Sydney Building & Pest Inspection FAQ

A building inspection assesses the structural and physical condition of the property (walls, roof, subfloor, wet areas, drainage) to AS 4349.1. A pest (timber pest) inspection assesses termite activity, damage and conducive conditions to AS 4349.3. A strata report reviews the owners corporation's records for an apartment or townhouse — minutes, financials, sinking fund, special levies and known defects. They answer different questions and none replaces another.

Combined building + pest. The building inspection catches structural, waterproofing and safety defects; the pest inspection catches active termites, damage and high-risk conditions. Booking them together is ~20–30% cheaper than separately and gives you one integrated report.

A building inspection of the lot itself plus a strata report on the owners corporation. Pest is usually optional for a mid- or high-rise unit but recommended for ground-floor units, townhouses and anything with timber structure or a garden interface.

No. A standard building inspection is a visual assessment of construction and condition — the inspector will flag obvious signs of termite activity but is not required (or insured) to search for them. Timber pest work must be done under AS 4349.3 with the right tools (moisture meter, thermal camera, sounding) and reported separately.

No. A strata report reviews the owners corporation's paperwork — it can tell you the building has a known cladding issue or an upcoming $18k special levy, but it won't tell you the bathroom in unit 604 is leaking. You need a physical building inspection of the lot as well.

For a standard 3–4 bedroom Sydney home in 2026, a combined building and pest inspection is $440–$715. Apartments and units sit at $350–$500. Large, double-storey, heritage or acreage homes range $700–$1,100+. Every quote is fixed in writing before we book.

Cheap quotes usually mean a shorter on-site time, no thermal or moisture equipment, no roof/subfloor entry, subcontracted labour, minimal insurance, or a template report with no photos. A compliant inspection takes 90–180 minutes on-site and costs $450+.

Yes. Combined inspections are ~20–30% cheaper than booking a building and a pest inspection separately, and you get one integrated report instead of two.

There can be — extra on-site time is priced upfront, never added after the report. You'll see the final fixed number before you confirm.

We attend most Sydney bookings within 24 hours, and same-day when booked before 10am — critical if you're inside a 5-business-day cooling-off window or preparing for a Saturday auction.

A compliant AS 4349 building + pest inspection takes 90–180 minutes on-site depending on size, access and complexity.

Within 48 hours of the inspection. Photo-rich, plain-English, with major/minor/maintenance ratings so you can act on it straight away.

Yes. We book pre-auction inspections seven days a week (subject to vendor access) and deliver the report before you register to bid.

Building = structural condition and defects. Pest = timber pest / termite activity and risk. Strata = the owners corporation's records for an apartment or townhouse. Most buyers need building + pest; apartment buyers also need a strata report.

Yes — every accessible roof void and subfloor is entered and photographed. Where access is restricted (no manhole, insulation covering trusses, sealed subfloor), we note the limitation and photograph the reason.

Yes. Thermal imaging finds hidden moisture, missing insulation and — combined with a moisture meter — early termite activity behind wall linings. Both are included as standard on every inspection.

Both. For units we cover the lot itself plus visible common property (roof, façade, common lobbies where accessible) and cross-check against the strata report.

A standard inspection excludes pools/spas, retaining walls over 700mm, compliance certificates, hidden defects behind linings, appliances and finishes below the defect threshold in AS 4349. We flag these as scope limits and can arrange specialists if needed.

Yes. Cosmetic renovations often hide the exact defects we look for — non-compliant waterproofing, painted-over movement cracks, hidden water damage and unpermitted structural changes. New paint is the #1 place we find serious issues.

Yes. Major defects give you real leverage during the cooling-off period — either to negotiate a price reduction, request repairs, or walk away without losing your full deposit (0.25% forfeit applies in NSW).

A major defect materially affects structure, safety, weatherproofing or habitability (structural cracking, active leaks, illegal wiring, active termites). Minor defects are cosmetic or wear-and-tear. Every finding in your report is ranked so you know what actually matters.

Yes — fully licensed inspectors carrying $20M professional indemnity and $20M public liability cover. Every inspection is performed to AS 4349.1 (building) and AS 4349.3 (timber pest).

A qualified, insured inspector from our network — not a subcontracted labourer. You'll see their name and licence on the report and can speak with them directly on a 15-minute debrief call.

Book them before each progress payment: slab (pre-pour and post-pour), frame, pre-lining/lock-up, fixing/waterproofing, and PCI/handover. Once a stage is closed up and paid, defects become dramatically more expensive to rectify.

Yes. We attend Practical Completion Inspections alongside you, generate a defect list the builder is contractually required to rectify before handover, and re-inspect once works are complete.

Every 12 months across most of Sydney, and every 6 months in high-risk bushland-fringe pockets (Hills, Hornsby, Northern Beaches, Sutherland). CSIRO data shows 1 in 3 unprotected Australian homes will be attacked in their lifetime.

Mud tunnels on brickwork or piers, hollow-sounding skirting boards, sagging or spongy floors, tight-fitting doors that suddenly stick, and small pinholes in architraves. If you see any of these, book an inspection this week — not next month.

No. A timber pest inspection is a point-in-time visual assessment. Termites can attack a 'clear' property within months, which is why annual re-inspection and a live termite management system are the standard of care in Sydney.