Final Pre-Settlement Inspection
Know the property is in agreed condition before settlement day, appliances, services and moving damage checked on the spot.
- Same-day report (subject to access and availability)
- Upfront pricing
- 12 months free advice
What's in your final inspection
Included
- Electrical polarity testing to all accessible power points
- Testing of all air-conditioning units
- Testing of all kitchen appliances included with the sale
- Assisted testing of miscellaneous fixed electrical items (ducted vacuum, pool pump, reticulation), with seller or selling agent present
- Testing of all taps and drains
- Inspection for obvious abnormal or significant moving damage
- Inspection per AS 4349.0-2007
- Same-day written report with photo evidence
- 12 months free advice from your inspector
Not included
- Structural assessment (not within AS 4349.0 final inspection scope)
- Timber pest inspection
- Machinery or equipment not included in the sale
- Items requiring specialist trade inspection (electrical compliance, plumbing compliance)
Our inspectors document every accessible element on site with photo evidence and severity ratings.
Real defects our inspectors have flagged
Why you might need this
- You're approaching settlement and want to confirm the property is in the same condition as when you contracted to buy
- Appliances or fixed inclusions were listed in the contract and you need to verify they work
- The property has been vacant and you're concerned about damage or missing inclusions
- Pool, reticulation or ducted vacuum were included in the sale and need testing before you accept the keys
- You need documented evidence of any moving damage for use with the seller's agent before settlement
What we find when we walk a property
Every final 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 the final inspection
Schedule the inspection for the days immediately before settlement. We coordinate access with the selling agent.
- 2
Inspector attends with seller or agent
The seller or agent assists with operating fixed electrical items, appliances, and services. The inspector tests all accessible items systematically.
- 3
Same-day report delivered
A detailed PDF report with photos of any defects or missing items is emailed the same day, in time to raise with the selling agent before settlement.
- 4
12 months free advice
Your inspector is available for 12 months after settlement to answer questions about report findings.
See exactly what you get before you book
Our final 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
What our final inspections commonly find
Our DefectIndex documents inspection findings across Perth and Sydney. Browse the defect categories most relevant to this type of inspection.
About a final inspection
The Final Inspection is designed to assist the handover step between seller and buyer in the final days before settlement. Completed in accordance with AS 4349.0-2007, the inspection confirms that included appliances are operational, services function, and no moving damage has occurred since the pre-purchase inspection.
Polarity testing to all accessible power points is included as a standard part of the final inspection scope, this alone identifies electrical safety defects that could have consequences after you take possession.
Why this inspection matters
A lot can change between when you signed the contract and when you collect the keys. Appliances can stop working, inclusions can go missing, and moving damage can occur after your pre-purchase inspection. Without a documented check in the days immediately before settlement, you have no independent record of the property’s condition at handover.
The final inspection report provides that record. Any defects, missing items, or damage identified before you accept the keys gives you the opportunity to raise these with the selling agent and seek resolution before settlement is complete, after the keys change hands, your leverage disappears.
You might also need
About final inspection
When should I book the final inspection?
Ideally 2–5 days before settlement, to allow time to resolve any defects or negotiate with the seller before you accept the property.
Does the seller need to be present?
The selling agent should be present to assist with operating appliances and fixed services. The seller may also attend. Items that cannot be tested due to unavailability of an operator are noted in the report.
Does the final inspection include polarity testing?
Yes, polarity testing to all accessible power points is included in the final inspection. This is a key differentiator from a standard pre-purchase inspection.
What if the inspector finds moving damage or missing inclusions?
The report documents all findings with photos. You can use this to negotiate with the selling agent before accepting the keys at settlement.
Is this the same as a pre-purchase inspection?
No, the final inspection scope is defined by AS 4349.0 and focuses on condition at handover (appliances, services, moving damage) rather than structural integrity. If you haven't already, a structural or comprehensive inspection earlier in the process is recommended.
How long does the final inspection take?
Generally 1–2 hours on site, depending on the number of items and services to test. The report is issued later the same day.