595 | Building Inspections, Hidden Defects & A Risky Govt Proposal (Buying a Home | Part 2) – Chat with Paul Baker & Myles Clark

You can watch the video on our YouTube. 

A $700 inspection could save you $70,000.

In Part 2 of our How to Buy a Home series, Ben is joined by leading building inspectors Paul Baker and Miles Clark to unpack one of the most overlooked and financially risky parts of buying property: building and pest inspections.

You’ll learn:

✔️ What a good inspection should (and shouldn’t) cover
✔️ How to interpret “major defects” without panicking
✔️ The red flags inspectors look for in older homes
✔️ How to choose the right inspector (and avoid costly mistakes)
✔️ Why Victoria’s proposed pre-purchase inspection reforms could have unintended consequences for buyers

Plus, we unpack a controversial proposal that could make vendor-supplied building reports mandatory… and why many in the industry are sounding the alarm.

🎧 Listen now.

Resources Mentioned

• Catch Up On Part 1 of the Buying a Home Series 🎧
  Missed Episode 593 on borrowing, search strategy and buying decisions? Start there.
• Victorian Petition on Rental Reform ✍ (CLOSES 1 MAY)
  Support the petition discussed in the episode:
  • Victorian Parliament Petition (VIC residents only)
  • Change.org Petition (open to all)
• Find a Qualified Building Inspector 🔍
  Learn more about credentials and due diligence through the Victorian Association of Home Inspectors and trusted inspection providers.
•  Find out more about Paul & Myles: 👇
  • Inside Out Property Inspections (Paul Baker)
  • Listen to Paul’s other episodes here >>
  • Aus Property Reports (Myles Clark)
• Read the REIV’s “A Blueprint for Marketing of Residential Real Estate in Victoria” (what kickstarted Victoria’s new inspection proposal) 🛠️

Timestamps  

• 0:00 – 595 | Building Inspections, Hidden Defects & A Risky Govt. Proposal (Buying a Home | Part 2)
• 5:12 – Seeing a Property Through an Inspector’s Lens
• 10:52 – Hidden Risks in Older Homes
• 15:35 – Safety Hazards, Major vs Minor Defects
• 20:56 – What Inspections Cost (And What They Don’t Cover)
• 22:41 – How to Choose an Inspector You Can Trust
• 27:27 – What an Inspection Can’t Guarantee
• 33:35 – Ask This Before You Hire an Inspector
• 34:10 – Why Inspections Are Non-Negotiable
• 37:30 – A New Rule… Or a New Risk?
• 41:14 – Why Buyers Could Pay Twice
• 43:33 – Can Seller Reports Ever Be Independent?
• 48:08 – What Buyers Should Do If Concerned