Look, I get it. Nobody likes surprises when buying a house. And trust me, after 25+ years in this game, I’ve seen some doozies that could’ve been avoided with just a bit of prep work.

So your building and pest inspection is coming up? Good on you for booking one. Seriously. But here’s the thing – you can make this whole process smoother (and maybe even save yourself some headaches) with a little preparation.

## **First Things First – Access Is Everything**

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shown up to inspect a property and… can’t actually inspect half of it. The manhole’s buried under 10 years worth of junk. The subfloor access is blocked by that treadmill you swore you’d use.

Here’s what you need to do:

– **Clear the perimeter** of your house. Yeah, all the way around. Move those bins, shift the kids’ bikes, trim back any overgrown bushes
– **Open up access points** – manholes, subfloor entries, that weird little door under the stairs
– **Unlock everything**. Sheds, garages, pool houses, gates. If it’s got a lock, make sure we can get in
– **Move stuff in the garage**. Can’t inspect walls I can’t see, right?

## **The Inside Story**

Your inspector needs to poke around inside too. And I mean really poke around.

**Kitchen and bathrooms** – clear under the sinks. We’re checking for leaks, not admiring your collection of cleaning products

**Roof space** – if you’ve got stuff stored up there, at least create a path. We need to check the structure, insulation, and look for any unwanted guests (the furry or six-legged kind)

**Windows** – make sure we can actually open them. You’d be surprised how many “stuck” windows are actually broken

## **Documentation – Your Secret Weapon**

Got receipts? Warranties? Previous inspection reports? **Dig them out.**

Seriously, if you had pest treatment done last year, I want to know about it. Replaced the roof in 2019? Show me the paperwork. Had some electrical work done? Where’s the compliance certificate?

This stuff matters. It helps us understand what we’re looking at and might even work in your favor.

## **The Outside Matters Too**

Pest inspectors aren’t just looking at your house. They’re checking:

– **Garden beds** against the house (termites love moisture)
– **Timber fences** and retaining walls
– **Tree stumps** – yeah, even that old one in the back corner
– **Firewood stacks** – move them away from the house if you can

## **Do Yourself a Favor**

Take a walk around your property before we get there. Notice anything weird? Water stains on ceilings? Cracks in walls that weren’t there before? Doors that don’t close properly anymore?

**Write it down.** Tell your inspector. We’re thorough, but we’re not mind readers.

## **On Inspection Day**

Be there if you can. Not hovering over our shoulder (please don’t), but available for questions. Sometimes we need to know:

– When was that extension built?
– Has this bathroom always leaked?
– What’s the story with that patched-up wall?

Your answers help us piece together the property’s story.

## **The Bottom Line**

Prepping for an inspection isn’t rocket science. It’s just about making sure we can do our job properly. Clear access, available documentation, and a heads-up about any known issues – that’s really all we need.

And hey, if you’re selling, this prep work might actually help your sale. Buyers appreciate transparency. Shows you’ve got nothing to hide.

Remember, we’re on your side here. Whether you’re buying or selling, our job is to give you the full picture. The more we can see and access, the better that picture’s going to be.

Need to book an inspection? Give the team at Inspection Central a call. We’re open 7 days, 7am to 9pm. Because let’s face it, property doesn’t wait for business hours.

*- Bryce*