Pre-purchase building and pest inspection
The inspection most Ballarat buyers book: one visit covering the building's condition and timber pests, with one combined written report.
New home stage inspections in Ballarat
Independent checks at base, frame, lock-up, fixing and pre-handover, timed so defects are found before you pay the next progress claim.
Why inspect your own build
When you build a new home, the building surveyor inspects the work at the mandatory stages required for the building permit. Those inspections are about compliance with the permit and the building regulations. They are not a check on whether the work matches your contract, your plans and specifications, or a reasonable standard of finish.
An independent inspector works for you. Their job is to find defects while they are still easy to fix, and to give you a written list you can hand to the builder before the next progress claim falls due.
The stages
Victorian domestic building contracts usually tie progress payments to four stages: base, frame, lock-up and fixing. Consumer Affairs Victoria advises checking the work before each payment, and notes that an independent building consultant or inspector can advise you before you pay (CAV: deposits and payments).
| Stage | Typical timing | What an inspector commonly looks at |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Slab poured or footings and stumps in | Set-out against the plans, slab edges, termite management, site drainage |
| Frame | Frame up, before plaster | Wall and roof framing, bracing, tie-downs, straightness and level |
| Lock-up | Roof, external walls, windows and doors on | Roof covering and flashings, cladding, window installation, sarking |
| Fixing | Plaster, cabinetry and wet areas in | Plaster finish, waterproofing where visible, joinery, internal doors |
Your contract sets the exact payment stages, so send it to the inspector and ask them to time visits around it.
Pre-handover (practical completion) defect list
The pre-handover inspection is the one most owners regret skipping. Before you make the final payment and take the keys, the inspector walks the whole house and produces a defect list: cracked tiles, poorly fitted doors, paint and plaster faults, missing sealant, drainage falls, incomplete items. Once you make the final payment, it is much harder to get small items fixed quickly. Book this inspection as soon as the builder gives you a completion date.
New estates around Ballarat
Much of Ballarat's new housing is going up on the western side of the city, in growth areas such as Lucas, Alfredton, Delacombe and Winter Valley. Many of these homes are volume builds on fresh subdivisions, where the common issues are less about structure and more about drainage around the slab, finishing quality, and wet-area detailing. An inspector who works regularly in these estates will know what to look for. Ask your inspector which builders and estates they see most often.
Tips for a smooth process
- Check your contract allows independent inspections and how much notice the builder needs.
- Send the inspector your plans, specifications, engineering and soil report before the first visit.
- Pass each report to the builder in writing and keep a record of what was fixed.
- Do not pay a progress claim for a stage until you are satisfied the work for that stage is complete.
Book stage inspections
Tell us your build stage and expected dates on the quote form and an independent Ballarat inspector will be in touch. Pricing for stage inspections varies with the number of visits; see the price guide.
Other services
Building inspection
A condition report on the building itself, without the timber pest component. Often used for units and townhouses, or where pests are checked separately.
Timber pest and termite inspection
A visual inspection for termites, borers and wood decay, with a written report on what was found and the conditions that make an attack more likely.