What does a pest inspection consist of?

The Standard

Pest inspections are guided by Australian Standard 4349.3-2010 Inspection of buildings Part 3: Timber Pest Inspections.

This standard covers the inspection for timber pest that damage timber including subterranean termites, wood-boring insects, and fungal decay (rot).

Drywood termites and mould are not required to be reported on under this standard.

The Inspection

The inspector will undertake a visual and ‘limited invasive’ inspection of the property. Your inspector will use sounding tools, moisture meters, radar technology and thermal monitoring to make an assessment on 4 key areas –

• The evidence of presence of timber pests
• The evidence of damage caused by timber pests
• Elements of the building susceptible to timber pests
• Recommendations for further investigations

A Venatic report will provide a clear explanation of what the inspector looked for in terms of fungal decay, wood-boring insects and subterranean termites. Your report will also provide detailed explanations of the characteristics of the specific timber pests found (if any) and their impact on the home.

Your inspector will also investigate and report on any damage caused by timber pests including –

• Decaying timbers (shrunken timbers, stringy and cubical rot)
• Termite damaged timbers (misshapen or collapsed timbers)
• Borer damaged timbers (holes and portions of timber missing).

Throughout the inspection, your inspector will note conditions which may make the home more conducive to timber pest attack. This includes (but not limited to) –

• Heightened levels of moisture in building elements
• Inadequate drainage around the home
• Inadequate ventilation
• Plumbing leaks
• Untreated timber landscaping materials.

After your inspection

After the inspection, your inspector will make an assessment on the home’s overall susceptibility to timber pests. Based on this assessment, your inspector will also provide a recommendation for further inspections. AS 3600.2 recommends a routine inspection at least annually for the purposes of termite management, however, your inspector may deem more regular inspections are necessary based on a high level of susceptibility to timber pest attack. You inspector may also recommend a more invasive inspection to determine the extent of damage or suspected infestation.

When do I need to arrange a Building and Pest Inspection?

It is important to arrange your Building and Pest Inspections early in the purchasing process. This will allow time to consider the findings of the report and make further enquiries and negotiations if necessary.

When do I need to arrange a Building and Pest Inspection?

There are 3 key times you should consider engaging a building and pest inspector –

• During the cooling-off period after signing the property contract,
• During an agreed upon inspection period if your contract is subject to a satisfactory building and pest inspection, or
• Prior to selling your home

Building and Pest Inspections During a Cooling-Off Period

There is a cooling off period of 3 clear business days from the date you sign contracts when purchasing a home in a private sale in Victoria.

Although this gives you a small window to arrange a building and pest inspection, let the team at Venatic know your intentions to utilise this cooling off period and we will make every effort to have your inspection scheduled accordingly. Venatic guarantee you will receive your report report within 24 hours of inspection, often on the day of inspection.

You shall receive a full refund of any money paid less $100 or 0.2% of the purchase price if you decide to pull out of the contract in this period.

Contract Subject to Satisfactory Building and Pest Inspection

Before you sign your contract, ensure it is subject to a satisfactory building and pest inspection. You may renegotiate or pull out of your contract if you are unsatisfied with the findings of your report.

The cooling-off period only allows a very short period of time to obtain and assess a report. Ensure the contract allows a 14-day inspection timeframe to allow time to obtain your report, follow up with any quotes for issues which may arise from the report and consider if re-negotiation of the property price or even pulling out of the contract is appropriate. In this instance, it is a good idea to work closely with your conveyancer.

Building and Pest Inspection Prior to Selling

Building and pest inspections are not only beneficial when purchasing a home. When selling your investment, it is beneficial to be proactive and arrange a pre-sale building and pest inspection.

A Venatic Pre-Sale Building and Pest Inspection will follow the same format as a pre-purchase inspection. This will give you as a seller insight on what prospective purchasers may come across and give the opportunity to rectify any issues before putting your home on the market. A positive building and pest inspection report makes great marketing material for your home, providing potential purchasers more confidence in placing an offer.