Homebuyer question: What do I look for when inspecting a house?

By Cameron Thomson · · 2 min read
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House inspections are a necessary part of the home buying process—after all, you want to know what you’re buying. However, there’s more to inspections than taking in the looks of the new place you’re thinking of purchasing. 

1. Personal inspections 

One of the first things on the agenda should be the inspections you go to yourself. When looking at your new place, don’t just consider what the house looks like. You should consider the neighbourhood that it’s in and whether it is in line with the kind of place you want to live. 

Also, think about potential noise pollution such as nearby rail lines or highways. In addition, you should consider what the type of home is (apartment, town house, detachable, etc.) as one type might not work for your living situation. This may be as simple as an apartment with no car park.

2. Building inspection 

While you should be able to assess whether a home is liveable for your situation, you’ll probably want a professional to inspect the actual condition of the building itself. 

With a building inspection, you’ll get a report of any issues such as structural problems, infestations, possible asbestos (for older buildings), mould, and any other issues that might arise. Do note that there will usually be some problems with the property, so it isn’t always a no deal.

Also, keep in mind that building inspectors will need a few days' notice before undergoing an inspection, so make sure to plan things out.

3. Pre-settlement Inspection 

Okay, so you’ve finished your personal and building inspections and feel like this is the kind of place that you want to live in. But, hold your horses, because there’s still one more thing to figure out here: the pre-settlement inspection.

A few days before the final settlement of your property, you’ll want to make sure that the property is still in the same condition as when you signed the contract. This is particularly important when you buy through a real estate agent as settlements can take much longer than would occur during an auction. 

You generally want to be looking out for any damages when doing your pre-settlement inspections so that you can have repairs undergone before you move in to the new property. 

Figuring out the right property loan for you

Buying a new home is a long process with a lot to keep in mind, and one of the first steps is getting your loan figured out. At Mozo we compare home loans from providers big and small so that you can figure out what loan works best for you.

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Last updated 24 October 2024 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*

Home loan comparisons on Mozo

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  • Unloan Variable

    • Owner Occupier
    • LVR <80%
    Interest rate
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    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.90 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,995
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    Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for borrowers. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply online in minutes.

  • 2-Year Discounted - Simple Home Loan Variable

    • Owner-Occupied
    • Principal and Interest
    • LVR<60%
    Interest rate
    5.54 % p.a.
    Variable for 24 months and then 5.99% p.a.
    Comparison rate
    5.90 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,988
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    Enjoy a low variable rate with no application, ongoing or monthly fees to pay. Access your money via internet banking at any time with free redraws. Make additional repayments at any time. Available for owner occupied, investment and interest only repayments.

  • Variable Home Loan

    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal and Interest
    Interest rate
    5.98 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.02 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,991
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    Competitive variable rate on up to a 30 year loan term. No application fees to pay. Unlimited additional repayments. Free online redraw. Optional 100% offset feature ($10/month) 10% minimum deposit. Fees & charges apply, Australian Credit Licence 237879 is held by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, the credit provider.

  • Unloan Variable

    • Owner Occupier
    • LVR <80%
    Interest rate
    5.99 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.90 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,995
    Go to site

    Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for borrowers. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply online in minutes.

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    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <60%
    Interest rate
    5.99 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.99 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,995

    Enjoy competitive rates for owner occupiers. Enjoy unlimited free extra repayments. Flexibility to redraw additional payments for free. No ongoing monthly service fee. Receive $3,288 cashback when you refinance an existing home loan. Minimum loan amount of $250,000, settle within 120 days from applying.

  • Simple Home Loan Variable

    • Owner-Occupied
    • Principal and Interest
    • LVR<60%
    Interest rate
    5.99 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.99 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,995
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    Enjoy a low variable rate with no application, ongoing or monthly fees to pay. Access your money via internet banking at any time with free redraws. Make additional repayments at any time. Available for owner occupied, investment and interest only repayments.

  • Mortgage Simplifier

    • LVR<80%
    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    Interest rate
    6.14 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.17 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,043

    Get a competitive variable rate with ING’s Mortgage Simplifier. Free extra repayments, no monthly or annual fees. Freedom to make free extra repayments or redraws.

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    • Owner Occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • <80% LVR
    Interest rate
    6.18 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.18 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,056

    Get competitive rates on loan terms of 5 to 30 years with the Aussie Elevate Home Loan. Structure your loan with up to five splits. Make additional repayments (T&Cs apply). Offset accounts available. Unlimited redraw using your online banking account. Choose from weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments For loan amounts from $10,000 to $5 million.

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* WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.

** Initial monthly repayment figures are estimates only, based on the advertised rate. You can change the loan amount and term in the input boxes at the top of this table. Rates, fees and charges and therefore the total cost of the loan may vary depending on your loan amount, loan term, and credit history. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes.

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