POST-CONSTRUCTION 

PRE-SETTLEMENT INSPECTIONS


A lot of people are buying units and apartments off-the-plan now. It makes sense: you get a deposit bond which costs around a couple of hundred dollars, and you don't pay anything extra until settlement.  But there are dangers buying a place which hasn't even been built yet; sure the display unit looks fantastic, but that's no guarantee that your unit will be the same quality.  Pre-settlement defects inspections provide you with the opportunity to view your apartment and to identify any issues needing resolution. At the completion of your inspection you will be provided with a record of the matters raised including referenced photographs which you can use to either negotiate or as a checklist to be fixed prior to settlement.   So, if you can't attend yourself or would like someone with experience in the industry, I can help you with the inspections.

One Central Park Broadway,
Chippendale NSW 

With the completion of the multi-towered mixed retail and residential  construction developed by Frasers Property and Sekisui House opposite the University of Technology, Sydney, I was asked by purchasers who had bought off the plan prior to construction to assist in their pre-settlement defects inspection.  I met up with the developer's representative at the unit on the agreed inspection date and undertook the inspection, resulting in over 13 pages of defects ranging from dirty expansion joint in the timber floor, unpainted tops of doors, ponding to shower recess, etc.  Photographs were taken and referenced in the report.  The client were private purchasers.

4 Wentworth Road, 
Liberty Grove NSW

Purchased in 2009, the property did not have a tax depreciation schedule submitted since its purchase.  Being part of a larger complex including common swimming pool and play area, the structure had to be measured and priced with the strata applied to it to maximise the deductable allowance.  As like all tax depreciation schedules prepared by Improjex, photographs and graphical representations are included in the report.

DEFECTS MANAGEMENT

After all the majority of construction works are done enough to certify Practical Completion (and receiving an Occupation Certificate), there will always be 'minor' defects in the end - whether it be a missing architrave, unpainted top of doors to bathrooms or even defective installation of finishes which only show up days or weeks after you've moved in.  However, you're within your rights to get those works fixed as long as you raise it during the 'Defects Period' written in the contract.  This 'period' can either be 3, 6 or even 12 months depending on which and how the contract was agreed to.  However, it is always advisable that a Defects Inspection be undertaken before taking handover of the site as that minimises the 'finger-pointing' later when defective works are raised as the builder may cite that it was caused by the occupants.

So once you know when the handover of the property will occur, make sure you inspect the property, note down what defects there are and document as both agreed on site. With my construction and property knowledge, I can help you with so that there are no misinterpretations.