Pre-Purchase Building Inspection Checklist

Check that weep holes in the brickwork are visible above soil level and garden beds. Buried weep holes block ventilation and attract termites.

Hairline cracks under 1mm are usually cosmetic. Stepped diagonal cracks wider than 2mm near window/door corners indicate foundation movement.

Rotted or damaged eaves and fascia allow water ingress to the roof space. Check for peeling paint, rot, or sagging sections.

Leaning retaining walls may require expensive engineering rectification. Check both sides of the wall for soil pressure signs.

Missing, cracked, or slipped tiles are a direct path for water ingress into the roof space and ceiling. Inspect from the street using binoculars.

A noticeably sagging ridgeline indicates degraded roof framing (purlins/rafters) which is expensive to replace.

Incorrectly falling gutters pool water which causes rust and overflow into eaves. Downpipes should discharge to a stormwater pit, not the foundation.

Brown rings or sagging plasterboard on ceilings strongly suggest an active or past roof or plumbing leak directly above.

Use the door frames as a straight-edge reference. Large diagonal plaster cracks following the cornices are signs of structural movement.

Stand still and shift your weight. Significant flex in timber floors often indicates deteriorated stumps, bearers or joists in the subfloor.

Press shower tiles firmly. A hollow 'drum' sound means tiles have delaminated due to failed waterproofing behind them. Rectification cost: $3,000–$8,000+

Soft or blistered MDF skirting boards adjacent to showers, baths or laundry tubs indicate long-term moisture intrusion at the base of walls.

Open the vanity cabinet under each sink. Watermarks, rust stains or active drips indicate ongoing plumbing leaks.

Pencil-thin mud tubes running vertically on timber or masonry indicate active subterranean termite activity. Do not disturb — call an inspector.

Tap external pergola posts, verandah columns and fence timbers with a screwdriver handle. Hollow sounds or easy penetration indicate timber pest damage.

Water pooling adjacent to external walls saturates clay soils, directly causing foundation movement and creating high-moisture termite habitat.