Pre-Purchase Structural Building Inspection
Know exactly what you're buying before settlement day.
- Same-day report (subject to access and availability)
- Upfront pricing
- 12 months free advice
On-site ~1hr · Report same day (subject to access and availability)
What's in your pre-purchase structural building inspection
Included
- Roof frame - rafters, trusses, ridge, bracing, and roof-frame defects
- Load-bearing walls - cracking, movement, and structural continuity
- Subfloor structure - stumps, bearers, and joists
- Concrete slab and footings - cracking, settlement, and moisture ingress
- Same-day written report with photo evidence
- 12 months free advice from your inspector
Our inspectors document every accessible element on site with photo evidence and severity ratings.
Real defects our inspectors have flagged
What we find when we walk a property
Every pre-purchase structural building inspection draws on the same indexed defect corpus, patterns our inspectors have catalogued across thousands of properties.
Across Perth and Sydney. Every report indexed.
Per property our inspectors document, photograph and severity-rate.
23,030 defects classified critical: items that affect structure, safety or value.
Source: SURE defect corpus, refreshed monthly
The process
- 1
Book online or by phone
Select your property address, bedroom count, and preferred date. We confirm your booking by phone.
- 2
Inspector visits the property
Your SURE inspector completes a thorough structural assessment of all accessible areas. The inspection typically takes 1-2 hours depending on size and age.
- 3
Same-day report delivered
A detailed PDF report with photos and severity ratings is emailed to you, subject to access and availability.
- 4
12 months free advice
Your inspector is available for 12 months to answer questions about the report findings.
See exactly what you get before you book
Our pre-purchase structural building inspection report includes annotated photos, severity ratings, AS 4349 references and actionable remediation advice. Written in plain language so you can act on it the day you receive it.
- Photo evidence per finding
- Severity rated: critical, moderate, cosmetic
- Australian Standards cross-referenced
- Remediation guidance you can quote
Book a pre-purchase structural building inspection in your suburb
Each suburb page includes local inspector details, area-specific defect data, and fixed pricing.
Don't see your suburb? Browse all suburbs →
Common defects we find on pre-purchase structural building inspections
Patterns indexed across the Perth and Sydney corpus. These are the types of findings you might see in your own report.
Rising damp on south walls
Capillary moisture rising through limestone foundations, common in older Perth coastal stock.
Reactive clay slab movement
Shrink-swell soils causing differential slab heave, a signature defect in Sydney West.
Inadequate subfloor ventilation
Inadequate airflow beneath timber floors leading to moisture buildup and rot.
About a pre-purchase structural building inspection
A pre-purchase structural building inspection from SURE Building Inspections gives you an independent, professional assessment of a property’s structural condition before you commit to one of the largest purchases of your life. Our inspectors examine the roof frame, load-bearing walls, subfloor structure, and concrete slab/footings, documenting observable issues (cracking, movement, roof-frame irregularities) as defined under the contract of sale.
Our detailed written reports are delivered the same day in most cases, subject to access and availability, giving you the information you need to negotiate confidently or walk away from a poor-condition property. Every inspection includes 12 months of FREE advice from the inspector who completed the assessment.
With inspectors operating across Perth and Sydney, SURE Building Inspections delivers consistent, high-quality assessments backed by years of hands-on building and construction experience.
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About pre-purchase structural building inspection
What does a structural building inspection cover?
Our pre-purchase building inspection is structural as per the contract of sale. The inspector analyses the roof frame, load-bearing walls, subfloor structure, and the concrete slab and footings, then delivers a report of the issues found in each area. The inspection follows AS 4349.1-2007.
How long does a building inspection take?
A typical pre-purchase structural building inspection takes 1–2 hours on site, depending on the size and age of the property.
When will I get the report?
Same-day reports are standard — usually within 5 hours of the inspection, subject to access. You'll receive a detailed written report you can use to make your decision before settlement.
Do I need to be there for the inspection?
There's no need to attend. We arrange a suitable time with the agent or seller, and the inspector calls you on completion to talk through what was found. You're welcome to ask questions for 12 months afterward.
When should I get a structural building inspection?
We recommend one whenever you're buying a property or planning a major renovation. It gives you an independent picture of the building's condition before you commit.
Can the report be used for council approval?
No. A pre-purchase building inspection assesses the property's condition for the buyer — it can't be used for council approval. For that, you'll need to contact a registered building surveyor.
How does SURE arrange access to the property?
We organise the inspection timing directly with the agent or seller, and attend only with their permission. You don't need to coordinate anything yourself.