Do I Really Need Construction Inspection?

sydneybargainer on 24/11/2019 - 22:56

Hi everyone,

I am in process to sign a construction contract.
Property location - south west Sydney
building with small builder - referred by a friend - who has decent experience with them.

Another friend suggest I should sign up for construction inspection.
Inspection will be done on 5 different stages of the home - myself and builder will get a copy of report with if any possible issues, and if things are being done as per the plan or not.

Like - https://southwestpropertyinspections.com.au/
It will cost around $2500 for all the inspection and reports.

Question - Do I really need this inspection at every stage?
Has anyone use this inspection service? was it worth it?

Thank you in advance.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • thors_hammer on 24/11/2019 - 23:50
    +7

    We built using J G King and used Darbecca (Melbourne). Their reports were multipage documents which highlight things which the builder either didn't recognise, care about, or were cheating with. Things that weren't done according to the building code were photographed, documented and a report produced at each stage. It was nevertheless still a battle to get J G King to actually rectify some of the things picked up. Our site manager whinged they picked up things that didn't matter and that they were well known for this. When he said this I was glad I had them.

    Because we have photos and signed, expert evidence of 'compromises' in the building process I know I have some evidence to present to VCAT when (if) I need to go to them. But that's another matter.

    If you have an established relationship with your builder and trust them completely I'd still recommend you spend the money and get an inspector.

    • bobz79 on 25/11/2019 - 01:33
      +4

      Similar experience here, would highly recommend independent inspection by a reputed inspector. Builders are very dodgy and disorganised! As they try to find cheapest labour to cut costs, quality suffers significantly!

      Also noticed that most sub contractors don't even speak or understand English well, so a lot lost in translation!

      I used Jim's Building Inspections North Sydney (Gordon) as they didn't charge double for the attached granny, while most others wanted us to pay as 2 houses! Inspections were quite useful and picked up a whole lot of issues!

    • sydneybargainer on 26/11/2019 - 00:13

      Even I want to get sign up for site inspection for all 5 stages.
      I have built decent repo with builder that is why I am little hesitant.
      Need to work on my story - being too blunt might offend him.

    • sydneybargainer on 03/01/2020 - 12:05

      What will happen if builder do not accept mistakes which site inspector has pointed out?
      I am assuming it will come down to me and my builder - needs to works out solution.

  • slow on 25/11/2019 - 07:23
    +3

    Best $2500 you will spend on your build, and a very small % of the overall cost. A lot of the poor work is stuff you wouldn't know about or notice until 5 years later when your house starts cracking.

    But there are also lots of bad building inspectors out there, so make sure you use one that is recommend and has good reviews.
    I also used Darbecca and they were excellent

    And if they don't find much take that as a good sign!

  • dasher86 on 25/11/2019 - 07:31

    Stage inspections only apply to construction contracts and not off the plan right?

    • HighAndDry on 25/11/2019 - 10:07

      Correct. Off-the-plan properties don't belong to you until end of construction so you have no authority to send inspectors in. Builders are building on land you already own.

  • wallet72 on 25/11/2019 - 08:03
    +1

    get the inspection. It's not just to catch out the builder, the rules change so often it is also an education experience for them too.

    And remember, once the wall is sealed up, you can't see how bad the problem is getting.

  • singlemalt72 on 25/11/2019 - 08:23

    Edited - was thinking this was an existing home (read the post before replying!)

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 25/11/2019 - 09:06
    +1

    I would do it if I was in your shoes.

    How much is the entire process costing? Likely the most expensive purchase/mortgage in your life.

    • sydneybargainer on 26/11/2019 - 00:15

      $2500 for 5 inspection during the build.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/11/2019 - 10:34
    +1

    I've heard too many 'war' stories from people who built new homes/renovated/had remedial building work undertaken and it's alot of stress when things go wrong - they all wish they had taken up the option of independent oversight but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.

    I vote yes !

  • Cheeper on 25/11/2019 - 10:42
    +1

    Neighbours had a new house built and they had professional inspections at various stages. They still ended up with the home from hell and legal costs amounting to more than half the cost of the house.
    They received very little in the way of repairs in the end.
    The biggest problem you will have is Australia's almost total lack of consumer protection with building problems.
    Dodgy builders know how to work the system very well. Good luck.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 25/11/2019 - 11:21

      almost total lack of consumer protection with building problems.

      Not true. Regardless, insurance covers this.

      Dodgy builders know how to work the system very well.

      That's why you go with established and proven building firms.

      Just like with anything - if you go with a new, inexperienced and/or unproven building firm, likely because they are cheaper, then you take the risks associated.

    • sydneybargainer on 26/11/2019 - 00:17

      On legal channels it is difficult to win and does not necessarily worth the effort.

  • Ocker on 25/11/2019 - 10:49
    +2

    Sorta like buying a used car without bothering to get it checked over by a mechanic. Better to get any issues ironed out up front - later maybe too late.

  • Chewie on 25/11/2019 - 11:33
    +1

    I've seen some innocently missed and others very dodgy cost cutting things in over 22 years in the construction industry - get the inspections and have them documented. Raise it with the builder as soon as your aware of any issues for them to attend to and document (if you can) the fix, or if your wrangle it even send the photos to your inspector for his review of its outside the number of inspections.

  • 0FoxGiven on 25/11/2019 - 11:59
    +1

    I would definitely recommend getting a inspector. But a lot depends on how good the inspector is as well. I went with Darbecca in Melbourne for two of my build stages. The guy I had in the first stage was good; but the second stage guy was an ass (who seemed to be quite good friends with my Site Supervisor) and missed many glaring mistakes which I myself had to point out to my builder. My experience was so bad that I decided to go with another inspector for the rest of my stages.

  • dcep on 25/11/2019 - 18:40
    +1

    Same with car mechanics

    You need someone that willing to climb up the roof space and check for every nooks

    Else you're just paying for nothing

    You can't pin the responsibility on them either, as their report is full of caveats

  • uncompressed on 07/01/2020 - 13:42

    Definitely. I had one when building and they picked out a few defects, one which the builder refused to address but was eventually forced to when I took them to the building commission. Without the inspection, there was no way in hell I was able to pick up on what is done right according to the building codes.

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