Posted July 31, 2026 by Sarah Dunk
Category: Advice, Inspection, Termites

Did you know that a standard building inspection doesn’t cover termites?

Let’s discuss why you should have a pest inspection carried out as well.

It can be very stressful when you are buying any new property. Having to sort out your finances, speaking to conveyancers, packing boxes for moving and getting the right inspectors can just be another thing to do.

At Pest Alert, we constantly speak with buyers wondering what their inspections actually cover. A common, costly mistake is assuming a standard building inspection is enough to ensure that they are buying the right property. Builder inspectors are not actively searching for termites.

When looking to purchase a property around Dubbo or the Central west, relying on just a building report could be a costly mistake.

What is the difference between a Building Inspector and a Pest Inspector

Let’s look at the different property inspectors like medical professionals. When you have a tooth ache you would go to the dentist, not a general practitioner.

A Building Inspector has been trained to be an expert in the structural integrity of the building. They will report back to you with any issues such as poor drainage, cracking walls, rising damp, roof leaks and faulty wiring. However, a good building inspector will still let you know about any termite activity or damage if they come across it. But they are not trained to know how to treat these termites or where to look for hidden colonies etc.

A Pest Inspector has been specifically trained to identify timber pests. They are trained to spot the environmental conditions that attract termites, identify subtle signs like mud tunnels, and track how they travel from nests into your home.

The Building Claus

Did you know that if you read the fine print of a standard building inspection report you will nearly always find that there is a Claus regarding timber pests?

These reports will explicitly state that they do not cover termites or other timber pests. If you were to purchase a property based only on the building report and were to find that there is a termite nest in the walls a few months later, the building inspector is completely protected. The costs of any repairs and treatments will fall back on you.

What you essentially need: A Pre-Purchase Timber Pest Inspection

If you want to fully protect your next investment you need to ensure that you book both the Pre-Purchase Timber Pest Inspection AND a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection.

We often carry these out together. This allows both experts to cross-check findings and gives you the most value from your inspections.

When Pest Alert conducts our Termite Inspections, we aren’t just looking for ants around the property. A full inspection includes:

• Interior of the Property: We will check all accessible timber areas including walls, trims, door frames, window frames and skirting boards.
• Roof Void: Where possible we check roof void trusses and framework, this is where sometimes termites can do the most devastating and unseen damage.
• Subfloor area: We crawl under the building (where possible) to check piers, bearers, and joists. We also look for moisture issues and termite leads coming up from the soil.
• Around the Exterior of the property and yard area: It is important to check around the buildings for any possible nearby threats. We check fences, retaining walls, timber in contact with the ground, trees and stumps covering most of the area up to 50m from the building.

The Bottom Line

When purchasing property, it is one of the biggest investments that we make. It is important not to let a hidden termite colony turn your dream purchase into a nightmare.

Prior to exchanging your contracts make sure that you have arranged for the right experts to be on your side. Ensure that you have complete peace of mind before settlement.

To Book an inspection or for more information please contact our office