You know how important it is to secure building inspections before purchasing, building or renovating your property, but do you make sure you’re using qualified Victoria building inspectors? It’s not uncommon for property owners to make hiring decisions without all the information they need, leaving them vulnerable the very issues they hired an inspector to avoid. When you hire an unqualified inspector at a discount price, you may save a bit of money in the short term. In the long run, though, you could very well end up spending more to address undetected problems with your property.
Are you using Qualified Victoria Building Inspectors?
The average Victoria property owner who is not employed within the building trades won’t usually know what qualifications they should look for in a professional building inspector. With a bit of research, it’s easy to ensure you’re making the right decision. Before hiring any building inspector for your pre-purchase building inspection or stage construction inspection, take a moment to ask:
- “Do You Have PI Insurance?” – Qualified Victoria building inspectors will carry professional indemnity insurance to protect not only themselves, but also their clients. Asking for proof of PI insurance is one of the first ways to determine the level of professionalism a particular inspector displays.
- “Are You Experienced?” – Ideally, any Victoria building inspector you hire will have a minimum of two years’ experience within relevant industries. Houspect’s inspectors have a minimum of ten years’ experience in the building industry as a registered builder – many have much more than that, which is obviously preferable to Inspectors who don’t have a wealth of experience from which to draw during your inspection. Houspect allocates Inspectors on the basis that their qualifications and experience match your property inspection requirements. Your inquiry should also include training, since even a registered builder, architect or engineer will need to be as trained in spotting defects and building faults as they are in constructing or designing new structures to effectively serve as qualified building inspectors.
- “What is Your Track Record?” – Online reviews can be a valuable source of information about a particular Victoria building inspection company, but they’re not the last word. Ask an inspector how long they’ve been in the business and how often they inspect your type of property. Commercial and new residential structures have different qualities from heritage buildings; a qualified Victoria inspector is one who’s not only experienced in a general sense, but also in the field for which you are hiring, and is knowledgeable about local conditions in your area. You’ll also want an inspector or building inspection company with a proven track record and established reputation; not just a business card and a mobile number.
Protecting Your Investments with Professional Building Inspections
Your real estate investment is one of the biggest you’ll ever make over your lifetime. That’s why it’s so important to work with experienced, qualified professionals every step of the way. The legally mandated minimum standards for Building Inspectors can be somewhat lacklustre in comparison to many other trades, it unfortunately falls to you to vet each candidate you meet.
Don’t make decisions based upon the advice of an unqualified Victoria building inspector in the hopes of saving some quick cash. All too often, you’ll pay for it in the end through expensive repairs and renovations. You do get what you pay for when you hire a building inspector, and using a professional is always a wise investment.
Houspect Building Inspections– Buy, Build, Invest and Sell with Confidence
