Two top tips first.

1. Do not try Electrical work yourself.
2. Do not ignore warning signs. Mould, Damp, Large cracks and anything that shouldn’t be there.
3. Air conditioner filters need cleaning twice a year at least.
4. Smoke alarm batteries should be tested twice a year. (Replace the battery on April fool’s day every year)
5. Maintain your home in good condition.
6. Print out this list and tick off as you go.
7. A DO IT YOURSELF CHECK LIST FOR THE HOME BUYER or OWNER
8. It’s been said so often it has become a cliché – the family home is usually the biggest investment anyone ever makes.  Yet too many people launch themselves into it without sufficient care.
9. It’s hard to imagine a car buyer going ahead without first checking the motor or at least having a test drive.  A house buyer outlaying eight or ten times as much often does just that!
10. Maroochydore Handyman Building Inspections was set up to help the home buyer make the right purchase and preventative maintenance decisions by providing important information on defects and repair costs.
11. However, if you are a ‘do it yourself’ purchaser or home owner, here’s a building inspection checklist you might find handy.
12. If you see any of these items below you will need the help of a professional to investigate the significances of the fault – call 0402 717 358
13. WHAT YOU WILL NEED
14. Before embarking on your inspection, you will need to take a ladder, a long shank screwdriver, a good torch and a power point tester (available inexpensively from most large hardware and electrical stores).
15. THE INSPECTION – WHAT TO LOOK FOR
16. The Garden
17. ………
18. Check the condition of fences and gates.  Examine the base of gate posts and fence posts.
19. Look for large trees close to the house.  These could cause structural subsidence, particularly in brick or veneer homes.
20. It is also worthwhile noting the location of poisonous trees and shrubs (such as Rhus and Oleanders).
21. Out-Buildings
22. Check gutters for holes or leaking joints.
23. Check the structural condition and water tightness of rooms and walls of garages and sheds.
24. Look for fire hazards, loose or broken power points and badly wired electrical fittings.
25. Outside the home
26. Carefully inspect the walls to ensure that they are straight.  In timber houses, sagging weatherboards could mean timber stumps have rotted, or concrete stumps or brick piers have subsided.
27. Check for rotten weatherboards, windows, doors and verandah posts.
28. Thoroughly check the condition of the mortar between the bricks.
29. Where houses are brick clad to the ground, make sure there are plenty of sub-floor ventilators beneath floors.
30. Look for buckled, badly fitted or water stained eaves.
31. On the Roof
32. Check the TV aerial is secure.
33. Lean your ladder against the guttering and look for a wavy roof line.
34. Look for broken roof tiles and loose ridge and valley tiles.
35. Check that corrugated iron sheets are in good condition and well nailed down.
36. Ensure that valley and eaves guttering are free from holes and rust.  Even small holes can create large leaks.
37. Make sure that flues and chimneys are structurally safe and the flashings around them are secure.
38. Under Timber Floors
40. Look under the floor for props or bricks holding up the floor instead of stumps, piers or dwarf walls
41. With timber stumps, look for stumps with the heaviest water stain.
42. Inspect timber framing and floors generally for rot, mould and evidence of borers.
43. Check to see that the earth is not excessively wet.
44. Look carefully for termite ‘shelter tubes’.
45. If you are in any way unsure about borers or termites, the house should be checked by an expert.
46. In the Roof Space

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48. Look for sagging roof framing, cracked or broken tiles, rusty iron roofing and leaking ridges or valleys.
49. Check for shoddy or damaged electrical wiring.  Do not touch!
50. A pungent odour or rat-like droppings could indicate the presence of vermin.
51. Note whether or not the ceiling has been insulated.
52. Concrete Floors
54. Although the underside of the concrete floors cannot be inspected check if there is any exposed perimeter to ensure that the plastic waterproofing membrane is not exposed.
55. Inside
56. These checks should be carried out in each room of the house.
57. Timber Floors
58. Tap along skirtings for hollow sounds.
59. At regular intervals, jump lightly on the floor to detect any rotten floorboards, borer infestation or looseness in the floor framing.
60. Check to see if the floors are level, or there are gaps between floor and skirting.  If stumps or piers are sinking, floors will always fall away from fireplaces or brick walls.
61. Concrete Floors
62. Check cracks in grout.
63. Look for signs of dampness, such as lifting or buckling floor tiles and rotten carpet.
64. Check Ducted heated systems can be inspected for obvious signs of movement or leaking ducts.
65. Walls
66. Check for mould and damp spots.
67. Check that walls are straight and true.
68. Look for cracks and general movement and be particularly wary of freshly painted or wallpapered areas.
69. Carefully inspect brick walls for signs of dampness.
70. Tap solid brick walls for a hollow sound or a change in tone.
71. Look for cracks beside chimneys and look for doorways and windows that aren’t square, or are jamming.
72. Lightly tap walls and tiled surfaces with the handle of your screwdriver.
73. Ceilings
75. Check that ceilings are straight and true, and look for cracks or signs of movement  at the cornices.
76. Look for water stains and mould growth which could indicate excessive condensation or roof leaks.
77. Windows and Ventilators
79. Make sure that windows can be opened and check for broken window panes.
80. Check for excessive condensation and mould growth on windows and walls.
81. Electrical Systems
83. Check that the light switches and power points work.
84. Test all power points with the tester.
85. Wiring in many older homes is quite sounds, provided that it is left intact.
86. If you are at all in doubt about the condition of the electrical system, you should have it checked by an expert.
87. Plumbing Systems
89. Check all plumbing fittings for cracks or leaks.
90. Test the water pressure in hot and cold taps.
91. Partially fill the bath or laundry tubs and observe whether or not the water drains away properly.
92. Look for damp ground in the vicinity of the drains.
93. Check for dampness and soft soil where down pipes meet the ground.
94. General
96. Examine the house for appropriate room layout, orientation to the sun, views, relation to neighbours, traffic noise, and if not optimal, whether the house can be improved at an affordable cost.
97. Renovations and Extensions
98. If the house has recently been renovated, or if extensions have been carried out, check with the local Council to ensure that a building permit was obtained.  Illegal alterations could become your responsibility, particularly if they contravene the building regulations.
99. If you are buying with a view to doing extensions in the future, check Council requirements for set-back distances, maximum site coverage and restrictions on types of construction.  You may need professional advice.
100. If you find anything you are not sure about call Mike the Maroochydore Handyman on 0402 717 358.

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