Late last year the Government announced an extension to the HomeBuilder program, which is now open to eligible participants until the 31st of March this year.
The scheme provided eligible owner-occupiers with a grant to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home. The scheme has been devised to assist the residential construction sector by encouraging the commencement of new home builders and renovations.
You can learn more about the scheme here.
Whether you’re undertaking a large-scale extension or doing a smaller project to add value to your home, it’s a good idea to organise a renovation inspection. This would be either before the project commences, at crucial points throughout the project (for larger-scale jobs) or when the project has been finished.
We can also provide a contract review service, to make sure your build will be of a good quality, with no nasty surprises when it comes to pay your builder, or when the works are complete.
Why get an inspection before you start?
So, you have your plan approved, your budget under control and you’re ready to go. Have you made sure your home is also ready?
The following elements need to be inspected before you commence:
- Site drainage
- Stumps and floor levels
- Rooves and gutters
- Internal walls, load-bearing or otherwise
- Plumbing and electrical
- The likelihood of asbestos or termites
An inspection at this stage can identify areas that need initial attention (or any red flags). Don’t run the risk of a renovation project that doesn’t meet building codes or is potentially unsafe, when you have already invested a lot of time and money.
Let’s take a look at some examples:
Example 1:This client engaged us to complete a PCI inspection on an architectural renovation to their home.
Our inspector identified large areas of caulking and some grouting that needed to be done or re-done, as the caulking did not match the base material. Outcome: he recommended that a caulking tradesperson be appointed to finish the job to the required standard. For this particular client, our inspector was also able to identify that the re-painting work had only been touched up in many areas, and he recommended painting entire elevations to the nearest architectural join.
Feature Image courtesy of Freepik: prostooleh
Example 2: For another client, our inspectors conducted a frame inspection for a renovation which comprised an additional dwelling. Our inspector discovered an issue with surface drainage being directed to the wall of the new dwelling, and recommended the steps to take to rectify this issue.
If your renovation is on a smaller scale, you may want to consider booking a pre-project condition report and then a final completion inspection, to make sure the work has been completed to the correct guidelines and standards.
I have renovated my house, and now I want to sell. What do I need to do?
Firstly, familiarise yourself with your responsibilities as an owner builder.
If you are selling your home within six years and six months of completing your renovation, you must provide an owner builder defect report conducted by a registered builder, for work regardless of value – this includes extensions.
If the value of your work exceeds $16,000, you will also need to take out domestic building insurance. This insurance is for the protection of the person who buys your property and must be provided before you take a deposit or any other money for the sale of the property.
The Home Inspection Hub can arrange inspections for all stages of your renovation:
- Contract review
- Pre-condition reports
- Staged inspections throughout the build
- Owner builder defect reports
Our inspectors are fully qualified and insured. Call us today for a free quote or sample report.
1300 071 283 or email info@thehomeinspectionhub.com.au
