Like most small businesses, satisfied customers are our best salespeople.

You deserve honest, impartial advice, but when choosing a service provider, there are a few things to remember about building inspectors.

There are some things others might do but we don't...

We won't tout for building work

Some inspection providers use inspections as a sideline activity for getting building or design work for themselves or their associates. Inspections are all we do - not a sideline activity - and our advice is impartial and objective.

We won't sell your report to others

Some inspection providers, even large national franchise operations, will on-sell your report to anybody. So the information that you paid for - that you thought was yours - is made available to the seller, the agent and competing purchasers. Is that right or fair? ...we don't think so.

We aren't cosy with the agent

Some inspectors seek work from real estate agents. Potentially, there are several problems here: 1 - The agent acts for the seller yet the inspector is supposed to be acting for the buyer.  2 -The agent wants the inspector to speak favourably of the property and smoothe the sale, otherwise that inspector won't get any more referrals from the agent. 

We won't behave unethically

Some inspection providers will routinely "rubbish" every building they look at, hoping the buyer will move on and call them again soon.

Some inspectors have no license, no insurance, no time and little knowledge, yet can continue to operate legally in SA.

We won't cut price at the expense of quality 

You have an ever-increasing number of inspection services to choose from. This means cheaper prices but like anything cheaper, there are risks to quality, for example . . . 

Price-cutting leads to less time on-site, increasing the risk of missing something important. There may be little or no time left for you to talk to the inspector afterwards.

We all love a bargain, but the appeal of saving a few hundred dollars on an inspection report is simply not worth the risk.

Look for quality and integrity first and you'll probably find value too. 

We are a completely independent Adelaide family business.

Our services are marketed on the internet and to lenders and conveyancers directly.

The post-inspection summary, given in person or by phone, is when our inspector explains what you need to know in language you will understand, to suit your level of building knowledge. Listen and ask questions.

Our clients come from all ages and backgrounds: seasoned property buyers, first homebuyers, new arrivals... some with thorough building knowledge... or none at all... and with different levels of education and literacy.

Your inspector will listen carefully, inform appropriately and foster understanding. 

The emailed report, sent next day, is clear and concisely worded, with supporting photos. It is easy to navigate with a one-page summary and a contents page.  Ask for a sample to be emailed to you.

Our inspection findings are for your eyes and ears only - we do not tell the other party or real estate agent what we find, unless it is a public safety issue. We will never on-sell your report to other people. Some inspectors do this, including large operators such as Jim's, so choose carefully. 

We all have different ideas and concerns …. some of us want everything perfect right now, others have grand plans, some are enthusiastic and practical; some aren’t.

That's why your inspector should have the understanding to give the appropriate advice when asked, for example, "Should I worry about these defects?" or "How long will this bathroom last before we have to fix it?". 

In SA, pre-purchase building inspectors are not required to be licensed, registered or insured

Inspecting houses for sale, especially older ones, then reporting to buyers and doing both well, takes training and lots of experience, but...

With a smartphone app, anybody can make a professional-looking report. 

So it is crucially important to qualify the inspector - but how?

Do they have a few or a few hundred previous inspections?

Are they members of building professions - like architects and engineers?

Licenses and Memberships ... what are they really worth?

Holding a builders license, or being a member of an industry association, does not, in itself, qualify somebody to carry out pre-purchase building inspections. Some builders licenses are highly restricted, having nothing whatsoever to do with inspections.

Membership of the main industry associations, HIA and Master Builders, is open to most people, irrespective of their ability to inspect and report on building matters. 

Your inspector must have local building knowledge about many ages and types, a keen eye and good communication skills.

Our building and pest inspector is David Bodycomb. He is an experienced building professional with over 30 years working around Adelaide, including 15 years 'on-the-tools' building, restoring and renovating houses for himself and others.

You will benefit from his thorough understanding of local buildings and plain-language explanations.

David is a registered Architect in SA since being a licensed builder for many years. 

Under the 'Building Work Contractors Act 1995', Architects are deemed to hold Building Supervisor's Registation for any building work.

Check him out on Linkedin here. 

A pre-purchase building and pest inspection report should always be in writing, so it can be referred to later.  If it becomes a tool for negotiations, it must be clear, accurate and authoritative.

Our reports are 25-40 pages long but very easy to digest, beginning with a short one-page summary and table of contents. We won't waste your time with irrelevant or petty detail, onerous disclaimers or gobbledygook.

It is generally agreed that the minimal standard for inspection and reporting are the Australian Standards AS4349.1 for Pre-purchase Building Inspections and AS4349.3 for Timber Pest Inspections.

We use a report-writing software template designed to conform to these standards but we routinely provide more than they specify, simply because buyers and owners want to know more.

Your Allies - Legal, Technical & Financial

After finding the right house and deciding to make an offer, a well-prepared buyer needs a technical advisor (building and pest inspector) and a legal advisor (or conveyancer) - plus of course an obliging lender.

The purchase process might seem a little tricky, but that's hardly surprising when most of us don't buy or sell houses often enough to understand it nearly as well as a real estate agent.

Some buyers need reminding who employed the real estate agent - that they were employed by the seller to act foremost in their interests. That's not a criticism - just a fact.

Unless you are already familiar with laws and procedures in South Australia, some careful homework is advisable - these links to outside sites are a start:

• Consumer and Business Services 
• Conveyancers Association
• Buying a House -The Legal Process
• Jenman Agents & Ethics

David is an Adelaide-based building professional who has spent the past 35 years in building-related activities right here in Adelaide.

Beginning as a builder's labourer, he soon obtained a builders license and progressed working on-the-tools, until 1995, when he took time out for study and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2000, finally registering as an Architect in 2002.

David will carry out your inspection, present your summary and produce the illustrated typewritten report.

Check out our inspector David Bodycomb on Linkedin http://au.linkedin.com/pub/david-rhys-bodycomb/38/834/87