Jim's Building Inspections

Directions Website Contact the business

Jim's Building Inspections Jim's Building Inspections is Australia's leading Building Inspection company.

Our qualified Building consultants provide a range of reports that are fully insured giving our clients peace of mind. Jim's Building Inspections is Australia and New Zealand's leading Building Inspection company. Our building consultants provide a range of inspection reports that are fully insured giving our clients peace of mind. We guarantee 24hr turnaround, our reports are easy to read with photos and no fine print or jargon. The follow up call from our consultants is important as it ensures that you understand the report and the findings. Our services include:
Building Inspections
Termite and Timber Pest inspections
New construction stage reports
Asbestos Inspections
Dilapidation reports
Tax Depreciation schedules
Mould Reports
And many more
So before you buy or before you build make sure you give Jim's Building Inspections a call.

Okay, random question: How long would you spend inspecting a house before buying it?In Australia, more than half of home...
11/05/2022

Okay, random question: How long would you spend inspecting a house before buying it?

In Australia, more than half of homeowners (58%) spend less than an hour inspecting before the big buy, according to research put out by ME bank. Thus, it's not surprising to learn that a significant minority (more than a quarter) also found issues after moving in.

One expert is quoted as observing: "Once they got interested and excited for their 'perfect' home they focused on how they can get the property instead of stepping back and strategically looking at the future requirements and costs of the house."

A proper inspection however moves out emotion. Strategically speaking, it's a good idea to contact an expert, from Jim's Building Inspections, for example, so as to avoid any traps.

Sure, inspecting in person is good but a second viewing by an outside professional is better.
https://www.jimsbuildinginspections.com.au/

Arguably the biggest factor that is considered when selecting a home is its location. Selecting the perfect suburb to bu...
27/04/2022

Arguably the biggest factor that is considered when selecting a home is its location. Selecting the perfect suburb to buy or build in is highly dependent on one's personality and priorities, each suburb has a different personality, feel and features. In this week blog we've come up with a few crucial points that are critical to consider when purchasing a home.

Family and Friends
Whilst there is a growing trend for family members to live further apart, the location of family members plays a huge role in where people want to live. For many people, their social and family life may be based almost entirely in a particular area and to move areas would be a significant change. This factor may play a smaller role in Adelaide than in other States however, given the relatively proximity of most metropolitan suburbs in Adelaide.

Wider Priorities
In some developing suburbs, a brand new 5-bedroom home may be available for the same price as a 2-bedroom home in the leafy eastern suburbs. For some, the beautiful streets, array of restaurants and safety of these eastern suburb areas make the invest worthwhile, however for others being able to get greater value for money is the key. Some people would prefer to live close to the city, others would prefer to live regionally. Some would prefer to live by the beach and others by the hills. It is up to the individual to consider what neighborhood will best meet the needs of their lifestyle.

Growth
For home buyers who are buying for the short to medium term, this is of particular importance. Ultimately, you will be much better of when it's time to sell if you have purchased in a high growth area and your home's value has appreciated well. To identify if an area is considered high growth, it is important to analyze the price trends in the area over the past 10 years and identify whether it's peaking, bottoming, or nearing a boom. Analyzing the supply and demand within an area is also crucial to evaluating its future growth, as greater sales, and new developments than demand within an area will lead to small or no growth.

Transport
Although 92% of Aussie households have a car, public transport can be a factor of consideration for families where someone works in the CBD, or a child may need to catch public transport to and from school. Trains and trams are clearly the quickest modes of public transport to and from the CBD, so living near one of these lines can be advantageous.
https://www.jimsbuildinginspections.com.au/

As stated in a 2018 report by Fire and Rescue NSW, 'The homes of today have changed dramatically, and in those changes t...
20/04/2022

As stated in a 2018 report by Fire and Rescue NSW, 'The homes of today have changed dramatically, and in those changes the risk to toxicity in the event of a fire has increased exponentially'.

Modern homes, alongside being larger in size often include petroleum based synthetic furnishings, synthetic carpets, and increased possessions. Whilst synthetic materials are considerably more cost effective, it must be noted that home fires reach levels of tenability loss at much faster rates. It is therefore astonishing that with the increased risks posed by modern homes that 56% of fire fatality incidents had no smoke alarm present.

It is recommended that fire alarms are consistently tested and that their batteries are constantly replaced. However, as fires occurring in bedrooms only account for 17% of home fires yet make up 36% of fires in which a fatality occurs, it is recommended that the number of smoke alarms be increased to one per bedroom and living space. Furthermore, the report suggests an interconnected system and sprinkler systems for larger shared residences.

Jim's Building Inspectors, as experts of the Building Industry are well placed to inspect your home and advise on potential fire risks that may be present within the premises. For any of your building inspection needs or any other queries you may have do not hesitate to contact us on 131546.
https://www.jimsbuildinginspections.com.au/

With government policy and a market that has cooled in recent times, the opportunities for first home buyers is really e...
13/04/2022

With government policy and a market that has cooled in recent times, the opportunities for first home buyers is really exciting. The dream of buying your first home is becoming a reality. There are however so many factors to look out for before you raise that nervous hand before Auction or making a bid during the private sale process. As pre-purchase building inspectors, we guide and help buyers have seen firsthand the dos and don'ts at this time. If you prepare well you have every chance of getting what you want and at the right price.

1. Getting a loan. Rule 1 shop around. Finance is very competitive so make the financers work for you. Gone are the days where you walk into your local big 4 banks and hope that they will loan you the money. There are 100s of lenders out there who want your business. Our advice is to get a mortgage broker to do the work for you. Be honest with them about your situation and they can tailor the right loan for you.

2. Sort out your debts- If you have already got any large debts, especially high-interest debts like credit card debts, student loans, focus on paying off these loans first. If you're already in debt you might find it harder to get a home loan approved, or you may not be able to borrow quite as much. A mortgage broker will tell you what to pay off first to help your application so ask them.

3. Get home-loan pre-approval- Before you even start looking at buying your first home, get pre-approval from your broker. This will not only give you confidence that you're looking at the right type of properties, but it will enable you to act quickly when you find 'the one'. On so many occasions we as building inspectors have completed a report for our clients, house in good condition only to find that their finance has fallen through. This can be heartbreaking for the buyer.

4. Do your research -First home buyers who stick to their budget and do the research when buying the property are less likely to suffer from any stress and regret later. When it comes time to make an offer, know your area and what property is going for in the current market. It's easy these days to do your research. Start with Realestate.com and Domain.

5. Get a good conveyancer. Conveyancers are your legal representation. They support you and let you know what to look out for in terms of the title and the documentation. They make sure you get a smooth transaction and keep the sales agents honest! Engage a conveyancer early as you may need them without much notice when you need to give them time to review your documentation. Again, as inspectors, we have been at the stage where we are inspecting the property and clients are asking us questions where they should have been putting these questions to a conveyancer well before they ask us.

6. Caveat emptor (home buyers, beware!)- Pre-purchase building inspections are a critical investment in any home. Representing just a tiny fraction of the cost of your purchase a pre-purchase inspection they ensure you get what you pay for. Our reports identify Safety hazards, Major structural defects, and Minor defects. So structural problems and items like termite damage can be identified before you sign on the dotted line. Make sure you make on offer 'Subject to a building inspection.' If we do find any Termite or Major structural problems you can pull out of the sale or renegotiate and get a better price. The reports are also fully insured so you are covered and have that peace of mind.

Buying your first home is an exciting time and the process can be fun if you do the right preparation. Contact your local Jims Building Inspector and they can help you through the process.
https://www.jimsbuildinginspections.com.au/

An energy efficient home, whilst helping the environment, can also save you loads. Here's a few tips for both homeowners...
29/03/2022

An energy efficient home, whilst helping the environment, can also save you loads. Here's a few tips for both homeowners and those who are building to consider when trying to achieve an energy efficient home.

1) Plant a greater number of trees around you home:
This tip is great for all homes, but particularly for older homes with substandard insulation. Foliage can block infrared radiation that would usually heat up one's home during summer, whilst in winter bare branches will allow more of this radiation to transpire through. This natural insulation is particularly useful in a country like Australia where the extremely hot climate leaves Australian's spending $3.6 billion on air conditioning in summer alone.

2) Avoid using multiple refrigerators:
Whilst it can be tempting to use an old refrigerator as a beer fridge or to store excess food, however refrigerators are expensive to run! Old refrigerators can cost $50 to $150 to run annually, however newer refrigerators equipped with modern technology can be as cheap as $30-$60 per year to run.

3) Make sure your walls are well insulated:
Effective insulation slows the rate that heat enters your home in summer, whilst also reducing the rate in which it exits your house during the winter. Including quality insulation during your build may be a short-term loss, but ultimately in a climate such as Australia's it pays in the long term to take every measure possible towards reducing your air condition bill.

4) Replace old windows:
As per most old features in homes, old windows are not energy efficient. Old windows can cause your home to lose a lot of cool air during the summer months and warm air during the winter months. Double panel windows and other vinyl frames are much better than single-pane windows and aluminum frames, and tinted windows are another measure towards energy efficiency.

5) Cook more efficiently:
Some households waste an enormous amount of energy whilst cooking. Whilst most the ways to reduce energy in the kitchen come down to common sense, some simple tricks include using lids on pots and pans and using pressure cookers.

Buying a home? Want insight on its energy efficiency? Call Jim's Building Inspections on 131546 to speak to the most knowledgeable experts in the Building Industry.
https://www.jimsbuildinginspections.com.au/

In Australia, more than half of homeowners (58%) spend less than an hour inspecting their home before making the purchas...
16/03/2022

In Australia, more than half of homeowners (58%) spend less than an hour inspecting their home before making the purchase. It is therefore not surprising to learn that more than a quarter of Australian's find issues upon moving in. The excitement that purchasing a home brings can often lead to many becoming focused on how they can get the house, rather than stepping back and developing a full understanding of the future costs and requirements of the home.
To take the emotion out of buying here's a couple things you can do....
1. Make sure you carefully check the Vendor Statement of the contract, which provides all pertinent information about the property. While a Vendor Statement may show you where potential easements are located and list any possible encumbrances, it will not give you a personal history of the house. Would it bother you if you found out after purchase that the home you are now living in was once the scene of a violent crime?
2. Ask the real estate agent prior to purchase about the history of the property. The agent is obligated to disclose any information they may have if you ask. But only if you ask.
3. Pre-purchase building inspections are a critical investment in any home, commercial building or investment property purchase. Representing just a tiny fraction of the cost of your purchase or a fully tax-deductible expense in some circumstances, a pre-purchase inspection can save you a lot of money if nasty surprises are discovered.
4. If the house was built before 1985 it is highly likely that Asbestos is present in the home. For peace of mind make sure you get Jim's Asbestos Removal to have a look at the house.

Address

Ringwood, VIC
3134

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 8pm
Tuesday 7am - 8pm
Wednesday 7am - 8pm
Thursday 7am - 8pm
Friday 7am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Jim's Building Inspections posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Jim's Building Inspections:

Shortcuts

Share