Skip to content
Pest Inspections Adelaide
Pre-purchase combined report

Building and pest inspection in Adelaide, in one report

The standard pre-purchase package. AS 4349.1 building inspection plus AS 4349.3 timber pest inspection in a single visit. We connect you with three vetted Adelaide inspectors who can quote and turn the report around inside your cooling-off window.

  • AS 4349.1 + AS 4349.3 in one visit
  • Typical 1.5-2.5 hours on site
  • Report within 24-48 hours
  • Greater Adelaide coverage
Get 3 free quotesHow it works
What it is

A combined pre-purchase report on the structure and the timber pests

A building and pest inspection is the standard due-diligence report Adelaide buyers commission inside the cooling-off period. It looks at two scopes in one visit: the structural condition of the building (AS 4349.1) and the presence of timber pests including subterranean termites, borer, and fungal decay (AS 4349.3).

Buying without one is one of the bigger financial risks you can take. A termite-damaged character home in Adelaide can cost $30,000 to $80,000 to remediate. Subsidence on sandy or reactive clay soils in the south or far north can run higher still. A $400-ish inspection that flags those issues before settlement is the cheapest insurance on the transaction.

What you get is a written PDF report with photos, defect categories (Major, Minor, Safety Hazard), inspector commentary, recommended further investigations, and any limitations to access. Your conveyancer reads it alongside the contract to advise on next steps.

Indicative cost

$330 - $550

Combined report, typical Adelaide range

Time on site

1.5 - 2.5 hrs

Single-storey residential

Report turnaround

24 - 48 hrs

From inspection date

Standards covered

AS 4349.1 + .3

Building + timber pest

What is checked

The full inspection scope on a typical Adelaide property

Every inspector works to the Australian Standards. Reports follow the same structure, but the depth of commentary varies. This is the baseline.

Building inspection (AS 4349.1)

  • Roof exterior: tiles, sheets, flashings, gutters, downpipes

  • Roof void: framing, insulation, sarking, water staining

  • Exterior walls, eaves, fascia, soffits

  • Subfloor: bearers, joists, foundations, ventilation, moisture

  • Interior walls, ceilings, doors, windows, flooring

  • Wet areas: bathrooms, kitchen, laundry waterproofing

  • Electrical and plumbing visible defects

  • Site features: retaining walls, paths, decks, fencing

Timber pest inspection (AS 4349.3)

  • Subterranean termite activity, mudding, workings

  • Past termite damage and prior treatments

  • Borer infestation (Lyctus, Anobium, European house borer)

  • Fungal decay: wet rot, dry rot, white rot

  • Conducive conditions: moisture, vegetation, timber-to-soil contact

  • Termite barriers and reticulation systems present

  • Trees and stumps within 50 m of the structure

  • Recommendations for further investigation if access is limited

What is NOT covered

Important limitations every Adelaide buyer should understand

A standard pre-purchase inspection is a visual, non-invasive inspection. Inspectors do not lift carpets, drill into walls, move heavy furniture, or open up sealed cavities. That means some defects are necessarily out of scope.

Common exclusions: detailed compliance against the National Construction Code, soil tests, hidden defects behind cladding or in inaccessible roof voids, pool and spa structural checks, mould testing, asbestos sampling (asbestos may be flagged for specialist follow-up), and energy efficiency assessments.

For high-risk properties (active termite area, pre-1990 with extensions, heritage stone walls in the Hills) the report will often recommend further specialist investigation. That is not a failure of the inspection - it is the inspector flagging where more invasive checks may save you tens of thousands later.

Adelaide context

Where Adelaide buyers see the most issues

Our network sees the same recurring property issues across Greater Adelaide. Local knowledge changes how an inspector reads what they find.

Adelaide Hills + foothills

High termite pressure from native bushland reservoirs, regular moisture, older timber stumps. Subfloor checks become critical. Suburbs: Stirling, Aldgate, Crafers, Belair, Burnside, Norton Summit.

Inner-east character belt

Stone and bluestone buildings with rising damp, perished mortar, ageing slate roofs, original galvanised plumbing. Worth a detailed structural commentary. Suburbs: North Adelaide, Walkerville, Norwood, Unley, Hyde Park.

Outer south + far north

Reactive clay or sandy loam soils, ranch homes from the 1970s to 1990s, common slab cracking and brick-veneer movement. Drainage flagged often. Suburbs: Morphett Vale, Reynella, Munno Para, Elizabeth.

Beachside metro

Salt corrosion, sand subsidence, ageing fibro and asbestos cladding from mid-century stock. Roof and gutter checks become higher priority. Suburbs: Glenelg, Brighton, Henley Beach, Semaphore.

New-build estates

Lower termite risk but more workmanship issues: roof flashings, waterproofing, slab edge exposure, drainage. Often missed by builders. Suburbs: Mount Barker estates, Two Wells, Munno Para, Seaford Heights.

Inner-city units

Strata waterproofing, shared building services, balcony membranes, fire-rated walls. Inspectors will note what is common-property and outside scope. Suburbs: Adelaide CBD, North Adelaide, Norwood units.

How it works

Your three-step plan

Tell us about your property

Suburb, inspection type, property age, and when you need it done. Three short steps, takes under two minutes.

Get matched with up to 3 inspectors

We forward your request to vetted Adelaide pest inspectors who service your suburb and have capacity in your timeframe.

Compare quotes and book direct

Inspectors contact you with quotes. You compare, ask questions, and book directly with whoever you choose. No obligation.

Free for homeowners

The site is free to use and there is no fee for receiving quotes.

No obligation

You decide if you accept any quote. No pressure, no follow-up calls.

Compare in under 2 minutes

Three short steps, then sit back while inspectors come to you.

Vetted Adelaide inspectors

We only forward to inspectors who hold licences and insurance.

Frequently asked

Common building and pest inspection questions

The same questions buyers, agents, and conveyancers ask the most. Need something else clarified? Inspectors can answer in detail before quoting.

Related inspections

Other Adelaide inspections we can help with

Suburb coverage

Inspections across Greater Adelaide

Inspectors in the network cover the metro area, Adelaide Hills, and inner Fleurieu. Pick your suburb on the quote form.

Read next

Related guides for Adelaide buyers

Background reading on cost, scope, limitations, and what an Adelaide building and pest inspection actually picks up.

Guide

Building and pest inspection cost in Adelaide

Typical price ranges, what affects the cost, and whether a combined report is better value than booking separately.

Read the guide
Guide

Pre-purchase pest inspection guide for Adelaide buyers

Cooling-off timing, AS 4349.1 and AS 4349.3 scope, combined vs separate, and how findings change negotiation.

Read the guide
Guide

What does a pest inspection actually check for?

A clear breakdown of what the inspector physically looks at, what is recorded, and where the standard scope ends.

Read the guide
Guide

Termites and white ants in Adelaide homes

The single biggest financial risk in an Adelaide pre-purchase. What inspectors look for under AS 4349.3.

Read the guide

Get three quotes inside your cooling-off window

Two minutes now. Three inspectors come to you with quotes. You pick one, book, and have a clear report in hand before your cooling-off ends.

Get my 3 free quotes
Get 3 free quotesFree, 2 mins