What tools to help a buyer inspect a building?

[Ton]

Hi, we are inspecting houses and wonder whether there are any handy tools one could use to inspect the roof leaking or other issues without hiring expensive professionals. We certainly know the limitations of this method, but would appreciate any advice, which may help save some time and money if we could just identify some issues at early inspections. Thanks!

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Ton. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about inspection tools.

A moisture meter is a great starting point for preliminary home inspections, as it’s affordable, easy to use, and can help identify unusually damp areas that may warrant further investigation, particularly around skirtings, window frames, and ceilings. While it’s not foolproof and can give false readings under certain conditions, it’s useful for flagging potential trouble spots. 

Other handy tools include a bright flashlight for inspecting roof voids, sub-floor spaces, and shaded corners; a small telescoping inspection mirror for looking behind pipes, under sills, and into tight spaces; and a spirit level to detect sloping floors or leaning walls that might suggest movement or subsidence. Bringing along a notebook and using your phone camera to document findings is also valuable, allowing you to compare properties and track potential issues over time. 

These tools won’t replace a professional inspection, but they can help you quickly spot obvious problems and save money by focusing professional assessments on homes that pass your first-round checks.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell