Buying a near new home in Atherstone: why it still needs an inspection
A five year old estate home can carry unfixed builder items and early movement. What to check before you buy.
In short: Near new homes are easy to trust because they look clean. The reports tell a different story often enough to justify an inspection.
Original handover items
Not every owner booked a PCI. Items from the build, such as fans venting into the roof or weep holes buried under paving, may never have been fixed.
The first seasons on clay
By year five a house has been through several wet winters and dry summers. Cracking, sticking doors and uneven floors show whether the ground has moved.
Landscaping after handover
Owners often build up garden beds and paving against the slab. That hides the slab edge from termite inspection and can bridge the damp course.
Wet areas
Moisture behind tiles and failed silicone appear in the first few years. A moisture meter finds them before they show.
Warranty
Some defects may still be within the builder's responsibility. Your conveyancer can advise how that transfers.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Strathtulloh. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
