Most of the building inspection costs are included in the construction process. However, there are times when you need to request an additional inspection. This could be related to unusual behaviour of the building structure, infestation with pests or report for the insurance. Whatever the reason, the building inspection cost is the first thing which worries us.
There are 2 ways, building inspectors charge for their service:
There could also be fees which combine the two types. For example, building inspectors may charge per square meter but expect to be paid per hour for the written report.
Most building inspectors will determine their fees according to the:
The price for a simple building inspection is around $200-$300.
If you include the pest inspection then another $200 is added to the overall cost.
Most building inspections assume that the contractor spends about 2 hours on the premises.
Thus, the prolonged investigations will incur further charges.
As the rule of thumb you should estimate $80 per hour for the building inspection cost.
This also applies to the time the inspector needs to write the building inspection report.
Those inspectors which charge per investigated area are generally cheaper for smaller houses.
You pay around $300 for an average 150 square meters house.
Any area of 1.5 meters square (above the 150 square meters) incurs additional charges.
Most contractors will add about $2 for that small piece.
Yes, the building inspectors can be sued for the sloppy work. Although the independent building inspectors have very little powers to enforce the building codes, they are legally bound to provide an accurate service. There are building organisations which deal with those disputes. In severe cases the building inspector can loose the license and the building inspection cost are paid back to the client.