How to prepare for a building inspection

Confirm the arrangements before the visit

Good preparation starts with clear arrangements. Give the inspector the property address, type of home and relevant sale dates. Explain whether the home is occupied, tenanted or vacant, who controls access and whether any areas need a separate key.

Agree who will arrange access with the owner, agent or property manager. Confirm the appointment and contact person before the visit. Do not assume an inspector can collect keys or enter an occupied home without an agreed arrangement.

If you would like to attend or meet afterwards, ask about the available arrangements when booking. Confirm report delivery and the opportunity to discuss findings against your actual deadline, rather than assuming a particular turnaround.

Provide clear, safe access

A visual building inspection depends on access to the areas being assessed. Let the inspector know where roof-space and subfloor access points are located, whether they are locked and whether you know of a problem reaching them.

• Provide the agreed keys for rooms, garages, gates and accessible hatches.
• Keep ordinary pathways and doorways clear where this can be done safely.
• Move light personal belongings away from inspection areas before the appointment, if safe to do so.
• Tell the inspector about known hazards, restricted areas or damaged access points.

Leave climbing, entering confined areas and assessing unsafe access to the inspector. Do not move heavy or unstable objects, remove building materials or attempt to make a hazardous area accessible. Discuss the limitation in advance so it can be considered and recorded.

Plan for occupants and pets

Make sure occupants know the agreed time and arrangements. In a tenanted home, coordinate lawful access through the appropriate person. Your agent or property manager can explain the notice and access process that applies.

Arrange suitable supervision or secure accommodation for pets so the inspector can move around the agreed areas. Tell the inspector about animals on the property before the visit. Keep gates secure according to the agreed plan.

Explain any practical restrictions, such as a room that will be occupied or a garage that cannot be opened. Clear communication allows limitations to be understood before they become a surprise in the report.

Gather useful records and questions

Have relevant documents ready: earlier inspection reports, specialist assessments and records of repairs or alterations. Identify known concerns, including where they occur and when you noticed them. Dated photographs can help explain a problem that is not visible on the day.

Records provide context; they do not replace assessment of the visible condition. Tell the inspector about completed work and unresolved concerns rather than expecting an invoice to explain the whole issue.

Write down the questions you want answered. For a buyer, these might concern a visible crack or an area not covered by a seller's report. For a seller, they might concern maintenance that needs investigation before listing.

Allow time for the report and next steps

Leave time to read the report, discuss findings and arrange any recommended specialist investigation. A booking close to an auction or contract deadline can leave little room for those steps. Our Victorian booking guide explains the sequence.

If access was unavailable, read the recorded limitation and ask what would be needed for further assessment. An inaccessible area should not be interpreted as an area with no visible problems.

The Gillon Builders service is a visual building inspection of reasonably accessible areas, with written findings, photographs and a verbal explanation. Tell the inspector about any particular timber or pest concerns, and confirm the assessment required and any specialist arrangements when booking.