Risks Involved In Hiring An Uninsured Building Inspector

It is quite common among property owners in Sunshine Coast and other parts of Australia to expect a building and pest inspector to be insured adequately for public liability as well as professional indemnity. However, many of them do not realise the fact that insurance is not something mandatory for property inspectors to have due to the current Australian Standards.

Numerous home purchasers still neglect the significance of hiring an insured professional for pest and building inspection in Sunshine Coast. They fail to realise the risks involved in appointing an uninsured one. In case the inspector misses a fault during the assessment which later results in substantial financial loss for the owner, even a long court battle might be in vain and help to get zero reimbursement. Besides owners, a building inspector can suffer considerably as well if they do not have any public liability or professional indemnity coverage. They would also be affected financially in case a client takes legal step against them.

Professional indemnity and public liability coverage for building inspectors covers more than just errors. It also takes care of bodily injuries and property damage. For instance, if the ladder of a property inspector falls and causes him injury or damage to the property, the insurance would cover the mishap.

Except for Queensland, the building inspection industry in all states of Australia is not properly regulated. As such, the industry is more or less filled with plenty of inexperienced amateurs who do not even possess proper training. In such a scenario where almost any inspector can be inefficient (except for those working with reputed firms), it is important to ensure that the professional being chosen for assessing the condition of a property has an adequate public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

There are several things that one must keep in mind while considering a pre-purchase property inspector for hire. The professional must be asked certain questions, such as if they have a proper insurance, whether they have been prosecuted professionally or not in the past, how many assessments have the done during the last 11 or 12 months, what is their reputation among clients, and so on. It is also necessary to enquire about the qualifications and experience of a building inspector. These things would not only provide protection against poorly done inspections, but also help to stay safe from unnecessary financial losses. 

Different Types of Building Inspections

In general, a building inspection is done essentially to check for defects or pests within a property. It is often performed prior to purchasing a house, after completion of a structure or after renovations. The length of time required for arranging a building inspection depends on a number of factors - the type of assessment necessitated, availability of real estate agents and inspectors, the kind of structure and access to the involved property. Let’s have a look at one of the most important factors in detail, different types of building inspections:

Building Inspection

A building inspection covers a wide range of elements of a property and is generally aimed at assessing its condition accurately and thoroughly in order to identify any major maintenance issues and structural defects. All areas are checked meticulously for ensuring that they are constructurally sound. These may include interior and exterior of the property, subfloor space, roof space, garages, verandas, carports, etc.

Timber Pest Inspection

This type usually covers pests such as termites, wood rot, fungal decays and borers. It is carried out for detecting the evidence of past or active damage inflicted by them. The assessment also identifies issues which can hike up the risks of infestations, so as to implement suitable modifications. Nowadays, many assessments make use of thermal imaging for achieving effective results quickly.

Defect Inspection

As the name suggests, this one is performed for assessing the status of a property and identifying the reason for any structural problem. It usually comes with suggestions for repairing current defects and maintenance recommendations to ensure the durability of various structural elements.

New Home Stage Inspection

This one has been designed for monitoring important stages of a construction and recognising defects before they are covered up by the subsequent stages. It generally ensures that the construction is being carried out as per Building Regulations, Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards. It is further divided into four sub-categories - pre-slab, frame, pre-plaster and pre-final.

While looking for an effective inspector to get a thorough building and pest inspection in Sunshine Coast, Bondi or any other region in Australia, it is important to consider certain important factors like qualifications, training, accreditation and experience for getting cost-effective services. For protection and peace of mind, it must also be ensured that the professional being hired has public liability as well as indemnity insurance cover from a trusted insurance provider.