Pre-Purchase Termite Inspection Sydney

At an open home, everything's been tidied up and presented to sell. Fresh paint doesn't tell you what's behind the walls or under the floor. Termites, borers and decay fungi work out of sight. The damage is often hidden until someone goes looking with the right gear.

A pre-purchase inspection is independent. I've got no stake in whether you buy the place. You get a straight assessment, not a sales pitch from anyone connected to the sale.

What I check

A pre-purchase inspection covers three things.

• Termites. Current activity, past damage, and the conditions that raise the risk of future activity.
• Wood borers. Active and old borer activity in structural and decorative timber.
• Decay fungi. Fungal damage in timber, and the damp conditions that cause it.

I also note conducive conditions: moisture, poor subfloor ventilation, timber or garden beds against the walls, a buried slab edge. These are the things that invite termites and decay in over time, even on a property with no damage yet.

I go through everything I can access: subfloor, roof void, every room, and the external perimeter. The thermal camera and moisture meter come on every inspection at no extra charge and catch what a visual check alone will miss. AS 4349.3 is the standard I follow.

If a room's locked or the subfloor hatch is blocked by stored belongings, I note it in the report and what I'd need to check it properly. Not unusual in a property you're yet to own.

One thing to be clear on. This is a termite and timber pest inspection, not a check for cockroaches, rodents or spiders, and not a building or structural inspection. For the building side, get a separate inspection. Between the two, you've got the property covered.

If you want the difference between a thorough inspection and a quick walk-through spelled out, I've written about that separately: a thorough pre-purchase inspection versus a tick-box one.

Pricing

A single-storey inspection starts from $280. A double-storey property starts from $320. I price by the property, not off a flat rate. A bigger house with more subfloor to crawl and more roof void to check takes longer than a one-bedroom unit, and the price reflects that.

That covers the whole visit: thermal camera, moisture meter, every accessible area, and the report itself. There's no separate call-out fee and no charge added later, because there is no later. I write it on-site.

If your property doesn't fit neatly into single or double-storey, call 0405 790 927 and I'll quote it based on what's actually there.

What's in the report

The report covers what I found across termites, borers and decay fungi, the conducive conditions that put the property at risk, and anything I couldn't access and why. You get it in hand before I've packed up the car, not by email days later.

If I find a problem, you've got grounds to renegotiate the price, ask the vendor to sort it before settlement, or walk away within your cooling-off period. If the property's clear, you go to settlement knowing exactly where you stand.

Take the report to your solicitor or conveyancer along with the contract. They can tell you what it means for the deal. I can tell you what it means for the timber.

Once you own the place, an ongoing termite inspection is worth keeping up so anything that starts after you move in gets caught early.

Timing and your cooling-off period

Book as soon as contracts are signed. The cooling-off period on a residential purchase in NSW is short, only a few business days, so the earlier I can get out there, the more time you've got to act on what I find.

Call me, tell me you're in a cooling-off period, and I'll do my best to fit you in quickly. I cover all of Sydney, 7 days.

How I work

I've been doing this since 2015, over ten years now, on my own. No subcontractors, no handoff to someone junior. I inspect the property myself and write the report myself. I stand behind what it says.

If the timber's sound, I'll tell you straight. If it's not, you'll know exactly what's wrong before you commit hundreds of thousands of dollars to a property with an undisclosed problem.

Book the inspection before your cooling-off period runs out.

Common questions

What's the difference between a termite inspection and a building inspection?
A termite and timber pest inspection covers termites, borers and decay fungi in the timber. A building inspection covers the structure, roof, plumbing and the rest of the property's condition. They're separate jobs, and for a purchase you want both.

Does this cover general pests like cockroaches and rodents?
No. A pre-purchase inspection covers the three things that damage timber: termites, borers and decay fungi. It's not a general pest treatment.

What if the inspection finds a problem?
You'll have it in writing before I leave the property, while you're still inside your cooling-off period. That gives you room to act on it before you're locked into the purchase. What that looks like depends on what's found, covered above.

How soon can you inspect?
Call as soon as your contract is signed and tell me you're in a cooling-off period. I'll try to get you in quickly. The earlier you book, the more time you've got to act on the report.

How much does a pre-purchase inspection cost?
From $280 for a single-storey property and from $320 for a double-storey, priced on the property rather than a flat rate. Call 0405 790 927 if you want a quote before you book.

Call Nick

Call 0405 790 927 to book. I'll come out, go through the property properly, and you'll walk away with a written report and a clear answer on the timber, before your cooling-off period runs down. I work across Sydney, every day of the week.