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The report
What you actually get
The inspection takes a few hours. The report is what you keep, and what you can put in front of a seller, an agent, a contractor or an attorney. So it is written to be used, not filed.
49
Pages in a recent pre-purchase report. Length follows the property, not a template.
266
Photographs in that same report. If we mention a defect, you can see it.
24–36 hrs
Usual turnaround from inspection to the report landing in your inbox.
The severity key
Every finding carries one of these. It means you are never left guessing whether something is a crisis or a nuisance.
Could affect the value of the property or lead to serious injury. Needs upgrade, repair or replacement.
Functionally defective. Needs repair or maintenance.
Repair or upgrade as necessary.
In acceptable condition.
Watch it. May need repair later if conditions change.
Water has got in, or can get in here. Conducive to mould, deterioration, odours and insects.
Something on the surface appears to be mould. Swabbing or testing is needed to confirm it.
Requires further evaluation by a specialist — a structural engineer, electrician or similar.
This area could not be inspected, and the report says exactly why.
Sections
- Introduction and introductory notes
- Site information
- Roofing
- Roof space
- Exterior of the building
- Interior of the building
- Crawl space
- Geyser
- Plumbing
- Site and grounds
- Garage
- Locations of emergency controls
- Final comments
What we do not do
It is a visual inspection. We do not lift tiles, open up walls, move the owner's furniture, or cut into anything. We do not review plans or municipal approvals. We do not value the property, and we do not tell you whether to buy it.
Where something could not be reached, the report names it and says why. A gap you know about is useful. A gap you do not know about is dangerous.
What a finding looks like
Four real findings, taken from recent reports. Addresses and client names removed.
1. Batten degradation. The horizontal timber battens supporting the clay tiles are severely rotted and structurally degraded from persistent moisture exposure.
2. Evidence of moisture intrusion from the exterior in multiple areas. Damp confirmed with a moisture meter and thermal camera. We recommend the cause of the ingress be fixed and the surfaces re-finished.
3. Runoff from the roof discharges next to the house. The downpipe should be routed sufficiently away from the structure to prevent pooling and saturation of the soil around the building.
4. Widespread poor-quality construction, with no approved structural plans or engineering specifications available. Because of this we cannot report on the structure. A registered structural engineer should assess it before any further work continues.
Note the tone. We are not trying to frighten you out of a purchase or talk you into one. Most houses have a list like this, and most of the list is manageable once you know about it.
Sampling to International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants procedures, laboratory analysed
Certified Professional Inspector, International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
Twenty years of active membership
Photographed, written, plain language
Request a quote
Tell us where the property is and what you need. We reply with a price and the first date we can get there — usually the same day you ask.
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Your name and number. Nothing else. We will ring you back today.
Or reach us now on +27 61 543 5870 · WhatsApp
Questions afterwards
Once you have the report, phone us about it. Explaining what a finding means, and how urgent it really is, is part of the job — not a follow-up consultation we charge for.