New Home Inspections, and any other inspectors in Vic?

I would really question the value of a full circa $2,000 'package' of building consultants' progress stage inspections for savvy new home buyers.

I believe a typical approx. $400 pre-linings inspection report is critical. A professional inspector should identify and document any significant defects before they are covered up with plaster and hidden. Accompany the inspector to ensure everything is checked and you understand the issues, how they are fixed, and relative importance. You can visit with the SS later to confirm the defects have been rectified before plastering starts. If you don't check yourself you can assume they have not been rectified. Your SS won't check: "It's all good!"

The value of the other stage inspections' in the circa $2,000 'package' deal is questionable, and very limited. The remaining $1,600 here is better spent elsewhere, particularly when you can easily see and check exposed surfaces carefully and slowly yourself. Private building consultants have no authority over the builder. Many builders have very little interest in, or respect for building consultants' reports, and these are not formatted for building tribunal cases therefore you might as well just do the other basic inspections yourself. For serious defects that he builder refuses to fix you need a beefier report that has legal credibility. You will need to pay extra for an expert witness report.

Better to learn a bit about the relevant standards yourself, use a checklist, spend about $500 on some basic tools and protective gear at Bunnings that you can use to inspect yourself on your weekly 2 hour site visits, with the permission and / or assistance of your site supervisor. Take photos and document everything in the professional formats used in inspectors sample reports found online. The are good examples of professional defect report formats to be found on inspection company's websites.