Condition and pests, covered in one combined report.

Buying a home involves two distinct risks — structural condition and timber pests — and they often overlap. Damp that concerns a building inspector is also what attracts termites, so assessing both together gives a fuller picture of the property. A combined inspection covers the building to AS 4349.1 and timber pests to AS 4349.3 in a single visit, so you aren't left weighing one report without the context of the other when deciding whether to proceed.

Booking both together is usually more convenient and often better value than arranging two separate visits, since it involves one attendance and one coordinated report. More importantly, it removes gaps: a single inspector considering both structure and pests can connect related findings, such as a leaking wet area and nearby termite-conducive moisture. Pricing varies between providers and with the size and age of the property, so it's worth confirming what a combined inspection includes when you book rather than assuming scope.

Practice varies. Some inspectors provide a single combined document with clearly separated building and pest sections, while others issue two reports from the one visit. Either way, the building component is prepared to AS 4349.1 and the pest component to AS 4349.3, and each has its own defined scope. What matters is that both areas are covered and the findings are clearly set out. If you have a preference, ask when booking so the format is confirmed before the inspection goes ahead.

If live termites or evidence of activity are found, the report records the location, the nature of the findings and any resulting damage in accessible areas, along with conducive conditions. It won't include treatment — that is a separate service by a licensed pest manager — but it gives you the detail to seek advice and quotes. Finding termites doesn't automatically mean walking away; it means you can make an informed decision, factor the issue into negotiations, or arrange further investigation of concealed areas.

They inform one another. Building and pest issues frequently share a root cause, most often moisture: poor subfloor ventilation, drainage faults or leaking wet areas show up as building defects and, at the same time, create the damp conditions timber pests seek out. Assessing both together lets the inspector connect these findings rather than treating them in isolation. That said, each component still follows its own standard and scope, so the two assessments remain distinct even when their findings are related.

A combined inspection generally takes a little longer than a single one — commonly around one and a half to two and a half hours on site for a typical house, and longer for large, old or hard-to-access properties. The inspector works methodically through the interior, exterior, roof space, subfloor and grounds for both building and pest purposes. Deep subfloors and complex sites add time. Confirming the likely duration when booking helps if you plan to attend the walkthrough at the end.

Read it in full, including the sections on areas that could not be accessed, then discuss any major findings with the inspector so you understand their significance. From there you generally have three options: proceed, renegotiate on the basis of the defects, or, if the issues are serious enough, reconsider the purchase. It's also wise to give the report to your conveyancer or solicitor, who acts for you and can advise on how the findings bear on the contract.