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.

Mozo may receive payment if you click products on our site. We don’t compare the entire market, but you can compare more home loans here.
Last updated 5 December 2025 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*
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Loan purpose
Buying or Refinancing
  • Promoted

    Unloan Variable Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.19 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.10 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,742
    Go to site
    • The first home loan with an automatic loyalty discount (conditions apply)
    • No application or banking fees
    • Built by CommBank

  • First Home Buyer Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 5% min deposit
    • For first home buyers
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    4.99 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.04 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,681
    Go to site
    • Competitive interest rate – 4.99% p.a. (comparison rate* 5.04% p.a.)
    • Offset account to reduce interest and save on repayments
    • No establishment or monthly fees, plus valuation fees waived up to $1,000 (limited time)

  • Unloan Variable Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.19 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.10 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,742
    Go to site
    • The first home loan with an automatic loyalty discount (conditions apply)
    • No application or banking fees
    • Built by CommBank

  • Discount Great Rate Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    • Cashback
    Interest rate
    5.19 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.20 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,742
    Go to site
    • Get up to $3,000 cashback when you apply online (T&Cs apply)
    • No paperwork or payslips required (see site for details)
    • Low variable rate

  • Variable Home Loan 90

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 10% min deposit
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.29 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.33 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,773
    Go to site
    • No monthly or ongoing fees
    • Option to add an offset for 0.10% p.a.

  • Offset Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.39 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.42 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,805
    Go to site
    • No ongoing monthly loan maintenance fees to pay.
    • Pre-approval valid for 3 months
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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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