A building inspection is a professional, visual assessment of a property’s condition. It identifies significant defects, structural concerns, safety hazards and maintenance issues that are visible and readily accessible on the day, carried out to Australian Standard AS 4349.1.

We inspect every readily accessible area: the roof exterior and roof space, interior rooms, external walls, foundations and structural elements, subfloor areas, wet areas, windows and doors, garages and sheds where included, decks and balconies, retaining walls, surface drainage, and general safety hazards. The full checklist is on our pre-purchase inspections page.

Phil looks for the things that cost money and compromise safety: structural cracking and movement, water penetration and rising damp, timber decay, roof and drainage problems, defective workmanship, and hazards like unsafe balustrades or missing smoke alarms. With 35 years in the trade behind him, he knows where those problems tend to hide.

Costs vary with property size, age, construction type, location and complexity. Our pre-purchase building inspections start from $285. We quote up front with no hidden charges.

The buyer usually pays for a pre-purchase inspection, since the report is for their benefit and they choose the inspector. Sellers sometimes commission their own pre-sale inspection before listing, so they know what a buyer’s inspector will find.

For the cost of one inspection, your client finds out whether they’re about to buy a problem. A report can support a price negotiation, flag repairs to budget for, or occasionally save someone from a purchase they’d regret. Most people consider i

We do the building inspection only. Great Southern Building Inspections does not carry out timber pest inspections, which are a separate specialty covered by a different standard, AS 4349.3. A building inspection looks at the structure and condition of the property. A timber pest inspection looks specifically for termites, borers and fungal decay. Many buyers arrange both, and your client is welcome to book a timber pest inspector separately alongside our building inspection.

A building inspection isn’t a pass or fail test. It’s a report on condition. That said, the findings that most often stop a sale or trigger a renegotiation are major structural movement, significant water penetration, extensive timber decay, and serious safety defects. The report explains how significant each issue is and what it would take to fix.

Structural cracking that suggests foundation movement, sagging or bowing walls and roof lines, widespread damp or rising damp, evidence of ongoing roof leaks, and unpermitted or poorly executed alterations. Any of these warrants a closer look before your client commits.

A standard inspection is visual and non-invasive. Inspectors don’t cut into walls, lift floor coverings, move furniture or stored goods, or dismantle anything. We also don’t test electrical, plumbing or gas systems, and we can’t report on what we can’t safely reach. Any limitations on the day are recorded in the report.

Roughly 1 to 1.5 hours for a unit or small home, 1.5 to 2.5 hours for a standard home, and up to 4 hours for large or complex properties.

In most cases the same day as the inspection, and always within 24 hours.

Detailed findings, colour photographs, significant defects, maintenance items, safety hazards, recommendations for further investigation where required, and references to relevant Australian Standards and the National Construction Code where applicable. It’s written in plain English.

As early as you can. In South Australia, buyers commonly arrange an inspection during the cooling-off period or before auction, so the findings can inform the decision or the offer. Give us a call and we’ll work to your contract dates.

A report reflects the property’s condition on the day of the inspection. There’s no formal expiry, but conditions change, so a report more than a few months old should be treated as a guide rather than a current assessment.

Yes, and we encourage it. Walking through with your inspector is a good chance to ask questions and understand any defects found.

Our role is an independent assessment of condition. The decision is yours, and the report gives you the information to make it.

Standard reports don’t include repair cost estimates. We can refer you to known local trades who are licensed and qualified.

On the Fleurieu Peninsula: Victor Harbor, Goolwa, Strathalbyn, Port Elliot, Middleton, Yankalilla and Normanville. In the Adelaide Hills: Mount Barker, Hahndorf, Stirling, Aldgate, Bridgewater, Crafers, Littlehampton, Nairne, Woodside, Echunga, Meadows, Macclesfield and Mylor. We also cover Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend, and regional areas through the South East including Robe, Kingston and Naracoorte. Travel to other locations by quotation

Call 0493 899 262 or send an enquiry through the site. We’ll recommend the right inspection, give you a quote and book a time that suits.