Fresh paint can hide a problem. A long inspection report is little help if a buyer cannot distinguish a serious defect from ordinary upkeep.
If the report helps you understand your findings before the purchase decision, that’s when you need it. If you’re buying in Melbourne, it can be before the auction, or you may have a timeline with your contract.
Here are 4 Melbourne Inspection companies and what they can offer you when inspecting a home before you buy it.
Comparing the 4 Companies
- Compare all 4 companies
- Inscope Property Inspections – Best for Builders’ Perspective
- PADinspections Pty Ltd – Best for Hard to Access Areas
- Buy Wise Building and Pest Inspections – Longer Track Record
- Just Inspections – Wide Range of Properties in Victoria
- Things to ask your inspector before you book
- The Final Verdict
Compare all 4 companies
| Company | Great at | Report | Area Covered |
| Inscope Property Inspections | Explaining issues to buyers from a builder’s point of view | Reports come with photos; offered phone calls after inspection. | Covers most of Melbourne’s suburbs, mainly western and north suburbs. |
| PADinspections Pty Ltd | Hard to access areas, offered evening phone call to explain report | Phone call evening of inspection, report the following morning | Covers Melbourne and Geelong |
| Buy Wise Building and Pest Inspections | Longer track record in the industry, has team of inspectors | Offer photos and can talk to the inspector after inspection. | Covers most suburbs around Melbourne |
| Just Inspections | Covers a wide range of Victoria | Report sent next business day | Covers Melbourne, Geelong and rest of Victoria |
1. Inscope Property Inspections – Best for Builders Perspective
When someone has spent much of their working life building homes, they know what defects to look for.
Inscope Property Inspections offers building and Pest inspections to buyers looking at properties in Melbourne. Its owner, Nick Stojanovski, is a Registered Building Practitioner who knows what to look for when inspecting a property. With more than 20 years of construction experience and over 150 homes built across Melbourne, he understands the significance of building defects and can explain them to you.
All inspections and reports are done by Nick, no third parties. So if you’re looking to buy that weather board home in Footscray or you’re inspecting a townhouse in Craigieburn, Nick will be your inspector, and you can speak to him about any findings.
They offer:
- Building and Pest Inspection: Building defects, safety, moisture, and any signs of timber pests that can be seen.
- Detailed Report: Easy-to-read, photo-rich reports distinguish major defects, safety issues and maintenance items, and explain what requires attention. You will usually receive your report within 24 hours.
- Come to the Inspection: You are encouraged to come to your inspection, and after you can ask any questions you may have. They also offer a phone call to go through your findings with you and explain what they mean.
- Photo pre-screening: If you want to know what may need fixing, send buyer-supplied property photos for free preliminary screening before booking. Also, they advertise unlimited lifetime phone support.
During a viewing, a buyer may notice a damp patch or a crack, but knowing what those defects mean and if you should worry about them when buying can make a difference. Of course, you may still need to get specialist opinions on certain things.
They also offer apartment inspections and pre-handover inspections for when you’re buying a new build. Their coverage area is throughout Melbourne, mainly the western and northern suburbs.
One thing to keep in mind is that Nick only does 2 inspections a day, so you may need to book earlier to secure an inspection time. He will have more time on each property, instead of doing lots of inspections in a day.
If you want one person to explain to you about the home and continue to speak to you, Inscope Property Inspections is a strong starting point for buyers seeking continued guidance.
2. PADinspections Pty Ltd – Best for Hard to Access Areas
Sometimes you can’t get under the house and see everything you need to see.
PADinspections Pty Ltd offers pre-purchase building and timber Pest Inspections in Melbourne; they also cover Geelong. Their director, Patrick Dunne, is a registered domestic builder and is a licensed pest inspector, with an inspection team to assist him.
What sets the company apart is their extra tools; they offer subfloor robots if needed and drones. You never know if the robot or drone will be able to get where you need, so keep that in mind.
They advertise that you can speak to them the evening of your inspection; they will also provide you with a photo report the morning after. They also offer apartment inspections, so if you have an older home with narrow crawl spaces, ask if the robot can fit.
Best suited to buyers that have limited access and want to ask if any robots etc, can help you before you book.
3. Buy Wise Building and Pest Inspections – Longer Track Record
Buyers who prefer a team-based inspection service may consider an established company.
Buy Wise Building and Pest Inspections has many years of inspection experience; they advertise about 3,000 inspections per year, so it’s most likely a larger team of people covering. They offer building and timber Pest Inspections; they have qualified, registered builders and pest inspectors on their team.
Again, you can attend your inspection and ask any questions you may have; they will provide you with a photo report and talk to you about your findings.
Since they have multiple people, just ask who will be attending your property and can talk to you about your findings.
Best suited to buyers that want a longer-track-record company in Melbourne that will have someone talk to you about your report.
4. Just Inspections – Wide Range of Properties in Victoria
Maybe you’re looking at houses in Geelong; here is another company that covers more of Victoria.
Just Inspections offer pre-purchase building and Pest Inspections, they will provide you with a written report, most likely the next business day.
Their follow up debrief and other reports could benefit your situation; just check with them what they include in the pre-purchase inspection for your home. They also advertise that they can do pre-auction, if you’re trying to bid on a home.
Something to remember is, will they have access to your home to find these defects and how soon will you receive your report back?
Best suited to people looking at homes in Melbourne, Geelong and around Victoria. Make sure they cover your home.
Things to ask your inspector before you book
Always give them details about the property, it can help your inspector prepare for what to expect when arriving on site. Here are some things you should ask before booking:
- Who will be attending? Find out what qualifications they have, and if they are insured. You can check if your inspector has a building registration.
- Are they offering you a building and timber pest inspection? Make sure they check what you want, roof, under house, shed etc.
- Apartment, if you’re buying an apartment, know what you’re inspecting; you can always get more information from your owners corporation.
- Can the inspector explain what a buyer should know before purchasing this home and what maintenance may be needed?
- When will I receive my report, allow yourself enough time to read through your report, maybe get other opinions, before you make your decision.
As mentioned on Consumer Affairs Victoria, inspect your property before you buy, consider having it inspected for pests, and make sure your inspector is insured.
A Melbourne buyer discussion about a report listing major defects illustrates why the severity of findings needs context. It’s not possible to give you advice on every home, so make sure you know what you’re buying before making an offer.
You should also be aware, your inspector will only be able to see what is in front of them, and sometimes will not have access to all areas, so always remember this when getting your inspection. RACV’s property inspection guide is worth consulting for strata reports when buying an apartment.
The Final Verdict
It is important to know what tools the inspector uses and who will inspect the property. All of these companies offer something different; some have more gear, some have more team members, and cover different areas of Victoria.
Inscope Property Inspections is the recommended starting point for buyers purchasing a home in Melbourne. You will be speaking to Nick, who is a builder, knows what defects are and what you need to be aware of, and can continue to speak to you about any questions you may have once your purchase has been made.
