Top Tips for Spring season home buyer

The official start of the busy Spring selling season across South Australia has prompted the Association of Building Consultants to urge potential buyers to do their homework, know their rights, and keep an eye out for some tell-tale signs to be wary of.

Association spokesperson Mr Chris Short, said buying a home was the largest purchase most people normally make, and urged would-be buyers to do two types of checks as part of their decision-making process.

“People need to do their own initial appraisal of a home, but most importantly that should then be followed up by bringing in an expert who can look for problems lurking below the surface,” Mr Short said.

“If an inspection uncovers any concerns it doesn't have to mean the end of the sale. It simply gives a clear understanding about what needs urgent attention and what longer term maintenance should be considered, so that a dream home doesn't become a nightmare,” he said.

"If you are serious about buying a property, you can have a building inspection done at any stage of the sales process, and it is not conditional to having signed a contract and does not have to be delayed until any cooling off period.”

Often a pre-sale spruce up of a home can range from little more than a basic clean through to filling of large cracks, repainting, retiling, re-grouting, and can even include new floor coverings.

Some handy tips to keep in mind when walking through a potential purchase include:

·         A tired looking property may be a warning that regular maintenance hasn’t occurred.

·         A fresh makeover could mask more sinister problems, such as termite damage, salt damp, structural issues, rotted timbers, corroded steelwork, or unlicensed and dangerous electrical work.

·         Large trees nearby can cause problems such as blocked drains, damage to paths and house footings. They can also cause serious structural movement in the building due to drying of reactive clay soils.

·         Open and shut the doors – if they stick or don’t open or close it might be a sign of subsidence.

·         Look to see if there is the plastic lining on the bottom row of bricks. This dampcourse is a type of moisture control that prevents moisture from rising into the walls, so if it is below paving or soil it will no longer protect a home.

·         If a room smells musty, there is probably a ventilation problem, and if it’s next to a wet area it could also be a sign of moisture – perfect for a termite attack.

·         Open the electricity box and see if it has a safety switch. Out-dated ceramic fuses are an obvious indicator that the wiring will need to be updated.

·         Look at downpipes to see if they are connected and drain stormwater away from a home.

·         Stand where you can look at the roofline. A sagging roof can indicate a broken rafter or can be a sign that an underpurlin has cracked or might be about to.

·         Most importantly, engage an experienced building consultant, and when deciding on which one to engage, ask for testimonials and details of their experience, qualifications, and industry memberships.

About the Association of Building Consultants

As a not-for-profit organisation, the Association of Building Consultants is the only professional body for South Australian independent building consultants. Association members are committed to the Association’s Code of Practice (www.abcmembers.com.au/Code-of-Practice.cfm), have met membership criteria and undertake ongoing professional development.  A National Police Certificate is also required of all new applicants.

Members offer a wide range of inspection and advisory services:

·         independent technical advice and reports

·         pre-purchase inspections

·         construction reports

·         expert reports for building disputes and court cases

·         termite inspections

·         engineering advice on structural matters

·         designs for new and existing buildings

·         energy efficiency reports

·         swimming pool safety inspections

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