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Chinatown (3000) buyers often face a mix of older shopfront conversions, tightly packed terraces and modern apartments above busy hospitality tenancies—an inspection helps you spot moisture, noise transfer, ventilation and building movement issues before contracts go unconditional.
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Our comprehensive service includes everything you need to make an informed decision about your property.
We check wet areas with moisture meters and visual inspection for swelling, mould, silicone failure, cracked tiles and shower base movement. In Chinatown apartments and conversions, small leaks can travel into adjoining lots and trigger costly waterproofing works or owners corporation disputes.
We look for ponding, inadequate falls, blocked outlets, deteriorated grout, and membrane breakdown indicators around door thresholds and balustrade posts. Balconies are a common defect source in inner-city builds and can lead to water ingress and concrete deterioration if ignored.
We assess cracking type and location (step cracking, separation at openings, patch repairs) to help distinguish cosmetic issues from movement that may need engineering advice. Chinatown’s older brickwork and altered ground-floor tenancies can hide structural changes that affect upper levels.
We inspect window operation, seals, water staining, and evidence of draughts. In high-activity streets and laneways, poor seals can mean higher heating/cooling costs and reduced amenity, and water entry around window frames can damage internal finishes.
We look for signs of leaks, condensation, inadequate insulation, and damaged framing. For top-floor lots or townhouse-style dwellings near Chinatown, roof and flashing issues can present as intermittent staining that only shows during heavy weather.
We check accessible subfloors/voids (where present), wall base areas, and timbers for termite risk indicators and borer activity. In dense precincts with service penetrations and shared walls, hidden entry points can exist even without obvious garden beds.
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Professional inspections with attention to every detail. Here's a glimpse of our work.
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Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our inspection service.
Yes. We inspect the accessible areas of the lot you’re buying and note visible issues that may relate to common property, such as balcony drainage defects, corridor water staining, or basement damp signs. We’ll also flag when the next step should be reviewing the strata records for recurring maintenance, waterproofing repairs, or past water ingress complaints.
Yes. These buildings often have altered layouts, added bathrooms or kitchens, and changed service routes over time. We look for cracking patterns, moisture damage, ventilation problems and fire separation clues that may indicate unapproved works or hidden defects. If we see signs that warrant it, we’ll recommend follow-up with the relevant specialists before you commit.
The issues we commonly watch for include water ingress around balconies and window frames, wet-area waterproofing breakdown, cracking from movement or past alterations, and ventilation-related condensation. In high-density areas, we also pay attention to door and window seals and any evidence of past leak repairs, because recurring moisture can reappear after settlement.
Hospitality uses can increase moisture load, odours and grease residue in exhaust paths, and laneway locations can concentrate wind-driven rain on certain façades. During the inspection we check for staining, mould risk areas, ventilation effectiveness, and window/door sealing. We also note if the property’s amenity may be affected by noise transfer through glazing or penetrations.
Book as soon as you’re serious about the property—ideally before signing an unconditional contract. Chinatown listings can move quickly, and inspections are most useful when you still have leverage to negotiate or request additional checks. If you’re buying at auction, arrange the inspection in the lead-up so you understand defects, likely repair costs and any deal-breakers.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchACE Building and Pest Inspections focuses on the defects that commonly affect Chinatown (3000) apartments and older conversions—moisture, balconies, movement and ventilation—so you can buy with evidence, not assumptions. Call 0413 163 187.