Every house sold in the ACT comes with a building report. The seller orders it, and serious buyers read it before they make an offer. The items it lists become the buyer's bargaining chips.
We went back through the last 10 building reports on homes we have listed. The same items came up again and again. Most of them are cheap to fix. Here are the three we fix before almost every sale, and the ones we usually leave alone.
What the last 10 reports found
- Damp-damaged or weathered timber: 9 of 10 reports. Swollen architraves, weathered fascias, tired window frames.
- Doors and windows that bind or will not latch: 8 of 10.
- Weep holes or vents covered by gardens or paving: 7 of 10.
- Patching and painting recommended: 6 of 10.
- Silicone or grout failing in wet areas: 6 of 10.
- Gutters blocked with leaves: 6 of 10.
- Timber and builders' debris left under the house: 4 of 10.
Fix 1: Patch and paint
Dents, holes, cracked plaster and flaking paint tell buyers the home has not been looked after. They are also easy for an inspector to note.
- Patch holes and cracks in walls and ceilings.
- Repaint marked walls, doors and skirting boards.
- Touch up flaking paint on eaves, fascias and window frames outside.
- Ease doors that bind, and fix latches that will not catch. It takes a few hours and comes up in most reports.
Fix 2: Silicone and grout in wet areas
Water worries buyers more than almost anything else. Failed silicone in a shower reads as a leak risk, even when there is no leak.
- Cut out and replace split or mouldy silicone around showers, baths, basins and sinks.
- Re-grout cracked or missing grout.
- Fix dripping taps and loose fittings, like a tap handle or a towel rail.
- Replace swollen timber around wet areas once the cause is fixed.
Fix 3: Gutters, weep holes and under the house
Pest inspectors look for conditions that make a home easier for termites to attack. Most of them are simple to remove.
- Clean out the gutters and check the downpipes drain away from the house.
- Pull back garden beds, mulch and soil that cover weep holes and vents in the brickwork.
- Remove timber offcuts, old building materials and stored wood from under the house.
- Move firewood and timber stacked against the walls.
Removing these items takes a weekend. It turns a list of warnings in your pest report into a clean result.
What we usually leave alone
- Cracked driveways and paths. They came up in 8 of 10 reports. Buyers expect some wear, and the fix rarely pays for itself.
- Unapproved structures. A pergola or sunroom without approval is a job for your solicitor and the compliance report, not a quick fix. Talk to us before you change anything.
- Big renovations. Most major work does not return its cost. Read should you renovate before selling first.
- Anything you would be covering up. Fix it properly or leave it for the report. Hiding a defect causes far bigger problems later.
Fix first, then book the report
Before you can market a house in the ACT, you need a building and compliance inspection report, a pest inspection report and an energy efficiency rating (EER) statement. The building report must come from an inspection done in the 3 months before your home is first advertised.
If you get more than one report in the 6 months before you list, buyers see each one. A problem found in a first report stays on the record, even after you fix it. So do the fixes first. Then book the inspection.
A free get-ready walkthrough
Steve Lowe came to real estate from the building trade. Before you book your reports, he or one of the team will walk through your home with you and give you a checklist: fix now, fix if it is cheap, or leave alone. We can also line up the trades, so the work is done before the inspector arrives.
It is free, it takes about 30 minutes, and it is not an appraisal.
Next step: Book a free get-ready walkthrough and get your checklist. Want the full picture first? Read our Home Seller's Guide.
This guide is general information only. The figures come from 10 recent building and pest reports on homes we have listed. Use licensed trades for plumbing and electrical work, and ask your solicitor about your required documents.
