By Melodie Veldhuizen

In the past prospective buyers and lessees of a property had to be satisfied with what they saw when they wanted to buy or rent a house. They had to rely on the honesty of the seller and the estate agent and had to accept in good faith that there were no hidden defects before they signed the contract, just to discover to their dismay when they moved into the residence that the roof was leaking or that there was a plague of termites that was damaging the woodwork. The good news is that you can now have a complete inspection done by a home inspector in order to make an informed decision.

What does a home or property inspection entail?
It is the valuation of an existing property by a qualified home inspector for the purposes of providing a prospective buyer or lessee with a report on the condition of the property. The inspection is a detailed description of the physical condition of the property for the purposes of informing buyers or sellers about what would have to be repaired or replaced.

 What requirements should home and/or property inspectors comply with?
They need to comply with all Covid-19 safety regulations. They must have been trained by and registered with the South African Home Inspection Training Academy (SAHITA). They must also be registered with the National Property Practitioners Council and have three years practical experience to comply with the requirements laid down by the Property Practitioners Act (Act 22 of 2019.

Where can one find a home inspector?

Home inspectors advertise as widely as possible on all forms of social media (such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and mass media such as local newspapers, JunkMail and pamphlets).

Who should have a home or property inspection done?

Prospective sellers of a home or other properties; estate agents or letting agents involved in the selling or letting of properties; owners or lessees of properties; and sectional title body corporate members

How long does an inspection take?
This depends on the size and condition of the property and on the client’s requirements. The client may, for example, request the inspection of only part of the property (for instance the roof). The inspection time of an average-sized South African home is three to four hours. Home inspectors should provide a complete inspection report within one day of the completion of the inspection, provided the client has paid the account in full.

What does an inspection cover?

This differs from inspector to inspector and the client’s requirements, but may include one or more of the following:
– roofing, roof waterproofing and roof structure
– the condition of the walls, doors, windows, built-in cupboards, bathrooms and toilets and other indoor installations
– observed defects in the electrical, plumbing and drainage systems
– observed defects in the installed fire, safety and security systems
– stormwater management issues

– the condition of boundary and retaining walls and garden structures
–swimming pool and paving
– compliance with building regulations

How does one request an inspection?
Depending on how the home or property inspector operates, a quotation may be requested online, by email or by telephone.

What are the normal types of inspection?

This depends on the services offered by the inspector or the client’s needs.
Comprehensive inspection: This includes all accessible areas of the property and the condition of all components are documented. Notes are made of all defects (big or small), together with a valuation of the nature of the defect, and, where it can be handy, photos are taken. Cost estimates are given for repairs.

Essential inspection: This is the same as comprehensive inspections, but only essential and/or serious defects are reported. Serious defects deal with the structure and the functionality of critical components of the property that could pose safety and health hazards.

Prperty risk evaluation inspection: This is a low-cost inspection developed by a specific company for the insurance industry and is offered to clients who want to make sure that parts of the property comply with legal requirements and are safe and to make sure that in the event of a home-owner insurance claim the insurer will pay the claim.

Defect inspection (snag): Clients request this report when a newly built house is handed over to them by the builder or developer. All defects, big or small, are documented and a checklist is provided so that the builder or contractor can repair defects before the property is handed over.

 Progress report on new property/buildings: These are a series of quality-control inspections carried out at various stages of the building process.

MAP inspection (maintenance action plan): This is a type of inspection carried out to enable the body corporate management members of sectional-title properties to fulfil their legal obligations regarding the 10-year maintenance plan.

How does a prospective buyer benefit from an inspection?
Your home is your biggest investment and therefore you want to know as much as possible about the condition of the property you want to buy or rent. It enables you to make an informed decision regarding the purchase of the property. An inspection will help you to negotiate a better price and possible improvements. It can also help you to avoid disastrous purchases.

What are the benefits of an inspection to the prospective seller?
It gives the seller peace of mind that the sale is transparent because the report gives the prospective buyer full information regarding the real condition of the property. This eliminates the possibility of unpleasant and very expensive legal costs after the transaction. The inspection report points out defects that the prospective buyer will in any case probably  see and point out. In this way you can tidy up and repair your property beforehand.

What are the benefits of an inspection to estate agents?
Issues regarding defects can cause long delays in the property transfer process. It can cause great stress to all the parties concerned. Buyers and sellers are becoming more aware of their rights and require transparency regarding the condition and price of property. An inspection report shows that the estate agent is impartial and complies with the requirements of the consumer protection requirements of the Property Practitioners Act. The estate agent’s business reputation will benefit from this.

Is it possible to have an inspection before signing an Offer To Buy (OTB)?
Most prospective buyers prefer to make their offer to buy subject to a satisfactory home or property inspection report. This means that the seller accepts these conditions in the OTB and that he will not sell the home to anybody else before the prospective buyer has received the inspection report and has confirmed or cancelled the offer. However, some buyers prefer to get an inspection report before making an offer.

What does an inspection cost?
The amount depends on the number of rooms and the type of inspection required. It can vary from approximately R1 800 to R5 000. A quotation does not oblige the client to have the work done.

Sources

House Check. https://www.housecheck.co.za/home- inspeksie-services/

Divan du Preez. 082 318 7606 OF 066 224 8984