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The Local Ormeau Property Chat with Brett Reddell
Your home is your biggest asset—make sure you’ve got the right advice.
Join Brett Reddell, Ormeau’s trusted real estate expert, as he shares short, sharp episodes packed with insights to help you make smarter property decisions. Whether you’re thinking of selling, planning ahead, or just want to stay informed—Brett breaks down what’s really happening in the local market and why it matters to you.
Real tips. Local knowledge. Straight from the guy who knows Ormeau best.
Hi, and welcome to the local Ormeau Property Chat podcast. I'm Brett Reddell, your trusted local real estate expert for Ormeau and Ormeau Hills. Whether you are buying, selling, or just curious about the market. This podcast is here to give you the insights and advice you need, plus a little community connection along the way with a passion for selling family homes to families.
I'm here to share practical tips and expert knowledge to help you make confident real estate decisions. Let's get started.
Good day everyone, and welcome back to the Ormeau Property Chat podcast. I'm Brett Reddell, your local area specialist, and today's episode is a must listen for anyone thinking about buying a home or investment property in Ormeau or Ormeau Hills, or really anywhere across Southeast Queensland. We are diving into something that might not sound exciting, but trust.
It could save you a lot of heartache, stress, and money down the track. Today we're talking about pest and building inspections, what they are, why they matter, and how to make smart decisions around them. When you are buying a property, for anyone not familiar with a pest and building inspection is basically your safety.
It's a thorough check of the property's condition, both structurally and in terms of any pest issues like termites or bora activity. It's designed to help you avoid any nasty surprises after settlement. 'cause the last thing you want is to move in and discover you've inherited a hidden leak in the roof, or worse, a termite infestation that's been eating away at the frame for years.
This episode is all about helping you buy with confidence. Not regret. So let's start with why this matters so much here in Ormeau and surrounding suburbs. We live in a beautiful part of Queensland, but it does come with a few quirks. First off, we're in a termite prone region. That warm, humid weather termites, love it.
I've seen them pop up in everything from timber fences to ceiling beams. We also have a lot of low set brick homes built in the early two thousands, and while many of these properties are solid, they can come with age related issues like movement cracks, drainage problems, or roof wear if maintenance has been skipped.
Then there's the mix of older character homes, neuro estates like Almo Ridge, and even acreage properties around the edges of the suburb. Each one presents its own risks. Older homes may have outdated plumbing or uneven flooring. New builds might look perfect, but still have defects hiding behind the paint work and with our wet seasons.
Poor drainage can also be a red flag. You want to know that your home, that your buying can handle heavy rain without water pooling around the slab or seeping into the walls. The key thing here is these inspections are not just a formality. I've had clients who've walked away from contracts after discovering serious structural issues.
I've had others use the reports to renegotiate the price or ask for certain repairs to be completed before settlement. The inspection report can genuinely change the outcome of a deal. So what exactly do these inspections cover? Let's break it down. A building inspection looks at the structural integrity of the property.
The inspector will check things like the roof, gutters, downpipes, foundations, walls, windows, doors, wet areas like bathrooms and laundry, and even the plumbing and drainage around the home. They're looking for signs of cracking movement, rust or leaks, and poor workmanship. It's not about being picky, it's about identifying the risk that could cost you down the track.
A pest inspector. On the other hand, it's all about identifying signs of termite activity, Boer damage, moisture issues. It includes checking the subfloor, roof cavity, garden areas, and fencing, anywhere those critters might be hiding. Now, not every issue in these reports is a deal breaker. Some things are common and very manageable, like minor wear and tear or small cosmetic defects, but there's a big difference between a loose door handle.
And rising damp under the house. Let's talk quickly about the two main ways buyers encounter these inspections. Sometimes the seller provides a report up front, usually to make things faster, more transparent, and give buyers more confidence. This is becoming a lot more common here in the All Ma Oma Hills area, especially when homes are going to market quickly, or the seller wants to be proactive.
Other times the buyer commissions their own independent inspection, which is definitely the more traditional and the most effective approach. There are pros and cons to both. If the seller provides a report, it can be handy. You get information early, you know what you're dealing with, and you might feel more comfortable in making an offer.
But some buyers are cautious about this. They worry that the seller may have chosen an inspector who. Isn't as thorough or that something's been missed. That's why many buyers still prefer to order their own report. As it's independent, it's tailored to the buyer's concern and it gives you peace of mind.
Of course, that comes with a cost, usually a few hundred dollars, and it takes time to book, but in my view, it's worth every single cent. If a home already has a self seller supplied report. Here's my advice. Read it carefully, then decide if you still want a second opinion. If you trust the inspector in the report looks solid, you might not need another one.
But if anything feels vague or glossed over, get your own. Once you've got that report in hand, what do you do with it? Well, first step is not to panic. Read it thoroughly, and if you're unsure about any of the terminology or what something actually means, speak with your solicitor or reach out to your agent.
Some issues are negotiable. If the hot water system is on its last legs, maybe you ask for a discount or have it replaced before settlement. If the pest report shows active termites, that could be a deal breaker or it could be something you work through with a treatment plan in place. The report gives you leverage and knowledge.
Another key point I want to make here is about choosing the right inspector In Queensland, building inspectors should be licensed with the QBCC and the pest inspectors should also be licensed and insured. You want someone with local experience, someone who knows the type of homes we have here in Ormeau and Ormeau Hills understands our weather conditions and knows where the common issues are like.
Likely to pop up. I've got a list of trusted inspectors I've worked with for years, so if you ever need a referral, don't hesitate to reach out. Here's the bottom line. Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make, and a building and pest inspection is your opportunity to lift the hood and make sure everything under there is sound.
It's not the place to cut corners. It's where smart buyers slow down. Do their homework and make confident decisions. So if you are thinking about buying an Oromo in Ormeau Hills, or you're halfway through a deal and need a bit of guidance, get in touch. I'm more than happy to help you review a report, connect you with a great inspector, or answer any of those questions you've got about a specific property.
Thanks for tuning in to the Ormeau Property Chat. I'm Brett Reddell and I'll see you in the next episode. Thanks for listening to the local Ormeau Property Chat podcast. I hope you found today's episode helpful and feel more empowered on your real estate journey. My goal is to provide you with valuable advice while staying connected to our amazing community here.
In all Mo and all my hills. Remember, selling family homes to families is what I do best, and I'm here to support you every step of the way. Stay tuned for more tips, insights, and local area knowledge. In the next episode, I'll see you then.