Which stage is best for arranging an Building Inspector

rjbhai02 · Jul 16, 2019 12:15 pm

Hi,

For building a new house with builder,

could anyone please suggest which stage is best for arranging independent Building Inspector?

Also any suggestion for good inspectors in Victoria will be much appreciated !

Thanks,

KingTaco · Jul 16, 2019 12:54 pm

Any stage is always good. I did slab and frame and will do pci.
If issues are picked up in the structure it's much easier and faster to rectify early

building-expert · Jul 16, 2019 3:46 pm

Before you sign building contract
Your most important inspection is pre contract review

Forg · Jul 16, 2019 4:33 pm

DEFINITELY before signing the contract!
Many builders don't want an independent inspector anywhere near anything they're doing, and I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the contract you sign has stuff in it about how the builder controls the site & all third parties need to be vetted by the builders before being allowed onsite.

DO NOT spend any time with a builder before clarifying that they'll allow an independent inspector onsite, if you want to use one. You don't want to spend 100hrs of your life choosing options & colours & finishes & tiles & bricks & floorplans etc etc only to find out you can't get the inspector you want.

darb74 · Jul 16, 2019 4:36 pm

We had independent (Council) inspections with a previous build and based on what I learned from the experience, I would get one just before the concrete is poured for the slab and after the frame/roof is erected.

Once plaster and bricks go up, many issues are simply concealed anyhow at this point. Also any further issues are generally more cosmetic ones, so I think the pre-slab and framing inspections are the most important.