One of my services is to inspect properties which have been bought off the plan so clients have peace of mind prior to settlement ('pre-settlement inspection'). Generally, the process goes pretty smoothly with hardly any major issues to hold up settlement. However, it's always good to have a list of items which can be raised either to give the builder/developer fair warning that there are some things to be attended to, or to renegotiate a price (if the contract allows for it). After settlement, there is also often a Defects Inspection which would be similar again to the pre-settlement inspection; hopefully by then they would have fixed most of the issues so there's less of a headache when moving in.
So when does something come up which might raise an issue for settlement? Missing structures (e.g. missing walls), incomplete finishes (e.g. missing tiling, unlaid carpet, etc) or issues which don't allow "fit for purpose" - refer to the industry bodies and Department of Fair Trading for further detail.
I inspected a new development in Eastern Sydney a couple of weeks ago, and on the whole it was a lot more polished than the one I inspected in Ultimo previously. This time there wasn't missing skirting, scratched floor boards, misaligned electrical plates and such. But instead, there were signs of staining to the grout of the bathroom.
So when does something come up which might raise an issue for settlement? Missing structures (e.g. missing walls), incomplete finishes (e.g. missing tiling, unlaid carpet, etc) or issues which don't allow "fit for purpose" - refer to the industry bodies and Department of Fair Trading for further detail.
I inspected a new development in Eastern Sydney a couple of weeks ago, and on the whole it was a lot more polished than the one I inspected in Ultimo previously. This time there wasn't missing skirting, scratched floor boards, misaligned electrical plates and such. But instead, there were signs of staining to the grout of the bathroom.
Now, the staining could mean one of two things:
If it's the former, then it's a simple clean or regrout. However, if there are waterproofing issues, then that might entail ripping up the tiles to re-waterproof it. There are chemicals which can waterproof bathrooms over the laid tiles, but if you're buying a new place, wouldn't you want it done right in the first place?
Regardless, we raised it with the contractor/developer as one of the issues (they just asked to send a list; probably not one of the services with their apathy - which means you have to chase them up constantly) and they were to address it.
As the client wanted to handle the discussions with the contractor/developer themselves, I'm not privy to the outcome. Let's hope that the client gets a favourable solution in a timely manner.
Here are a few more pictures of the bathroom in question. Notice how that the staining is not just on the floor but also on the walls.
- Dirt trapped in the grout or shoddy cleaning, or
- Waterproofing issues such that the water is seeping into the grout and staying there.
If it's the former, then it's a simple clean or regrout. However, if there are waterproofing issues, then that might entail ripping up the tiles to re-waterproof it. There are chemicals which can waterproof bathrooms over the laid tiles, but if you're buying a new place, wouldn't you want it done right in the first place?
Regardless, we raised it with the contractor/developer as one of the issues (they just asked to send a list; probably not one of the services with their apathy - which means you have to chase them up constantly) and they were to address it.
As the client wanted to handle the discussions with the contractor/developer themselves, I'm not privy to the outcome. Let's hope that the client gets a favourable solution in a timely manner.
Here are a few more pictures of the bathroom in question. Notice how that the staining is not just on the floor but also on the walls.
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