Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a building & pest inspection when buying a property?

Yes, it is highly recommended that you get a building & pest inspection done when buying a property. The inspector will be able to let you know if the property has any defects, whether major or minor. They will be able to assess the overall condition of the property for its age & type. This will be able to help you determine whether you wish to proceed with the purchase of the property and can be a great tool to help barter on the price of the property.

2. Should I have a building & pest inspection done if I am selling my property?

While it is not always a necessity,  building & pest inspection can be a positive selling tool for you when you put your property on the market. To start with you will have a thorough overview of the condition of your property. You will not be caught by surprise by any other inspection done on your property by a buyer. You can also give the report to any potential buyers to show them an overview of the property that will help put them at ease.

3. What happens if defects are found during the Pre-Sale Inspection?

If defects are found during the inspection, do not stress. All houses will have defects whether minor or major. You can rectify the defects if you wish to and then the inspector can come back to the site to re-inspect and amend the report. This will mean you have a clean report to give to any buyers

4. Are the inspections invasive?

No, the inspections are completely non-invasive, visual inspections only.

5. Do you have specialised equipment that you use?

Yes, we use a Termatrac T3i which is a moisture reader, thermal imaging camera, and radar.
Moisture Meters: These meters measure the moisture content of any given object or structure. We determine moisture levels of building materials and building fabric, explaining our readings to you, and identifying any issues 

Termatrac Machines: An innovative termite buster, Termatrac can detect the presence of termites through timber, masonry, brick, or plasterboard.

Borescopes: Flexible or rigid, digital or analog, we use these scopes to visually inspect small holes and fissures inside wall cavities

6. How long does an inspection take?

A Building & pest inspection for a standard 4-bedroom house takes approximately two hours. For a townhouse, the inspection takes approximately an hour and a half and for units and pools approx. an hour is needed to do the inspection. Note: time is dependant on the amount of defects recorded on site.

What are the qualifications of the inspector?

At this time our inspector has the following qualifications:

• Has nationally recognized qualifications in Building with at least Low Rise, Carpentry, and/or a Building Inspection diploma/certification.

• Completed and clear a national police check.

• Completed Residential Building Inspection License

• Completed Termite Management – Chemical License

• Completed Certificate IV in Work Place Health and Safety

• Completed Pool Certification Certificate

7. When can I expect to receive my reports?

As soon as the inspector completes the on-site inspection the report is automatically produced, and you are notified by email Within 24 hours.

8. Can I be present at the inspection?

Yes, you can it is encouraged you attend. Our inspectors are more than happy for yo to come along to the inspection. However, if you cannot make it, the inspector is happy to give you a call to run through their findings.

9. When do I pay?

You can pay after the inspection has been done, however, we do like payment before we send the reports. Payment can be made onsite with Cash or Cheque, or online via direct transfer, or over the phone with a credit card.

10. What happens when the inspector cannot inspect a room?

If the inspector cannot gain access to a room, it will be noted in the report that the room was not accessible at the time of the inspection and that an inspection should be done when the room is accessible. If the agent or owner can organize this, we are happy to re-inspect the room and add the findings to the report.

11. Can I talk to the inspector after the inspection?

Yes, the inspector is more than happy to talk to you after the inspection is done to answer any questions you have regarding the property and the report.

12. I had a Pre-Sale inspection done, can a potential buyer talk to the inspector?

Yes, the inspector is more than happy to talk to any potential buyers to answer any questions they have to help get them across the line for you.

13. I had a general pest treatment done, and noticing a few insects, what can I do?

When was the treatment completed? Some insects take longer to die, due to how they ingest the pesticide. Ants should be dead within two weeks, spiders need to walk across the chemical for them to die and that can take a few days, cockroaches walk over the chemical and then groom themselves. And rodents eat the product. However, if you are noticing an ongoing pest presence please call our office and we shall organize re-treatment of the areas that are affected.

14. Does a general pest treatment come with a warranty?

Yes, the internal areas are guaranteed for 6 months and the external areas for 3 months.

15. The technician found termites at the time of the inspection, what now?

The inspector will first discuss the best options in how to treat and get rid of the termites. Then they will quote on a termite preventative system that will best suit your premises.

17. I have a termite preventative system installed, do I need yearly inspections?

Yes, with all termite preventative systems an annual termite inspection is needed to keep the system in warranty. We shall send you a reminder each year to let you know your property is coming up for its’ annual termite inspection.

18. What type of termite preventative system would best suit my property?

It depends on the type of property you have. The best thing to do is to book in a technician to come to the site to discuss your options, measure up, and quote on the best system suited for your property.

19. What do I need to do to prepare for a pest treatment?

For the external treatment, we recommend that washing is taken off the clothesline and that toys are picked up and put away. For the internal treatment, please remove all clothes, bedding, and toys from the floor areas where the chemical is being sprayed. Please also remove food items, utensils, and appliances from benchtops.

20. Can I clean my floors after a general pest treatment has been done?

After the treatment, we recommend you do not mop the treated for at least 7 days, and for flea treatments, it is recommended that you do not vacuum or mop the floors for 14 days after the treatment to ensure the fleas and their eggs have been killed.

21. I had a flea treatment done, but the fleas keep coming back why?

The treatment of fleas can be a long process, due to the eggs. We can spray the area, but the egg will lay dormant until vibrations from foot traffic cause the egg to hatch and produce a flea. However, the pesticide will be on the floor surface which will cover the newly hatched flea and cause it to die within a few days. If you still seem to be getting fleas just call our office and we shall organize for a re-spray of the area to be done.

22. Do I have to empty my cupboards when I have a pest treatment done?

No, you do not need to empty cupboards, as the technician will put cockroach gel in these areas.

23. Do I have to vacate my premise when pest treatment is being done?

The technician will advise when people should leave or avoid the treated areas and when they can return. This is in particular for pregnant women, people who suffer from respiratory complaints, and children under the age of one (especially at crawling age) We do recommend they vacate the premises during the treatment and do not return for 4 hours after the treatment is complete.

24. I have pets, can I still get a pest treatment done?

With pets, the technician will advise if they should be removed from the treated areas and precautions taken. For fish, it is recommended the tank be covered with a towel and the air filter switched off (It is the owners’ responsibility to turn the air filter on and off) For Birds we recommend placing cages outside and away from the treated areas and covering the cage with a towel. For cats and dogs, we recommend removing any food or water dishes away during the treatment, the can be returned once the treated is completely dry.

25. Do you get rid of possums?

No. They are a protected species and only specialized licenses may remove and relocate the possum to a specified area. Unfortunately, our technicians do not hold this license.

26. My pool is not compliant, can Beams Building & Pest Inspections do the rectifications?

No, we do not provide rectification services. However, we do have tradespeople we recommend and would be happy to contact them on your behalf to organize a quote and to rectify the items.

27. How long do I have to rectify the non-compliance items on my pool report?

You have 90 days from the issuing of the pool report to rectify any non-compliance issues

28. How long does a pool safety certificate last?

A pool safety certificate lasts for two years.

29. Do I need a pool safety certificate?

Only if you are in the process of selling or renting your property out, and the current safety certificate has expired

What percentage of the final home sale price do you charge?

Yes – The inspector will be available to discuss any issues in the report.