Buying a home is a major investment and it's easy to let your heart lead you into what you believe is the perfect match. Unfortunately, Brisbane's ongoing weather events create a new risk for buyers and it's almost certainly going to lead to higher costs for home buyers. 

Many buyers pledge every penny they have when they put down a deposit on a home, stretching themselves further than comfortable to ensure they place the winning bid. But with so much cash being poured into securing the purchase, it doesn't leave much left over to deal with repairs and renovations. You may think you can live with that shade of pink in the bathroom or the decades-old kitchen, but you can't afford to ignore bigger issues like dampness and mould. 

With several flood zones, Brisbane presents unique risks to buyers. But knowledge is power and understanding how high humidity and heavy rainfall impact different materials is going to be key to making the right purchase decision.

The Importance of a Professional Inspection

The reality of buying a home is it comes with serious monetary risks. You could find yourself in a financial pretzel, making payments on a home degrading before your eyes, which is why the pre-purchase building inspection is so important. The inspection should uncover any serious issues that could lead to ongoing costs and highlight any potential issues that may crop up with one of the many weather events Brisbane experiences annually. 

The most common roofing issues in Brisbane include cracked or broken tiles, metal roofing corrosion, blocked gutters, and downpipes, flashing and sealant damage, and insulation issues. All of these issues present ongoing costs to a buyer, and they add up quickly, whether you keep paying for repairs out of pocket or make the decision to replace the roof. 

Ignoring these issues can be a costly mistake. With high humidity and heavy rainfall, they invariably worsen with time, leaving the rest of your home at risk of damage. 

Unfortunately, such issues often come as an unwelcome surprise for buyers, which is why it's essential to enlist the services of a thorough building inspector who will pick up on any issues with the roof or structure and uncover previous flood damage. 

Don’t work with an inspector who won’t take a deep dive into the home. By working with a thorough, experienced inspector, you can use their report to renegotiate the purchase price to ensure you have the money to carry out any necessary repairs!