Southern Independent Building Inspections

When using Southern independent Building Inspections, you are engaging a qualified Builder, carpenter, and qualified pest technician that trains other inspection entities with over 25 years’ experience.

We are the only certified master inspector in Australia also being a certified level 3 thermographer amongst our qualifications along with expert witness reports for District courts and NCAT.

We do not work for agents or conveyancers as we are not favoured due to the findings we report on as we don’t have any agenda!


Licensed and Experienced
Southern Independent Building Inspections are licensed and trained professionals with many years in the industry of building inspections, we put out the most reliable reports.

Licence No. HS/0624
Asbestos and Mould Licence No. HS/0639
Swimming Pool Licence No. HS/0683
Strata Licence No. HS/0680
E1 Certified Swimming Pool Compliance
BPB 2445
Lic No: HS/ 0639
Lic No: HS/ 0680
Lic No: HS/ 0683
Lic No: HSCPI/ 003
Lic No: HS/064

Property Inspections

We understand that, whether you’re purchasing an investment property or your dream home, you need the facts about the condition of the property to help you make an informed decision; after all, nothing is more important to us than the safety of our family and friends.

Our combined Property and Visual Pest Inspection covers both building defects and non-invasive pest problems within a property. Our comprehensive reports include:

Pre Purchase Inspection Reports
Pre Sale Inspection Reports
Specialist Asbestos and Mould Inspection Reports
We can advise which report best suits your needs.

Our reports are:

emailed to you within 24 hours
thorough and include images of ALL areas of the property.

Same-day property inspection reports are also available.

We also offer professional advice on necessary repairs and maintenance. We are happy to run through any of the information in the report with you at your request because we’re here to take the stress out of purchasing a new home.

Pest Inspections

Our combined Property and Visual Pest Inspection covers both building defects and non-invasive pest problems within a property.

Our comprehensive reports include:

Building/Property and Visual Pest Reports
Timber Pest Inspections
Thermal Imaging
We can advise which report best suits your needs.

Our reports are:

Emailed to you within 24 hours
Thorough and include images of ALL areas of the property.
Same-day property inspection reports are also available.
We also offer professional advice on necessary repairs and maintenance.
We are happy to run through any of the information in the report with you at your request, because we’re here to take the stress out of purchasing a new home.


Swimming Pool Compliance

We are E1 Certifiers for Residential Swimming Pool Compliance.

This means we are qualified to inspect swimming pool and spa pool barriers and issue certificates of compliance, and lodge with local government, under the Swimming Pools Act 1992. AS1926.1-1986, AS1926.1-2007 & AS1926.1-2012.

This certificate must be available in order for a property to be leased or sold from April 2016.


Expert Witness Inspection

Expert Witness Inspection For Building Claims or Litigation in (NCAT tribunal or Court).

You will need a Building or Pest Expert Witness Report if you intend on making a claim or responding to a claim or dispute in the court or tribunal for litigation (NCAT), whether you are a builder or owner in a dispute.

The Expert Witness Report includes all relevant evidence and findings.

In the majority of matters a ‘Scott Schedule’ is also required to summarise the Report and cost claim.
We are also fully aware of the requirements of NCAT and Court in the set out of an Expert Report and adhere to the relevant Expert Code of Conduct.

Many disputes can also arise from variations to the contract. We are experienced in assessing variation claims against the original contract documents and can include these in an Expert Report.

We are also attend on site conclave meetings and giving evidence in relation to our reports in court or NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). Additionally, we are familiar and comply with all the Court and NCAT Codes of Conduct.



Thermal Imaging Inspections

Thermal imaging ( thermography ) inspections and reports are a specialized inspection.

We don’t use low end cameras or attachments to mobile phones.

We only use FLIR thermal imaging equipment!

Thermal imaging is a great tool when used as intended and can highlight additional problems not visible to the naked eye.



Special Purpose inspections


Special purpose inspections is a report that requires specialized equipment and more suitably a more specialized skill set by an inspector.

A Special purpose is a report that focuses in a specific problem that a builder or inspector can not complete.
This may include but not limited to using fault finding equipment to determine damage or problems that have been rejected by insurance companies, courts or builders.

This may include the use of thermal imaging and penetrating radar.



New Construction Inspection

A New construction or stage inspection is a inspection by an independent builder during the construction of your new home.

This is a visual inspection to highlight the areas that have not been completed to their relevant Australian Standards or NCC.

Construction / progress and stage inspections carrier out by Southern Independent Building Inspections are completely independent and will advise you on the quality of work being completed by the builder and inform you of the issues that need to be addressed by the builder.

The inspection comes with a completed report to hand to your builder to rectify the noted defects.

Stage inspections consist of
Pre-Slab inspection-
Prior to the concrete slab being poured

Frame stage /Pre-Lining inspection-
when the frame is complete and prior to wall lining being installed. This is the most vital inspection due to the frame being a structural member and is vital to get this right!

Lock up stage / water proofing inspection-
All external door, windows, roof installation and brickwork is completed

Practical completion inspection-
this is the final inspection as we received the majority of call as owner are concerned about the quality of the build or incorrect information they have been provided.



Pre-Purchase Building And Pest Inspection

A Pre-Purchase Building and Pest inspection is completed for a purchaser prior to purchase.

This is a visual inspection to provide a purchaser with the necessary information for defects or major issues surrounding the dwelling and prevent unexpected problems including rising damp, high moisture and drainage problems.

A Pre-Purchase Building and Pest inspection also looks at smaller items that are not obvious as this can lead to costly future repairs.

It also inspects termites and borers to the dwelling and any outbuildings within 30m of the dwelling including inspecting the subfloor, roof void and all internal rooms.

We do not use subcontractors like many companies do!



Termite Inspections

Termite inspections are vital to ensure you home remains termite free.

AS 3660 recommend a termite inspection take place ant no longer than 12 month intervals.

This is also a requirement for any termite treatment or termite management plan that may be in place at your property.

Termite can affect 1 in 5 homes in Australia and is not covered by your home and contents insurance.

Ask us how we can assist you in ensuring your home remains termite free.



Stage Inspections

Stage inspections or progress inspections check the construction at vital stages of your build to ensure no corners have been cut by the builder.

Stage 1: Building Stage Inspection of the footings.
Stage 2: Inspection of the completed wall and roof frames.
Stage 3: Inspection of completed external roof and wall cladding.
Stage 4: Inspection of internal linings and completed waterproofing.
Final handover: Practical completion inspection.
Stage 1: Building Stage Inspection of the footings
Check that the footings of the building are constructed as per the requirements of the footing engineered plans, the National Construction Code and Australian Standard 2870.

A typical Footing Inspection requires the inspector to inspect footing preparation prior to pouring of concrete. Footings are the lower structural building element which rest directly on the foundation material and once poured are basically inaccessible. It is imperative that footing preparations are carried are diligently and fully compliant with engineers plans and specification. Serious errors in footings can cause a disastrous outcome, which sometimes may not come to light until years later.

For peace of mind, a Footing Inspection prior to pouring concrete is strongly recommended. A typical Footing Inspection will tell you about deficiencies, defects, and items of non-compliance, including issues relating to: excavation, footing dimensions, steel reinforcement dimension and placement, reinforcement supports, clearances at footing penetrations by service pipes. All reinforcement, when necessary, should also be secured and tied at lap and/or splice joints.

Note: Concreting contractors should place concrete carefully as not to displace reinforcement or cause concrete segregation. All concrete should be of specified mix, consistency, and compacted when poured, in accordance with engineer’s recommendations.

Stage 2: Inspection of the completed wall and roof frames
An inspection to determine if the wall and roof frames are structurally sound and in accordance with the National Construction Code, the framing Australian Standard 1684, engineering plans and framing plans.

A typical Frame Inspection requires the inspector to inspect the structural frame work of the building for standard of workmanship, and compliance.