Northcote’s mix of Victorian-era cottages, weatherboards and renovated terraces can hide subfloor moisture, ageing roofs and DIY alterations—our inspection helps you spot costly surprises before you commit.
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Our comprehensive service includes everything you need to make an informed decision about your property.
We inspect accessible subfloor areas for ventilation, moisture staining, timber deterioration and signs of past water entry—issues that can be common in Northcote’s older cottages and weatherboards with suspended floors.
We assess wall, ceiling and external masonry cracking patterns and note indicators of movement or settlement. This helps you separate cosmetic cracking from defects that may point to footing, drainage, or renovation-related structural changes.
We check accessible roof cladding, flashings, gutters and downpipes for corrosion, poor falls, blockages and overflow points. In older streetscapes, older guttering and patched roofs can lead to ceiling damage and ongoing maintenance costs.
We look for signs of DIY work or incomplete finishes—uneven floors, altered walls, patched framing, inconsistent materials and water damage around wet areas—so you can ask the right questions about approvals, workmanship and lifespan.
We inspect bathrooms, laundries and kitchens for moisture damage, swollen skirtings, mould, drummy tiles and leaking fixtures. These findings often predict costly rectification, especially where renovations were done quickly for sale.
We check accessible areas for termite workings, damaged timbers and conducive conditions such as leaking plumbing, excessive ground contact and stored timber. This is particularly important where gardens, decking and older timber structures meet the house.
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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.
Many Northcote properties are older and have been renovated over time, which can conceal issues like subfloor moisture, ageing roof drainage, and cracks caused by changes to the structure. A pre-purchase inspection checks the accessible areas for defects and risk indicators, then explains what’s urgent, what’s maintenance, and what needs a specialist follow-up before you commit to the contract.
Yes. We look at visible indicators that renovations and alterations have been completed to a reasonable standard, such as changes in floor levels, cracking around openings, signs of water entry near new wet areas, and inconsistent finishes that can point to shortcuts. While we don’t perform invasive checks, we flag concerns that should be queried with the agent, vendor or a relevant specialist.
You’ll receive a detailed written report with photos and clear descriptions of defects found in the accessible areas of the property. The report highlights safety issues, maintenance items and significant concerns that may affect your buying decision. If you need clarification, you can call ACE Building and Pest Inspections to talk through the findings and what they mean for your Northcote purchase.
We pay close attention to how water is managed around the home, because older Northcote properties can show damp symptoms if gutters overflow, downpipes discharge poorly, or subfloor ventilation is limited. We check for moisture staining, mould, swelling to timbers, musty subfloor conditions, and drainage setups that direct water toward the building, then outline practical next steps.
Yes, pre-auction inspections are a common reason people book. The key is allowing enough time to organise access through the agent and to read the report before bidding. If the inspection identifies issues that warrant further checks—like a roof leak source, significant cracking patterns, or moisture damage—you can decide whether to pursue specialist advice, adjust your price limit, or walk away.
Still have questions?
Get in TouchChoose ACE Building and Pest Inspections for Pre Purchase Inspection Services in Northcote and get clear, photo-backed findings you can act on. Call 0413 163 187.