Building and Pest inspector standing in front of Jims Building Inspections car

Call 131 546 and get a quote or book a New Home Inspection for Northern Rivers online today.

Jim’s Building Inspections conducts new home inspections (also known as new construction inspections) in Northern Rivers and the surrounding areas. Our expert consultants can assist you with every stage of your build and ensure your new build meets your expectations and the necessary standards.

Our local consultants have extensive experience and hold public liability and professional indemnity insurance—meaning you can have peace of mind when you acquire the services of a Jim’s Building Inspector.

We offer same day service for New Home Inspections in Northern Rivers and provide written reports via email within 24 hours of the inspection being conducted.

New Home Inspection Checklist

There are four key inspection stages which can be carried out for New Home Inspections:

1. Slab Stage

The slab stage or the base stage inspection is essential in the inspection process. Finished concrete is inspected to ensure there is an even and consistent finish. The surface should not be powdery or flakey. Levels are checked to confirm the slab has been installed within allowable deviation in the over level across and room or the entire build. The edge rebate is checked to ensure it is not “honeycombed” and there is no evidence of steel reinforcement protruding as it must have at least 40mm concrete coverage. The vapour barrier must extend past the poured concrete slab with adequate overlap left so that it extends up the side wall of the slab past the final finished ground level once the construction is completed.

2. Frame Stage

Frame stage inspections are conducted providing an independent assessment of the works to confirm they have been completed ready for stage payment. Internal checks and company appointed inspections are supported with a fresh and focussed and our review monitors the frame with respect to the approved construction methods stipulated in Australian Standard 1684.2 and the Engineers design requirements as detailed on the Approved Plans.

The installation of windows and door frames are checked at this stage. Frame positioning in relation to the supporting slab is checked with any overhanging tolerances along with load bearing timbers, lintels and orientation of Jack Studs above openings. Items such as the correct number of timber blocks and their securing method are checked along with all bracing, mechanical fasteners, tie downs and anchors.

3. Lockup

At this stage we inspect the roofing that is installed to ensure it is complete and free of defects and damage, all flashings are installed. A visual inspection is carried out to check the installation of Flashings. Brick work is checked for correct installation. All windows and doors are installed with the correct fixings using appropriate blocks and the frame straight, plumb and true.

The installed plaster to the ceilings, wall linings and fitted cornice is checked to ensure it is installed to acceptable standards. Waterproof membrane to showers & wet areas are inspected to ensure they are correctly installed and comply with the requirements of the Building Code.

4. Handover

Handover Inspections require an exhaustive check of the construction. At handover inspection we check that all the work completed “In a proper and workman like manner” ensuring that the workmanship is at an industry standard. The construction of the dwelling needs to reflect the Approved Plans and we check that all components of the building comply with relevant Australian Standards and Building Codes.

Handover or Final stage inspections are also called Practical Completion Inspections (PCI) and Pre Handover Inspections. Handover inspections are generally carried out on new homes when construction of the entire home has been completed and all internal fittings, fixtures and finishes have been installed and applied inside the home compliant with the relevant building plans and specifications.

To arrange a quote or a building inspection for a property in Northern Rivers, call Jim’s Building Inspections on 131 546.

Or book your Northern Rivers New Home Inspection service online. Reports can be delivered within 24 hours of inspection.

What's involved in a home inspection?

Most of the time we never get to meet our clients face to face and only a small handful are ever able to come along to the home inspections we organise. So there is often a bit of mystery around what exactly we do during a home inspection. ...
Read more

Asbestos Concerns? Call The Experts

Here’s an all too familiar story from the Newcastle Herald: A Glendale property is demolished after its owners found deadly loose-fill asbestos insulation. This type of asbestos was relatively popular in the1960s and 1970s. Science now tells ...
Read more

What is Caveat Emptor?

Increasingly property buyers are aware of their responsibility to discover building defects before sale – this is known as the Latin principle Caveat Emptor or ‘buyer beware’. The full quotation is ‘caveat emptor, qui ignorare no...
Read more

How do I go back to my home after Fire Damage?

A fire is a traumatic experience, and it can cause more damage than what you can see initially. Beyond the physical fire damage, you must also consider the smoke and soot contamination. Both can be dangerous and costly. Fire damage can extend to t...
Read more

The Block's Depreciation Schedules And You

So, “investors could claim an average of over $2.2 million in depreciation deductions for each apartment on Channel 9’s 2016 season of The Block,” according to new analysis reported by The Urban Developer. By far the biggest potential deprec...
Read more

Building Inspection Reports - the ultimate negotiation weapon

Rising damp and termite damage. Two issues that would normally send shivers down your spine and see potential buyers running for the hills. But what if you could you turn a negative building inspection report, into the ultimate negotiation weapon?...
Read more

How Jim's Building Inspections Became Australia's Number One Choice

Jim’s Building Inspections has grown to become Australia’s largest building inspection business in just three years. How did we do that? It was actually pretty easy, which is probably a damning commentary on the state of the industry! The ...
Read more

Asbestos - Not Just About Housing

FEATHERS were flying in Red Hill last week when neighbours discovered asbestos sheeting was being removed from a disused chicken shed near their properties. First reported in the Southern Peninsula News (6 November 2018) the story continues: Mo...
Read more

The Science Of Inspections

There’s a science to property inspections. Seriously. Because while your average inspector can and does spot problems, a trained inspector can find problems behind problems and other easy-to-miss issues. What’s more, he or she is less likely t...
Read more

New homes & Termite zones

An increasing number of councils across Australia are seeing the value in designating residential zones as termite prone areas in an effort to help local communities avoid costly repairs and horror surprises in the future. Victoria is the only Aus...
Read more


In Northern Rivers

nsw Suburbs Index

New Home Inspections suburbs in northern-rivers region