New Home Building Inspection Packages
Comprehensive New Home Building Inspection Package for Melbourne Homeowners
Independent building inspections at every stage of construction can help ensure your new home is built right, to standard and built to last.
Building a new home is the biggest investment many people will ever make. Our comprehensive inspection package provides independent inspections at 5 critical stages of construction, giving you greater confidence as your home progresses from slab through to handover.
We work directly with you, not your builder. Each inspection is designed to identify visible defects, construction issues and workmanship concerns at a stage when they can be raised with your builder and addressed before the next stage of construction begins.
Experience You Can Trust
New Home Building Inspections is an independent building inspection company with more than 30 years of experience inspecting new and existing homes in Melbourne. We have extensive knowledge of current building standards and regulations and understand what to look for throughout the construction process.
We are also a Registered Building Practitioner, classified as a Domestic Builder Unlimited. In addition, we are a proud member of the Master Inspector Association of Australia and abide by its professional Code of Ethics.
With experienced and qualified inspectors on your side, you can have greater confidence that your new home is being independently checked throughout the building process.
Our 5 Stage New Home Inspection Process
Slab
We check your slab is built to standard and ready for the next stage.
Frame
We inspect the frame for quality, workmanship and compliance.
Lock Up
We ensure the structure is secure, watertight and built to plan.
Pre Painting
We inspect all fittings and waterproofing before preparation for painting.
Pre Handover
The final check to ensure your home is complete and ready for handover.
More Details about Each Stage of the Home Inspection Process
Stage 1: Slab Inspection
The slab forms the foundation of your new home, making this an important stage to inspect before construction progresses. Issues with the slab or its preparation can lead to more serious problems later, including cracking in walls, ceilings, flooring and tiling, as well as doors and windows that do not operate correctly.
As part of our 5 stage inspection package, the slab is inspected at two key stages. The first inspection takes place before the concrete is poured, allowing us to assess the site preparation, including formwork, steel reinforcement and general set out. Any issues identified at this stage can be raised with the builder before the concrete pour proceeds.
The second inspection is carried out after the slab has been poured and finished. We check the overall levelness and finish quality, along with other visible aspects of the completed slab. We also assess the work against relevant building standards and tolerances to help ensure the slab has been constructed to the required standard.
Identifying potential issues at the slab stage gives your builder an opportunity to address them before construction moves on to building the frame.
Stage 2: Frame Inspection
A frame inspection is carried out once the wall and roof frames are complete. This is a crucial stage of construction, as the frame provides the structural support for your new home and must meet the requirements of Australian building standards.
Our inspection assesses the completed frame, including visible aspects of the framing, bracing and tie downs. We check the construction against the relevant requirements for timber framing to help identify potential issues before they are covered by internal and external finishes.
As part of our 5 stage inspection package, the frame inspection provides an important opportunity to identify and raise concerns with your builder before any more work is undertaken, potentially making mistakes harder to rectify.
Stage 3: Lock Up Inspection
The lock up inspection is carried out when the external cladding or brickwork of your new home is complete. The roof covering and flashings should also be installed, along with the external doors and windows. The floor should also be laid at this stage.
As the 3rd inspection we undertake, the lock up inspection provides an important opportunity to check that your new home is progressing correctly and is secure and weatherproof before internal finishing work continues.
There are many points to check during a lock up inspection. We carry out a thorough inspection of both the inside and outside of your new home to identify visible defects and construction issues.
At this stage, your builder will usually request a further progress payment. Our lock up inspection gives you greater confidence in the quality of the build so far, before you make this significant progress payment.
Stage 4: Pre Painting Inspection
The pre painting inspection is carried out after the plastering and internal fix have been completed, but before painting and tiling commence. This is an important stage of construction because once painting and tiling are finished, some defects and construction issues can become hidden and more difficult to identify or rectify.
The internal fix includes doors being hung, architraves and skirting boards being fitted, internal cladding and built in shelves installed, and baths, basins, troughs, sinks, cabinets and cupboards fixed into position.
As the 4th inspection we undertake, we thoroughly inspect accessible areas throughout your new home, including relevant waterproofing in wet areas such as bathrooms, ensuites, shower areas and laundries. Identifying waterproofing concerns before tiling is completed provides an opportunity for them to be addressed before they become concealed.
A thorough pre painting inspection gives you an opportunity to raise visible defects and construction issues with your builder before painting, tiling and other final finishes are completed.
Stage 5: Pre Handover
The pre handover inspection, also known as the practical completion stage, is the final inspection in our 5 stage new home building inspection process. It is your last opportunity to identify defects and incomplete work before you make the final payment to your builder and receive the keys to your new home.
At this stage, your new home should be substantially complete. We carry out a thorough inspection to identify defects, incomplete work and workmanship issues, checking the finished home against your building contract and relevant Australian Standards.
We inspect both the interior and exterior of your home, including paintwork, tiling, flooring, electrical and plumbing fixtures, appliances, shower screens and ceiling insulation. We also check external areas such as fencing, concrete, pavements and drainage, as well as pergolas, decks, retaining walls, rainwater tanks and landscaping where applicable.
Any issues identified can then be raised with your builder and addressed before handover, giving you greater peace of mind before you move into your new home.