Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch.

In this episode, Ben is joined by building inspector Paul Baker to unpack one of the biggest hidden problems in property:

Water damage.

It might not sound exciting… but according to Bakes, water is responsible for the vast majority of issues he sees in homes.

From leaking gutters and cracked grout to under-slab plumbing failures, balcony leaks, mould, timber rot, movement, and even termite risk — water can quietly cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage before most owners even realise there’s a problem.

Ben and Paul walk through real examples, what to look for before you buy, and why trying to DIY certain waterproofing fixes can end up costing more in the long run.

If you own property, want to buy property, or just want to avoid a very expensive surprise, this is one worth watching.

Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/

⏱️ Timestamps

00:15 – Welcome to Friday Fundamentals
00:41 – Paul Baker’s hill to die on
01:03 – Why water causes so many home issues
01:27 – How water leads to movement, mould and pest problems
02:07 – Water issues you can’t see under a slab
03:01 – Real story: the pipe failure under Paul’s home
04:16 – The surprising fix that avoided major damage
05:07 – Small bathroom issues that can become big problems
05:58 – Why waterproofing matters so much
06:49 – Water, timber and hidden damage
07:13 – Balconies, pools and other high-risk areas
07:30 – What to look for outside a property
08:13 – Why water problems need professional repairs
09:02 – Final takeaway: water can wreck property value

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