I'm with you Bernard, pre plaster and pre handover for us too.
Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Independent inspectors 21Nov 29, 2007 6:34 pm berniebgf I'm thinking at this stage to go for a Pre Plaster inspection and then a Pre handover insection....what do you all think? I'm with you Bernard, pre plaster and pre handover for us too. Re: Independent inspectors 22Nov 29, 2007 9:36 pm Quote: Here is what Kevin charges. You would only need 2 inpections in my opinion pre plaster and pre handover. Allow $1000 and you will be fine. Thanks for the info, Matt! We'll also have a look at your suggestion, Vlad76. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: Independent inspectors 23Dec 03, 2007 8:35 am mattwalker Here is what Kevin charges. You would only need 2 inpections in my opinion pre plaster and pre handover. Allow $1000 and you will be fine. http://www.newhomeinspections.com.au/7.html Matt, I'm sure Kevin is great at what he does, but why does he put this in his Terms and Conditions - "My engagement is confined to that of a Building Consultant and not that of a Building Surveyor or Inspector as defined in the Building Act of 1993. I do not hold qualifications as an Engineers, Land Surveyors or Pest & Timber Infestation Inspector and therefore have not check and make no comment on:- 1/. The structural integrity of the building; 2/. The capacity and/or consistency of the sites foundation material; 3/. The correctness of the buildings footing system; 4/. The site and roof drainage systems; 5/. The title boundaries and the location of any easements and/or their assets; 6/. The buildings boundary set backs; 7/. Compliance with any requirement of Part 4, Siting, of the Building Regulations; 8/. Glazing for compliance with their codes and standards; 9/. The presents of termites & borers or at the completeness of any termite risk management procedures and barriers; 10/. Any other requirements that are the responsibility of the above mentioned professions. " It seems to me to be quite a major caveat. Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Independent inspectors 24Dec 03, 2007 9:15 am Simon,
Better to ask him that wouldn't you think? What makes you think anyone besides him would have the answer? Re: Independent inspectors 25Dec 03, 2007 9:21 am mattwalker Simon, Better to ask him that wouldn't you think? What makes you think anyone besides him would have the answer? I have asked him now. I was just wondering if it was standard for building consultants to have this in their T&C? Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: Independent inspectors 26Dec 03, 2007 9:30 am The Dynamic Duo I have asked him now. I was just wondering if it was standard for building consultants to have this in their T&C? Again, how would we know? No one here (that I am aware of) is a building inspector.... Re: Independent inspectors 27Dec 03, 2007 3:09 pm Hi All,
Just want to grab an opinion while we're on the topic..... particularly from people who have used Kevin's services before. We unfortunantly didnt look into the posibility of getting an independent inspector until well after the plaster stage - we're building with PD who do have an independant inspector come through at each stage anyway, but in my opinion he's missed quite a bit of stuff along the way that I've had to point out. We're nearing completion with tiles recently laid and some of the problems we havent noticed, are probably now hard to pick up. Is it worth getting Kevin in for a pre-handover inspection a week or two before completion ... even though we didnt get him in for pre-plaster? Thanks everyone! James'n'Kelly. Re: Independent inspectors 28Dec 03, 2007 3:17 pm In my opinion, when a builder appoints an "independent inspector" that is a misnomer. If the inspector has any sense they know who is feeding him.
I would take offence to a builder engaging an "independent inspector". Inspector yes, but not independent. If you want an independent inspector you need to commission them yourself. And in my opinion, money well spent. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Independent inspectors 29Dec 03, 2007 3:54 pm jamesnkelly Is it worth getting Kevin in for a pre-handover inspection a week or two before completion ... even though we didnt get him in for pre-plaster? Yes! You already missed a good opportunity, make sure you don't miss your last one... Note that you need to talk to your builder, most of them should be ok with that. When your inspector is there, someone from your builder (normally the supervisor) has to be on site as well... Re: Independent inspectors 30Dec 03, 2007 4:12 pm James,
Kevin is still worthwhile even at this stage. A lot of the underlying issues (behind the plaster etc) are still able to be picked up. ie walls out of square, rooms the wrong size, plasterwork inconsistent etc. It is money well spent. Kevin looks at houses all day everyday for a living and knows the tricks and what to look for. We are not experts (even if we think we are sometimes ) but Kevin (and others like him) are. Consider the outlay for the house and land and divide it by Kevin's fee and then factor in piece of mind and the lessened need for contractors to come to your house after handover and the need for less work to be carried out at 3 month maitenance and you start to get a picture. Liken it to buying a second hand car and getting a test from the RACV. You spend $20,000 on a second hand car and $200 getting it inspected by someone "independant" yet most people dont spend 1% ($200,000 house @1% $2,000) of their house budget (and dont have too) to have their largest investment inspected by somebody "truly" impartial and who is acting in their favour. IMHO, well worth it! Re: Independent inspectors 31Dec 03, 2007 4:14 pm Okay then i have a question, when getting inspections by Kevin or anyone else ( in the presence of the site supervisor) at any stage - pre handover, is it better to have them doing their stuff alone or are we allowed to be there too??? Re: Independent inspectors 32Dec 04, 2007 9:34 am Kevin suggests you are there too....much better so he can explain exactly what the problem is and how it should be fixed. Then you will know if the builder has fixed it properly!! Built Porter Davis "Dromana" 2007. Re: Independent inspectors 35Dec 05, 2007 11:09 am I found another one for Sydney area:
Tyrrells Property Inspection (http://www.tyrrells.com/) Any one heard about this company? But my concern is, from my record, looks like this company is the inspector used by Eden Brae... Don't quite like the idea of using "an inspector used by another project home builder" to inspect my house... Re: Independent inspectors 37Dec 11, 2007 9:34 am This is what we have so far:
1) http://www.yourbuildinginspection.com/P ... w_home.htm 1300-766-650 ==> "dna" is right, they don't do Sydney area. The lady I spoke to last time, didn't tell me anything about this, 2) http://www.hnkryan.com/ H & K Ryan & Associates Ph: (02) 8824 3726 ==> all charges are listed on their web site 3) Tyrrells Property Inspection (http://www.tyrrells.com/) ==> they charge about $800 for each inspection, same inspector used by Eden Brae, got lots of inspectors with detail qualifications listed on their web site. 4) ArchiCentre http://www.archicentre.com.au/ ==> they only do packages for $1000+ including multiple inspections... So based on all above, we decided to have our first inspection with Ryan tomorrow before the internal gyprock walls are on. Hopefully everything goes on smoothly... What annoys us is, even though we booked for inspection tomorrow with site supervisor coming on site, plus also booked the cable guy to install network cables. This morning there's a team of trades person on site trying to install insulation on all the walls How are we going to do our inspection and cabling if all the walls & ceiling are covered with insulations? AllCastle definitely have to improve their coordination work...... Re: Independent inspectors 38Dec 11, 2007 10:32 am Anyone know any good inspectors in QLD? Where are heading to frame stage this week so would like to book someone in for early next year.
Cheers Nicole Re: Independent inspectors 40Dec 12, 2007 10:40 am ahuang 4) ArchiCentre http://www.archicentre.com.au/ ==> they only do packages for $1000+ including multiple inspections... I don't think thats correct unless it's different in SA. It was cheaper to buy numerous inspections but I think it was around $450 per inspection. I'm paying about $2400 for 6 inspections. That is a really good attitude Akin to you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I do enjoy watching that tik tok inspector from Victoria but he does go a little… 12 72334 We are about to commence a new build I and I’m reading about defects along the way. My question is should we employ a independent building inspector to come in and… 0 3938 If you are in Victoria you have a statutory right to your own building inspector regardless of builder's consent. No negotiations are required. However the builder will… 1 1408 |