Watch out for dodgy building work

As many as one in four Australian homes has some form of building work that doesn't comply with building regulations, the August issue of Australian Property Investor magazine reveals.

Even where work has been done legally, building problems spotted after purchase can be expensive to fix. For that reason, it's important for homebuyers to know what common faults to watch for, API editor Eynas Brodie said.

"While it would be nice if they could, buyers can't realistically have a pre-purchase building inspection done on every property they look at," she said. "That's why it pays to know what the most common building faults are and how you can spot them yourself."

Building inspection services reveal that roofing is the most common problem encountered. The next most common problem is cracking, followed by problems with damp and timber rot.

"Buying a property is an expensive enough exercise without having to fork out extra money after settlement to correct any dodgy building work that's been done," Brodie said. "Knowing what to look for can save you a lot of grief and time, not to mention money."

Particular care should be taken when considering the purchase of a weatherboard house, API's investigation reveals, as they're more likely than brick homes to have illegal renovations.

"One of the main reasons is simply that weatherboard is easier to work with - people feel they can add an extension, knock down a wall or add a lightweight second storey without professional help," Brodie said.