Key questions for house inspections

A house inspection is a crucial part of the home buying process. It’s a good opportunity to get a proper feel for the property and examine its true condition. During the property inspection, you can identify any issues with the home and see if it's still worth buying. 

If you're new to home buying, here are questions to ask during the inspection, and some red flags to look out for when conducting your inspection. 

Why is a house inspection important? 

It's generally recommended that you do a thorough home inspection before buying a property. Even if you think the place is perfect during the viewing, you never know until you do a propert home inspection. It may be a good idea to hire a professional building inspector to go over the property so they can look for things you might miss. 

The goal of a home inspection is to ensure that the property is in good condition. A professional home inspector can find any underlying issues like structural damage and safety issues. A comprehensive home inspection report can also provide you with a list of things that need to be repaired. 

You can use the results from the home inspection report to negotiate with the seller. This could mean lowering the total purchase price to compensate for the repairs needed. Or have the repairs be done by the seller before finalising the purchase. A home inspection could prolong the buying process but it's better to be safe than sorry. 

Important questions to ask during a house inspection 

You could inspect the house yourself with a real estate agent or the seller. This usually happens during a house viewing. Here are some important questions to ask when inspecting the property: 

Have any modifications or renovations been made? 

This can give you a better idea of the true value of the property and whether you should renovate the property yourself in the future.  

If you do plan on making renovations in the future, ask about any council restrictions or subdivision limitations that could affect your decision.  

Why are the owners selling? 

Asking this, as well as “how long has it been on the market”, can help you find out if the owners are in a hurry to sell and if there are any issues with the property. Knowing why the owners are selling can help you figure out any red flags. Owners who price their property too low in exchange for waiving a proper home inspection could mean there are underlying issues with the property. 

It may also be a good idea to ask what sale price the owners are expecting. This can help you get an even better indication of whether the house is in your budget or not. 

Has the property undergone any major repairs? 

Take note of any defects or signs of potential structural issues in the property. Water stains, sagging or cracked ceilings, mould and other issues that may need repairs once you purchase the property should be factored into your decision.  

Do you have copies of any recent property reports? 

Seeing reports such as soil reports, pest inspections, and condition reports can help you avoid buying a property with structural issues. 

Are there similar properties listed for sale right now? 

Asking this might let the seller know you’re a serious buyer and can let you know if the property’s market price is its true value or not. If you're not successful with the current house you're looking to buy, it can also give you a leg up on the next opportunity.  

What should you look for in a house inspection? 

In addition to asking the agent those key questions, you should also keep an eye out for the following: 

• Any signs of water damage or mould (check inside cabinets and under sinks for this), as it could indicate a leak somewhere 
• Cracks in walls (inside and outside walls), as large cracks are cause for concern 
• Mould in the bathroom, as too much mould is bad for your health and could also indicate a bathroom with limited air circulation 
• Open all doors and windows to see if any are hard to open (or broken) 
• Turn all lights on and off to see if any are faulty or flickering
• Go into a quiet room and check for noise (if it’s near a busy road or train station there could be a lot of noise pollution, for example) 
• Check the number and size of the rooms and measure them to see if the listed sizes are correct 
• Look for any sags in the ceiling and any signs of damage to the roof if possible 
• Check the gutters for rust if possible 
• Check the taps to see if they run properly 
• Look for any loose carpet or rotting floorboards and steps 
• Check for any peeling paint 
• Check the level of natural light the property gets

What are home inspection red flags? 

Watch out for the following red flags when doing a home inspection: 

Extensive pest damage 

Pests like termites, mice and rats can be noisy, messy, and in the case of termites can compromise the integrity of the house. A pest inspection can help identify the existence of any annoying critters. 

Noticeable structural damage 

Big cracks in walls or rotting floorboards and stairs can be fixed if you buy the property, but they could be indicators or deeper issues in the property. If a defect is big enough it could cost you a fair bit to fix it. 

Noticeable water damage 

Evidence of lots of mould and water damage might indicate sloppy ownership from the previous owner, but it could mean something worse, like the property having poor drainage. In a storm, this could cause problems. 

Odd smells 

Keep your nose on the lookout for any weird odours, like the smell of pet urine or smell from a nearby facility like a sewage plant. The agent might try to hide stuff like this. 

Botched DIY work 

The previous occupants might’ve added a new room themselves with a slanty floor or put in some dodgy new plumbing. This might not be immediately obvious, so you’ll need keen eyes. 

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