Buying & owning
An independent, visual inspection of a home you are thinking of buying in Melbourne, covering its accessible areas and visible signs of timber pest activity. We explain what we observed in plain language, so you know what to ask about before you commit.
Illustration. Not an actual property or real inspection work.
Tell us your key date when you enquire, such as an auction day or a contract deadline.
Arrange access with the selling agent, and confirm the time and keys.
Ask whether the roof space, subfloor, meter box and outbuildings can be reached on the day.
Share any documents you have, such as the vendor's statement, permits for recent building work or earlier reports.
Tell us what you noticed at the open inspection, and the main question you want answered.
We offer pre-purchase inspections across Melbourne. The suburbs below each have their own page. Other suburbs and surrounds are confirmed per enquiry.
Can’t see your question? Send an enquiry and we’ll come back to you.
More detail
Tell us the address, the type of home and your key date, such as an auction day or a contract deadline. We'll confirm the scope and provide a quote, and access is arranged with the selling agent. On the day, we inspect the accessible areas visually and take photos to support key observations. You then receive a written report, and we can talk you through it so you know what to raise with the agent, your conveyancer or a specialist.
Already own the home? Choose building and pest inspections instead. They take the same approach.
Auctions and private sales work differently, and every purchase has its own dates. Many buyers inspect before auction day, or make a private sale contract subject to an inspection. Your conveyancer or lawyer can explain the conditions and timing that apply to your purchase.
When you enquire, tell us the date you are working to. We'll confirm the scope and let you know what we can arrange.
Start with the scope and the list of areas that couldn't be inspected. Then read the observations area by area. Some items may be routine maintenance. Others may need a closer look by a specialist before you decide. If anything is unclear, ask us to explain it in plain language. The decision to buy, and at what price, stays with you.
It isn't a valuation, a statutory inspection for a building permit, a structural engineering assessment, or a promise that the home is free of defects or timber pests. It can't see behind walls, under floor coverings, or into areas that are closed off or unsafe to reach.
Where an observation raises a question outside the scope, the report can recommend further investigation. We can suggest the type of professional to speak with, such as a structural engineer, a licensed plumber or a licensed electrician.
These public sources set out the requirements this page refers to. They are the places to confirm what applies to your property; we help you understand and prepare for them.
Learn with VicWide
Showing 3 topics
Inspections
Pre-purchase, strata, new-build and specialist inspections each suit a different need: buying a house or an apartment, building, or looking into a concern such as cracking, damp or older materials. This topic explains what each type looks at, when people usually arrange it, and how to describe your situation so we can suggest the right scope.
Related service: Pre-purchase inspections
Inspections
Good access makes for a more complete inspection. This topic covers arranging keys and permission, clearing the way to key areas, and gathering documents that help explain the property.
Related service: Building & pest inspections
Inspections
An inspection report records what was observed at the time of the inspection, where it was observed, and what couldn't be inspected. This topic walks through a typical report structure and how to use it when you talk with builders, agents or other advisers.
Related service: Compliance & reporting
Ready when you are
Tell us about the property. We confirm the scope and a quote with you before anything is arranged.
Reviewed by VicWide. Last updated .
Guides
Inspections
Many buyers of an existing home arrange an independent pre-purchase building and timber pest inspection before they commit. An apartment or unit adds a strata report, a block of land calls for a land inspection, and a specific concern can add a specialist look. Every report describes visible condition on the day; the decision to buy stays with you.