Building Inspection Services Backed by Engineers
Four service streams covering every stage of your property journey. All engineer-led. All priced to be accessible. All designed around clear, actionable outcomes for you.
Book an InspectionExisting Buildings
For homeowners, buyers, sellers, strata managers, landlords and investors. The most common reason Australians need a building inspection, and the area where engineer oversight matters most.
Core Services
Engineer-led, market-priced, thorough. Visually similar to a standard inspection in terms of what we check. Different in terms of who checks it and what they can tell you.
- Pre-Purchase Building Inspection
- Pre-Sale Building Inspection
- Strata and Body Corporate Inspection
- Defect and Movement Investigation
- Engineering and Dispute Support
Available Add-Ons
- Drone Roof Video and Images
- Floor Level Survey and Contour Map
- Targeted Investigation (cracking, water, balconies)
- Drawing Review (architectural and structural)
- Rectification Scope of Works
- Cost Estimates and Project Management
- VCAT Expert Report Upgrade
Renovations & Extensions
The old/new interface is where renovation problems hide. Structural, waterproofing and foundation issues at the junction of existing and new work are the most commonly missed, and most expensive, defects in renovated properties.
Pre-Works
- Dilapidation survey of subject property
- Design documentation review
- RFI and building surveyor response support
Construction Stages
- Footing/excavation pre-pour
- Structural frame (interface-focused)
- Pre-plaster inspection
- Waterproofing checkpoint
- Fix / lock-up inspection
- Pre-handover / PCI
Monitoring & Warranty
- Slab baseline level survey
- Finished-floor baseline at PCI
- 18-month warranty review
- Engineering-level report upgrade
- VCAT Expert Report if dispute arises
New Buildings
Your builder has their own inspector. You need yours. An independent engineer at every critical stage, from footings to final walk-through, gives you leverage, documentation and peace of mind throughout the build.
Mandatory Inspection Spine
Foundation Pre-Pour
Check before concrete is poured, the most cost-effective stage to find issues
Post-Pour Slab Check
Confirm slab conformance and establish movement baseline
Structural Frame
Engineer reviews framing, connections and load paths before covering
Final PCI
Pre-handover inspection. Your last chance before settlement.
Adjoining Works Protection
Boundary excavation and demolition can cause serious damage to neighbouring properties. Whether you are the owner doing works or the neighbour next door, BINM provides the engineering documentation that protects your position.
Pre-Works
- Adjoining property condition survey (dilapidation)
- Protection works assessment
- Permit and notice readiness documentation
During Works
- Construction monitoring (milestone-based)
- Crack monitoring (tell-tales)
- Level survey and contour baseline repeats
Post-Works
- Comparison condition survey
- Damage triage and make-safe advice
- Engineering causation report
- VCAT Expert Report if required
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about our building inspection services.
It depends on your situation. If you are buying a property, a pre-purchase inspection is the starting point. If you are building or renovating, you need stage inspections at key construction milestones. If a neighbour is doing excavation or demolition nearby, a dilapidation survey protects your position before works begin. If you are already in a dispute, an Expert Report is what you need. Not sure? Call us and we will point you in the right direction.
Yes, and you need it before auction day, not after. Once the hammer falls on an unconditional sale, you own whatever defects come with the property. We coordinate access with the agent, complete the inspection promptly, and deliver your report in time for you to make an informed decision. Contact us as early as possible to lock in a date.
A dilapidation survey is a photographic and written record of your property's existing condition, completed before neighbouring works begin. If cracking, movement or damage appears during or after the works, you have documented evidence of what existed beforehand and what is new. Without it, you have no baseline, and proving causation becomes very difficult. You need one any time excavation, demolition or significant construction is happening within proximity of your boundary.
At a minimum, four: foundation pre-pour, post-pour slab check, structural frame, and final pre-handover (PCI). These are the stages where defects are cheapest to fix and where your builder's own inspector has the strongest conflict of interest. We also offer optional checkpoints including waterproofing, pre-plaster and an 18-month warranty review. The more stages you cover, the more leverage and documentation you have throughout the build.
Yes, and that is by design. Our Inspect Once. Upgrade Report Anytime model means our engineer collects everything needed during the first visit, regardless of which report level you book. If something serious is found, or if your situation changes, such as a dispute arising or a legal matter progressing, you can upgrade from a Standard to a Comprehensive, Engineering or Expert report without a second inspection or an additional inspection fee.
An Engineering Report provides full structural analysis, causation assessment and rectification recommendations, signed by a Chartered Engineer. It is suitable for complex defects, permit applications and informed decision-making. An Expert Report is specifically formatted for legal proceedings, VCAT matters and formal disputes. It includes an expert witness declaration, an independence statement, and meets the evidentiary requirements of the relevant tribunal or court. Both are produced by our Chartered Engineers, but the Expert Report is written to a higher evidentiary standard.