Are you buying a home or investment property in Queensland? Amongst the important things to consider is the termite and borer status of your intended property.
It is recommended that you should always have both a pre-purchase building inspection and termite inspection done before you finalise the purchase of a property.
Termites in Queensland.
Termites that cause damage to houses, other buildings, furniture or other timber-in-service are either subterranean termites or drywood termites.
Subterranean termites
- Usually live in the ground and need contact with the soil or some constant source of moisture.
- Move above-ground in enclosed mud galleries to infest houses and other buildings.
- About 10 native species damage timber-in-service in Queensland and they cause extensive economical and structural damage to the property.
Drywood termites
- Do not require contact with the ground or soil moisture.
- Are capable of infesting a single piece of timber.
- Only require the moisture present in the timber, as the name ‘drywood’ suggests.
- Can infest a building through flight or the introduction of infested timber or furniture.
- Colonies are rather small (a few hundred individuals) when compared to subterranean termites.
- The introduced West Indian drywood termite, is the world’s most destructive drywood termite. It has caused considerable economic damage to timber homes in Queensland.
What Does a Pre-purchase building and Timber pest inspection include?
A pre-purchase building inspection is a visual appraisal of the condition of a property highlighting existing defects or areas of concern; however it is not a warranty against future defects.
A termite inspection involves a pest controller doing a visual inspection of accessible areas of the property to see if there is evidence of active termites and/or termite damage.
Unlike a basic building inspection, Building and Pest Inspections identify the presence of termites and other timber pests, as well as highlighting conditions conducive to future activity. Due to the devastating damage termites can cause, these reports are considered vital in most parts of Australia and especially in Queensland.
If major defects or termite activity is found, our reports provide the knowledge you need to either avoid purchasing the affected property – saving you from stress and financial loss – or assist in negotiating an appropriate price that factors in corrective action that may need to be taken.
By obtaining a Jim’s Building and Pest Inspection report, our clients are also able to plan ahead and factor in any additional costs such as maintenance, repairs and future renovations.
If you are buying a home or investment property in Queensland, don’t take any risks, if you have any concerns, give us a call on 131 546 and speak to one of our local building inspector or get a free quote online.
