SA Building Inspections | Property

SA Building Inspections

Phone: +61 411 469 389

Address: PO Box 145 5049 Seacliff Park, SA, Australia

Website: http://www.sainspections.com.au

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25.01.2022 CAN YOU SEE A SUSPICIOUS CRACK? IT MAY BE MORE SINISTER THAN IT FIRST APPEARS. Now that I have your attention, there's something I would like to bring up (and no, it's not my lunch after seeing this photo). Also, I would like to make it very clear that this is NOT a photo of me.... During an inspection the other day, I noted bathroom tiles that were cracked. The area also had deteriorating tile grout and flexible sealant. (See below for a couple of the photos that I took on the day). The damage was in a number of locations, just above the floor level in a shower recess: Cracked tiles, and the deterioration of tile grout and flexible sealant are not uncommon defects. When necessary, I will class these as major defects, particularly when they are located in a wet area. The damage may not seem like such a big deal, but the knock on effect can be much more sinister. I was able to access the sub-floor area in this particular property. I love it when I can get under a floor, because it allows me to check out the structure more thoroughly, and to further investigate my suspicions. When I went under the house, I made a bee-line for the area under the cracked tiles to check out what effects the tiling damage was having on the sub-floor area. I wasn't particularly surprised when I came across this (check out the photos of what was down there). Now, not all of this moisture damage originated from the cracks in the tiles, and the deteriorating tile grout and sealant (there were some plumbing issues as well), but the tiling defects were certainly a major contributing factor. It's important to remember that damp timber like this can encourage mould growth, and is likely to eventually suffer from timber fungal decay (rot) which can lead to the diminishing structural integrity of the affected members. And, don't forget that termites love to explore a nice damp environment.......(yes, I mentioned the "T" word). Anyway, I just wanted to give you a good visual example of how one of those things that you've been "Meaning to get fixed", like some cracked shower tiles, can lead to some more serious issues if you don't act promptly. Many inspectors either gloss-over, or understate these types of seemingly minor defects. Many inspectors never go sub-floor. At South Australian Building Inspections, we know what we're looking for and we never take shortcuts. We allocate a minimum of 4 hours for the on-site inspection, giving us enough time to thoroughly check everything out. As our client, we always work for you and you alone: not the seller, not the seller's real estate agent, but you. We are fiercely independent, and will always report truthfully, the condition of the property that you are interested in. Cheers, and bye for now. Remember, KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE CRACKS! Greg Henning South Australian Building Inspections

07.01.2022 If your building inspector is recommended to you by the vendor's real estate agent, will he truly be working for you? Just sayin'...

06.01.2022 'Beautifully Renovated' or 'Cleverly Hidden'? Last week I inspected a small unit in an affluent inner city suburb during my client's "cooling-off " period. The unit had two bedrooms and was advertised as "Beautifully renovated". The photos in the ad looked looked stunning, and my first thought when I walked in to inspect the unit it was "Wow! This place looks nice." Luckily for my client, I know that you should ‘never judge a book by its cover’: or in this case, ‘never judg...e a property by its appearance’. The property had a dark side, a seedy underbelly that that was cleverly hidden behind fresh paint, new floor coverings and designer furniture. I uncovered the first of many dirty little secrets after just a few minutes when, as usual, I carefully placed my spirit level against the front entry door frame. A chill ran down my spine when I looked at the bubble in my level, and realised all was not as it seemed.. Right then I knew that I was in for quite a ride. There was going to be a battle between me, equipped with my building knowledge, and the demons hiding within these walls.......... All drama aside, I just want to make the point that with so many renovation shows on TV, many people are flipping houses. Some do quite a good job. All too often though, major problems are temporarily masked, and hidden from unsuspecting and excited house hunters. Most Building Inspectors with limited building and renovating knowledge or experience would not have picked up 90% of the defects that I uncovered in the property. The unit was quietly sinking (yes I said sinking!), and most of the walls were on a subtle but serious lean. There were well concealed full thickness wall cracks, sagging floors and dampness in the walls. I discovered many recent structural movement indicators hidden under a veneer of patchwork. Many of these defects were not apparent to the naked eye, and if I wasn’t a tradesman with extensive building knowledge I wouldn’t even have known what indications to look for, let alone picked them up. I spent 6 hours on site that day, drafting my report as I went. I issued the 100 page Platinum report the following day, detailing the plethora of major defects I uncovered. After news of the report reached the vendor and their agent, the vendor slashed the price by $20,000. My client politely refused the offer. The property was as good as it was ever going to get, and I could see that it was going to get a whole lot worse in the short to medium term. The moral of the story? Beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing. If you ever need to have a property inspected, make sure that you choose the best. It is common for my clients to spend a few hundred bucks on an inspection, and then to save, literally, tens of thousands of dollars on a re-negotiated price. Give Greg a call at "South Australian Building Inspections" on ph: 0411 469 389, or visit us at www.sainspections.com.au

01.01.2022 If the vendor's realestate agent recommends a building inspector, should you follow his or her advice? We at SABI think you shouldn't and here's why. We had yet another vendor's realestate agent hit us up last week for a favourable report, in exchange for recommendations to buyers. ... Hmmmm...... that's three out of the last four agents attempting to bribe or bully us into giving a favourable report. We shall not be coerced!