Understanding Building Inspection Reports

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Building inspection reports are designed to help property buyers better understand the visible condition of a property at the time of inspection.

A professional inspection report should clearly identify:

• Significant visible defects 
• Maintenance concerns 
• Moisture risks 
• Safety issues 
• Areas requiring monitoring or specialist advice 
• General condition observations 

Understanding how to read and interpret a building inspection report is important when making informed property decisions.

Most reports commonly include:

• Property details 
• Inspection date 
• Summary observations 
• Photographs 
• Defect descriptions 
• Maintenance recommendations 
• Limitations of inspection 
• Areas requiring further investigation where applicable 

Reports may vary in detail and format between inspectors.

Many reports include an executive summary section highlighting:

• Significant defects 
• Safety concerns 
• Moisture risks 
• Major maintenance items 
• Important recommendations 

The executive summary is designed to help clients quickly identify key findings, however the full report should always be read carefully.

Not all issues identified within a report are major defects.

Reports commonly identify:

• General ageing 
• Wear and tear 
• Routine maintenance 
• Minor deterioration 
• Cosmetic issues 

Experienced inspectors will usually distinguish between:

• Significant concerns 
• Moderate issues 
• Minor maintenance observations 

Understanding this distinction is important.

Moisture-related comments within reports should always be reviewed carefully.

Reports may identify:

• Elevated moisture readings 
• Staining 
• Dampness 
• Mould growth 
• Ventilation concerns 
• Historic moisture damage 

Where significant moisture concerns are identified, further specialist investigation may sometimes be recommended.

Many buildings develop cracking over time and not all cracking is structurally significant.

Reports may comment on:

• Typical age-related movement 
• Settlement cracking 
• Differential movement 
• Monitoring recommendations 
• Situations where engineering advice may be appropriate 

Building inspection reports are generally based on visible and reasonably accessible areas only.

Inspectors usually cannot assess concealed areas behind:

• Wall linings 
• Insulation 
• Floor coverings 
• Furniture 
• Stored items 
• Concealed structural elements 

Because of this, some defects may remain hidden at the time of inspection.

Inspectors may sometimes recommend specialist advice where:

• Significant concerns are identified 
• Areas are inaccessible 
• Specialist expertise is required 
• Further invasive assessment may be necessary 

Recommendations may include:

• Structural engineering assessment 
• Plumbing assessment 
• Electrical inspection 
• Pest inspection 
• Moisture investigation 

A well-written inspection report should:

• Be clear and balanced 
• Use understandable language 
• Include supporting photographs 
• Explain risks appropriately 
• Help clients make informed decisions 

Experienced inspectors often provide more useful context and clearer explanations regarding building condition and future maintenance considerations.

The Master Inspector Association connects experienced inspectors across Australia and New Zealand.

To locate a participating inspector within your area, visit:

Australia:
https://masterinspector.org.au/find-an-inspector

New Zealand:
https://mianz.org.nz/find-building-inspector