Customer Pre INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Pre-Inspection Property Presentation Checklist
To help ensure your report reflects the property at its best on the day of inspection, we strongly encourage vendors to carefully walk through the home before our inspector arrives.
Many items identified during an inspection relate to minor maintenance, presentation or repair issues that owners may prefer to address beforehand so they do not appear in the final report. Building Inspectors must report what they see on the day, even if there are good intentions to rectify later.
General Presentation
- Walk through every room slowly as though you are a buyer viewing the property for the first time
- Repair obvious minor defects where practical
- Remove excessive clutter from walls, floors, cupboards and storage areas
- Ensure all rooms, garages and subfloor areas are accessible
- Clean obvious mould or mildew where possible
Doors, Windows & Locks
- Check all doors open and close smoothly
- Ensure locks and latches operate correctly
- Repair sticking sliding doors or windows
- Replace cracked glass where possible
- Check flyscreens for damage
- Repair loose cupboard doors, handles or hinges
Wall, Ceilings & Paintwork
- Patch obvious dents, cracks or holes
- Repaint noticeable patching or marked areas
- Address obvious water stains or peeling paint
- Re-fix loose cornices or trims if practical
Plumbing & Wet Areas
- Fix leaking taps, shower heads and toilets
- Check sinks and basins drain properly
- Reseal deteriorated silicone in showers, baths and sinks
- Ensure shower screens and fixtures are secure
- Address obvious moisture issues or water damage
- Ensure toilets and taps are in working order
- Check tile grout
Flooring
- Repair loose or lifting flooring
- Secure loose tiles
- Address trip hazards where practical
External Areas
- Remove vegetation touching the house
- Clear gutters if accessible and safe to do so
- Repair loose fencing or gates
- Ensure paths and paving are safe and stable
- Remove stored items restricting inspection access
Roof Space & Subfloor
- Ensure access hatches are clear and accessible
- Remove stored items blocking access
- Advise us beforehand if access is restricted
- Ideally remove stored goods from subfloor areas, particularly stored timbers
Pest & Timber Issues
- Remove timber stored against and under the house
- Address obvious termite activity if already known
- Reduce excessive moisture around the property
- Trim gardens back from walls and weep holes
- Look for signs of timber rot in decks and pergolas and assess whether repairs are required
Final Tip
If you are unsure whether something is likely to be noted in the report, there is a good chance it will be. A careful pre-inspection walkthrough can significantly improve the presentation of the final report and reduce the need for post release administration and delays. You may even wish to ask a friend or family member to walk through the property with “fresh eyes” before the inspection date.