Know the house before you sign.
Pre-purchase house inspections in South Africa
Know the house before you sign.
We walk through the house. You get the problem list and the full checklist.
What you get
The short list
Only the problems we found, room by room. Rooms that were fine are left out.
The full checklist
Everything we looked at, and what we could not check and why.
A photo of every problem
Each problem on the short list comes with its own photo.
Accurate on the day
A record of the house as it was on the day we walked through.
How it works
- Email us the property address, the town and the date you need.
- We walk through the house and the grounds and photograph what we find.
- You receive both documents by email.
What we look for
The big things first: the roof, the structure and the water.
The roof
The roof covering and shape, the gutters and downpipes, and where the water goes.
Structure and cracks
Cracks in walls and floors, and signs that the building has moved.
Damp and water damage
Damp, water stains and rot, inside and outside the house.
Ground and drainage
Paving, ground levels and water collecting around the house.
Wooden and fibre-cement houses
Wood rot, leaning, rusty fixings and damp, including houses built on stilts.
What this is, and what it is not
- We look at what can be seen and reached on the day. We do not open walls, dig or take anything apart.
- We do not test appliances, electrics, plumbing or gas. An electrician, plumber or gas installer does that and issues the certificates.
- We list what we find. We do not quote for repairs and we do not tell you who to hire.
- This is not a certificate and not a guarantee.
This report is accurate as of the day of the inspection, for what was walked through and checked. Anything covered up or hidden by previous owners or tenants could not be seen, and no tools were used to look for hidden defects.
Questions
What is a pre-purchase house inspection?
It is a careful walk-through of a house before you buy it, to record its visible condition. We note the problems we find with photos and send you a written record.
Does it include testing the electrics, plumbing or appliances?
No. We only look at what can be seen. Testing and certificates for electrics, plumbing and gas are done by an electrician, a plumber or a gas installer.
What if something cannot be seen?
We mark it Could not check and write down the reason, such as no access or furniture in the way, so you know what was not covered.
Do you check wooden and fibre-cement houses?
Yes. Wooden and fibre-cement houses get their own checks, including wood rot, damp, leaning, rusty fixings and houses built on stilts.
Do you tell me what repairs will cost?
No. We list the problems we found. We do not quote for repairs and we do not recommend contractors.
What does voetstoots mean?
Voetstoots means a property is sold as it stands. A written record of its condition before you sign helps you know what you are buying.
How do I book?
Send us an email with the property address, the town and the date you need.
Contact
Send us an email with the property address, the town and the date you need.