Real Estate
4 September, 2025
Building and pest inspection is critical
THE building and pest condition in a contract is a very important consideration for any buyer when purchasing a property and must be conducted by a licensed inspector.
The goal of the inspection is to ensure the property is in a condition acceptable to the buyer, so they can move forward with peace of mind.
The report’s main purpose is to identify any major structural defects or any major pest issues that might not be so obvious and could result in additional and signification costs that the buyer was not unexpecting.
When the buyer receives the building and pest report, under the terms of the contract you have two options:
1. Accept the property in its current condition, or if you are unsatisfied with any of the findings, you may 2. terminate.
However, if you really want the property there is a “third option” the buyer can also choose to work with the seller and request that items are addressed or fixed prior to settlement.
It’s important to remember that the seller is under no obligation to enter into these negotiations.
We find that good open communication is always key at this stage and both sides need to be fair and reasonable.
Naturally the building and pest report will be focused on finding faults and the inspector’s opinion is not always conclusive.
We always recommend buyers seek a second opinion and professional advice from an independent licensed tradesperson before making any final decisions and this usually results in positive outcomes for both the Buyer and the Seller.
- Sean Thorpe (right) is sales director, auctioneer and founder of Paradise Property Group
