not worth it.
when u do appoint a pest inspector, ask them if they bring along invasive devices along for the pest inspection. the reason being that if they can see mositure and the radat detects movement, with the seller’s permission, a small hole can be drilled (invasive procedure) and the device (usually a long scope) can be used to see wether termites are visible.
quite a number of pest inspectors do not do the invasive procedure when they suspect termite activity. they just write down “further investigation recommended” on the report. in one, case we (i’m an agent) told the pest inspector to use the invasive procedure. his reply was that they don’t normally carry it with them (like a builder without a toolbox) and it will cost an extra $148 to go back to the station, come back and do the investigation.
the building inspector we recommend carries the invasive device and charges $120 for the whole pest inspection (including use of device if required).
as a real esate agent, it is in our interest to look after the buyer (investors) with the hope of getting the management rights. if the buyer is an owner occupier, then we really look after them so they can tell all their neighbours (after they settle down) what a great job we’ve done and how we’ve made the sale process a smooth and pleasureable experience. This “word of mouth” makes it easy for us to get listings.
cheers
Please tell us who this inspector is.
Email me if you dont want to broadcast the details at [email protected].
Cheers
Hey there Resurrect…I would be keen to get in touch with your pest inspector as we are just about to purchase a post war timber place at Wynnum.
Cheers SG
feel free to email details if privacy required to [email protected]
if yoou’re going to spend $100k on property, don’t cheap out on spending $200 for the pest. not worth it.when u do appoint a pest inspector, ask them if they bring along invasive devices along for the pest inspection. the reason being that if they can see mositure and the radat detects movement, with the seller’s permission, a small hole can be drilled (invasive procedure) and the device (usually a long scope) can be used to see wether termites are visible.
quite a number of pest inspectors do not do the invasive procedure when they suspect termite activity. they just write down “further investigation recommended” on the report. in one, case we (i’m an agent) told the pest inspector to use the invasive procedure. his reply was that they don’t normally carry it with them (like a builder without a toolbox) and it will cost an extra $148 to go back to the station, come back and do the investigation.
the building inspector we recommend carries the invasive device and charges $120 for the whole pest inspection (including use of device if required).
as a real esate agent, it is in our interest to look after the buyer (investors) with the hope of getting the management rights. if the buyer is an owner occupier, then we really look after them so they can tell all their neighbours (after they settle down) what a great job we’ve done and how we’ve made the sale process a smooth and pleasureable experience. This “word of mouth” makes it easy for us to get listings.
cheers
Resurrect, I too would like to make contact with your pest inspector as I have had a bit of trouble with previous inspections undertaken. One large pest company that I used must have been around our place just to eat their lunch as it was our carpenter that suggested our stumps needed attention and showed us by driving his screw-driver through to the other side! I would not recommend this mob! We demanded our money back..and got it.
Would appreciate you emailing details to: [email protected]
Word of mouth..priceless! [^]Hi people,
bear in mind, this pest inspector is in Gold COast (Ashmore). His name is George and can be contacted on 0411 426 982. also, there are many good pest inspectors out there. give him a ring and tell him that the boys from Hookers @ Ashmore recommended him. that way you will put a smile on his face and then ask him for pointers on how to sniff out good inspectors in your relevant area. he may even recommend you if he has a contact in your area.
2 types of pest inspectors:
1. doesn’t do the right job
2. scares the hell out of you with an exagerrated report. e.g, i sold many houses were there was live termiet actiivty in the fence but no activity in the house. the way the inspector conveyed the message verbally and report almost scared the hell out of me. then i advised the buyer to get a second opinion (they really loved the property). the second opnion said that as long as the termites are in the fence,it’s ok bcos the food is the fence and ther eis no reason to attack the house. solution: dust the fence with arsonic dust and give 48 hours for the dust to spread to teh entire colony to kill em off. once termite activity ceases on the fence, replace with new fence and if need, place termie barrier. hey presto, problems gone!the reality is, if u are investing anywhere in queensland, the state is high termite risk bcos of the weather. also, the inspectors want to cover themselves in case of legal action. they are very quick to recomment a “fail” on the inspection. i can understand them. but such a simple approach with the invasive procedure can save thousans of dollars and legal battles. GEorge, will normally cut out the hole, buy a vent from bunnings and install the vent into the section of the wall after the invasive procedure. that helps reduce mositure and it’s a win win for the vendor because at least they know whether the “live activity” were termites or just ants.
hope this helps.
Can you also email me with your pest inspectors details.
[email protected]
thanks[]
if yoou’re going to spend $100k on property, don’t cheap out on spending $200 for the pest. not worth it.when u do appoint a pest inspector, ask them if they bring along invasive devices along for the pest inspection. the reason being that if they can see mositure and the radat detects movement, with the seller’s permission, a small hole can be drilled (invasive procedure) and the device (usually a long scope) can be used to see wether termites are visible.
quite a number of pest inspectors do not do the invasive procedure when they suspect termite activity. they just write down “further investigation recommended” on the report. in one, case we (i’m an agent) told the pest inspector to use the invasive procedure. his reply was that they don’t normally carry it with them (like a builder without a toolbox) and it will cost an extra $148 to go back to the station, come back and do the investigation.
the building inspector we recommend carries the invasive device and charges $120 for the whole pest inspection (including use of device if required).
as a real esate agent, it is in our interest to look after the buyer (investors) with the hope of getting the management rights. if the buyer is an owner occupier, then we really look after them so they can tell all their neighbours (after they settle down) what a great job we’ve done and how we’ve made the sale process a smooth and pleasureable experience. This “word of mouth” makes it easy for us to get listings.
cheers
hey guys,
i know have too much to say but gimme some credit. i alerady wrote down teh george’s number in teh first (or second?) sentence. here it is again:
george from top shot @ 0411 426 982
remember, don’t learn teh tricks of the trade….learn the trade.
cheers
hey guys,i know have too much to say but gimme some credit. i alerady wrote down teh george’s number in teh first (or second?) sentence. here it is again:
george from top shot @ 0411 426 982
remember, don’t learn teh tricks of the trade….learn the trade.
cheers
cheers []Have adrink for me! [
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