Home and Commercial property inspection south africa are conducted by a qualified and experienced inspector. They are a professional service that will provide peace of mind.

What is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is a visual assessment of a property’s structures, systems (like plumbing and electrical), safety features and more. It’s usually conducted by a licensed home inspector who follows a set of standards and a code of ethics.

John Graham, from home inspection company HouseCheck, says South Africa desperately needs a regulated home inspection industry to protect consumers from costly repairs and disputes during the transfer of ownership process. He says distraught buyers frequently contact him after buying their new homes and finding major defects.

During a home inspection, the home inspector will assess a property’s condition and report on any issues they observe. A home inspector should not be overly critical or destructive, but should aim to inform by placing defects in context. A standard home inspection will include an interior look at the heating and air conditioning; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings and floors; and windows, doors and plumbing fixtures.

Why do I need a Home Inspection?

Purchasing a property is likely the largest financial investment a person makes. It’s important for a prospective homebuyer to have full knowledge about the condition of the house or sectional title unit before making such an investment.

John Graham, owner of house inspection company, HouseCheck says that he receives many phone calls from distraught home buyers who contact him after buying what they thought was their dream house only to discover serious defects. These problems can result in expensive repair bills and/or a shortened life expectancy of the building.

Graham says that until legislation or regulation of the industry and official home inspector training is in place, South African homebuyers remain largely unprotected. He adds that the brief inspection carried out by bank valuators provides little practical consumer protection as banks don’t divulge their assessors reports to home buyers.

How do I get a Home Inspection?

Purchasing a home is the largest financial investment many people will make in their lifetime. Skipping a professional inspection can lead to unwelcome surprises and unforeseen costs down the road.

Estate agents have been wary of the home inspection industry in South Africa owing to a perception that negative reports can kill sales. Graham believes that this fear is misguided, as a properly trained home inspector is not meant to be destructive but rather to inform by placing observed defects in context.

It is therefore essential to find a SAHITA trained and certified home inspector who has the knowledge and experience in dealing with South African building methods, installations and finishes. HouseCheck offers a standard comprehensive home inspection as well as a more budget friendly VITAL report for those who are concerned about the cost of the inspection. Our fees are based on the number of rooms in the property, which determines the inspector’s workload.

Which Inspection Will Suit My Needs?

Whether you are a property owner, landlord, investor or occupier of commercial or residential property it is important to understand your property’s condition. This will enable you to make informed decisions regarding your property purchase, sale, lease or ongoing maintenance.

SAHITA offers a range of value added services. These include drone inspections, infrared thermography, mould and lead testing, termite and pest inspections amongst others.

According to John Graham from HouseCheck Home Inspections, many South African buyers do not have a pre-purchase inspection carried out. Consequently, distressed home owners contact him after purchasing their property to get advice on how to rectify problems they have discovered. However, Graham says that home inspections are not currently regulated in South Africa. A model bill was written by SASHI in 2008 in partnership with the American Society of Home Inspectors and presented to the Minister of Housing for consideration, but it is still waiting to be enacted. SASHI has also published a code of practice for the industry, but that is yet to be adopted by government.