- Buying an existing home? You need a building and pest inspection: Standard at $499 + GST, or Advanced with thermal imaging at $799 + GST.
- Building a new home? You need stage inspections and a PCI, not a building and pest inspection.
- A PCI is for new builds only. It checks the home was built properly before you take handover.
- No stage inspections during your build? Book the Advanced PCI at $999 + GST.
- Moved in already? Book a defect liability inspection before the builder’s maintenance period ends.
“Existing home, building and pest. New build, stage inspections and a PCI. Get that right and you’re already ahead of most buyers.”
Russell McCarthy, Registered Builder & Lead Building Inspector
Short answer: it depends on whether the house already exists or is being built. If you’re buying an established home, you need a building and pest inspection: the Standard at $499 + GST, or the Advanced at $799 + GST, which adds thermal imaging. If you’re building a new home, you need construction stage inspections during the build ($399 + GST per stage) and a practical completion inspection (PCI) before handover: $499 + GST standard, or $999 + GST Advanced if you skipped the stage inspections.
Russell McCarthy here, registered builder (BP104751) and lead inspector at WA Building Inspections. This is the question we get most on the phone, so here’s the simple version.
| Your situation | Inspection | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Buying an existing home | Standard building and pest inspection | $499 + GST |
| Buying an older home, lots of wet areas or fresh paint | Advanced building and pest inspection | $799 + GST |
| New build under construction | Construction stage inspection | $399 + GST per stage |
| New build handover, had stage inspections | Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) | $499 + GST |
| New build handover, no stage inspections | Advanced PCI | $999 + GST |
| New build, before the maintenance period ends | Defect liability inspection | $299 + GST or $499 + GST |
| Selling your home | Pre-sale building and pest inspection | $499 + GST |
Buying an existing home? Book a building and pest inspection
A building and pest inspection is a pre-purchase inspection of a home that’s already built. We check the structure, roof and roof space, subfloor where there’s access, walls, wet areas, site drainage and outbuildings, plus a full timber pest and termite inspection. It’s done to Australian Standard AS 4349.1 and it’s what your building inspection condition relies on.
The Standard building and pest inspection ($499 + GST)
This is the right choice for most homes. It covers everything a pre-purchase inspection should, with a photo report within 24 hours and a phone call to walk you through it.
The Advanced building and pest inspection ($799 + GST)
The Advanced inspection is the Standard inspection plus thermal imaging. It adds a second layer for problems you can’t see, like moisture and leaks behind walls and ceilings. I suggest it for older homes, homes with several bathrooms, and homes that have just been repainted for sale.
Building a new home? Book stage inspections and a PCI
A PCI is not a building and pest inspection. It’s for new builds only. Instead of assessing the condition of an old house, we check that your new home has been built properly, against your plans, the National Construction Code and the Australian Standards.
“Get the right inspection for the house in front of you. The wrong one is just money spent on peace of mind you haven’t actually got.”
Russell McCarthy
Construction stage inspections ($399 + GST per stage)
Stage inspections catch defects while they can still be fixed easily, before they get covered up. Think slab, brickwork, roof frame and lockup. Once the plasterboard goes on, a lot of the evidence is gone.
Practical Completion Inspection ($499 + GST)
The PCI is the final check before you take the keys. It gives you a written list of defects the builder has to fix. The standard PCI suits owners who’ve had stage inspections along the way.
Advanced PCI ($999 + GST)
If you didn’t have stage inspections, book the Advanced PCI. It adds a drone roof check, thermal imaging of the ceiling insulation, a shower leak test, and a full check of the electrical layout, room sizes and ceiling heights against your plans.
Defect liability inspection ($299 + GST or $499 + GST)
Book this before your builder’s defects liability period ends, usually a few months after handover. It’s $299 + GST if we did your PCI, or $499 + GST if we didn’t.
Selling, or buying from interstate?
Selling: a pre-sale building and pest inspection ($499 + GST) shows you what a buyer’s inspector will find, before they find it.
Buying from interstate: our interstate building and pest inspection is $499 + GST, based on a 4×2 home. Additional bedrooms above 4 or bathrooms above 2: $50 + GST each. Afterwards we walk you through the report on a video call.
Quick decision guide
- Is the house already built? Book a building and pest inspection. Go Advanced for older homes, lots of wet areas or fresh paint.
- Is the house being built for you? Book stage inspections during the build, then a PCI at handover.
- Didn’t do stage inspections? Book the Advanced PCI.
- Already moved into your new build? Book a defect liability inspection before the maintenance period ends.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a building and pest inspection and a PCI?
A building and pest inspection is for buying an existing home and checks its condition and for timber pests. A PCI (practical completion inspection) is for a new build and checks that the home has been built properly before the owner takes handover from the builder.
Do I need a building and pest inspection on a brand new home?
If you’ve built it yourself under a building contract, you need stage inspections and a PCI instead. If you’re buying a recently completed home from someone else, book a building and pest inspection.
Is the Advanced building and pest inspection worth it?
For older homes, homes with several wet areas and homes freshly painted for sale, the Advanced inspection at $799 + GST adds thermal imaging to find moisture and leaks you can’t see. For most other homes, the Standard inspection at $499 + GST is the right fit.
Is the Advanced PCI worth it?
Yes, if you didn’t have stage inspections during your build. The Advanced PCI at $999 + GST adds a drone roof check, thermal imaging of the ceiling insulation, a shower leak test, and a check of the home against your plans.
How much do construction stage inspections cost in Perth?
Construction stage inspections with WA Building Inspections are $399 + GST per stage, with a photo report within 24 hours.
Related Reading
- How much does a building inspection cost in Perth?
- Practical completion inspection checklist WA
- Construction stage inspections in WA
- Do I need a building inspection in WA?
- Building inspection vs pest inspection: what’s the difference?
Written by Russell McCarthy, Registered Builder (BP104751) and Lead Building Inspector at WA Building Inspections Perth.