A fifty-page building report is not a bad report, it is a thorough one. Reading it properly won one client an extra $20,000 off the price.
It is a conversation I have with buyers surprisingly often.
Sometimes it follows a building and pest report. Other times they have noticed a crack in a wall, some dampness, or something that just did not feel quite right during an inspection.
Whatever the trigger, the reaction is usually the same. "We should walk away!"
A first building and pest report can be confronting. It is not unusual for one to run to fifty pages or more, documenting everything from minor maintenance items through to more significant defects.
I always prepare buyers for this before the report arrives. A long report is not a bad report. It usually means the inspector has done a thorough job. Their role is to document everything they observe, both good and bad, so you have as much information as possible.
Walking away before understanding the extent of the issues can sometimes mean walking away from an otherwise excellent property.
A building and pest inspection is not designed to tell you whether you should buy. It is one of the most common questions inspectors get asked, and a good inspector will not answer it, because that is not what the inspection does.
Its purpose is to identify defects and potential risks. What matters next is understanding what those findings actually mean.
These are the questions that turn a list of potential problems into an informed decision.
I worked with a couple recently where due diligence uncovered several issues: a cut bearer beneath the floor, a couple of roofing concerns, and moisture readings in a bathroom wall.
Rather than making an immediate decision to walk away, we took the time to understand the extent of each one. We arranged for the relevant trades to inspect, and obtained written quotes so we had a clear picture of what was actually involved.
Armed with that, I went back to the selling agent and negotiated a lower price. It demonstrated that our concerns were genuine and supported by evidence, not simply an attempt to low-ball the vendor.
The result was a purchase price reduction that not only covered the repair costs, we also negotiated an additional $20,000 off. The buyers moved forward with confidence, knowing exactly what they were purchasing, how the issues would be addressed, and that they had been more than compensated for taking them on.
Some defects are significant, expensive, or simply not worth taking on. Every property has imperfections. The goal is not to find a home that is perfect. It is to understand which issues matter, which do not, and whether the property still represents good value once they are taken into account.
Once you have read through it, call your inspector and talk it over. Ask what the key takeaways are, which issues are significant, which are simply maintenance items, and whether anything warrants further investigation.
A good inspector will happily talk you through the report in plain English. They will not tell you whether to buy the property, but they will help you understand what the report is actually telling you. That conversation often turns an overwhelming document into something much easier to work with.
Knowledge replaces uncertainty with understanding, and that is what leads to confident property decisions.
Note: this is general advice and does not take into account your objectives, situation or needs. Please consider whether it is suitable for you, and speak to a professional before making any financial decisions.
