Question 1

How long does a building inspection take?

Accepted Answer

A standard single-storey new home PCI takes 90 minutes to two hours on site. A larger home — double storey, four or more bedrooms — takes two to three hours. Stage inspections (slab, frame, waterproofing) take 45 to 90 minutes. An inspector who completes your inspection in 45 minutes has not done a thorough job — a standard home has three bathrooms, a roof space, a full external perimeter, and every internal surface to assess properly.

Question 2

When should I book my inspection?

Accepted Answer

Book as soon as your builder notifies you of practical completion — typically 5 to 10 business days before your proposed handover date. Contact VG Inspect the same day you receive the builder's notification. Do not wait until the week before handover. Inspection slots in high-volume corridors like Waraba, North Harbour, and Aura fill within 24 to 48 hours of builder notifications going out across an estate.

Question 3

What areas of the property are inspected?

Accepted Answer

Every element of the completed home. Wet areas — shower membrane height measured on every wall, floor waste sealing, tile and grout condition, silicone junctions. Roof space — insulation, truss connections, lateral bracing, water ingress evidence. External perimeter — site drainage falls, cladding, gutters, driveway control joints, fencing, landscaping. Every room — walls, ceilings, floors, doors and windows, joinery, fixtures. Every item specified in your building contract.

Question 4

Do I need to be present during the inspection?

Accepted Answer

No — but you're welcome to attend. A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every inspection and the detailed report is comprehensive enough that you'll understand every finding without being present. For PCI and handover inspections the home is complete — attending gives you the opportunity to see defects in context and ask questions on site.

Question 5

How much does a building inspection cost?

Accepted Answer

PCI and handover inspections are $660 including GST for homes under 220m². Homes over 220m² are quoted individually. Construction stage inspections — pre-pour slab, frame, waterproofing, lock-up — are $550 per stage including GST. Warranty inspections are $550 including GST. All prices include the detailed PDF report. No additional travel fees within the SEQ corridor. No hidden charges.

Question 6

How much does a PCI inspection cost for a large home?

Accepted Answer

Our standard PCI price is $660 for homes under 220m². Homes over 220m² vary significantly in inspection time and are quoted individually. Contact Adam directly on 07 3180 8041 for a fast quote.

Question 7

Are there any hidden fees?

Accepted Answer

No. The quoted price includes the inspection, the detailed PDF report, and follow-up support if you have questions about findings. There are no travel fees within the SEQ corridor, no report fees, and no re-inspection scheduling charges.

Question 8

When do I need to pay?

Accepted Answer

Payment in full is required before your inspection takes place. We issue your invoice a week before the inspection (or immediately if booking within 7 days of the inspection date). Inspections will not proceed without cleared payment. VG Inspect accepts bank transfer and credit card.

Question 9

Do you offer any guarantees?

Accepted Answer

VG Inspect is QBCC licensed (licence 1318443) and carries professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Every inspection is conducted personally by QBCC-licensed — no subcontractors, no junior inspectors. If you have questions about any finding in your report, Adam is available by phone to discuss.

Question 10

When will I receive my inspection report?

Accepted Answer

Your report is issued on-site the same day for most inspections (some exclusions apply for complex builds requiring extended desktop review). For a 6:30am inspection, your report is in your inbox before 5pm the same day.

Question 11

What format is the report provided in?

Accepted Answer

Detailed PDF delivered by email. Each defect is documented with photographs, measurements, a description of the non-compliance, and the specific QBCC Standards and Tolerances clause reference. The report is formatted for direct presentation to your builder as a formal defect notice.

Question 12

What if I don't understand something in the report?

Accepted Answer

Call Adam directly on 07 3180 8041. Every VG Inspect client gets direct access to Adam to discuss report findings. This is part of the service — not an extra.

Question 13

Can I get a sample report before booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sample reports are available at vginspect.com/sample-reports including a sample PCI report and sample stage inspection reports.

Question 14

Can my builder refuse an independent inspection?

Accepted Answer

No. In Queensland you have the right to arrange an independent building inspection before accepting practical completion. If your builder is pushing back, put your request in writing and contact QBCC on 139 333 if they continue to refuse access.

Question 15

What is the difference between a PCI and a warranty inspection?

Accepted Answer

A PCI (Practical Completion Inspection) happens before you accept the keys — it's your last opportunity to have defects fixed at the builder's cost before handover. A warranty inspection happens at the 10-month mark of your 12-month defect liability period — it identifies defects that have appeared since you moved in while the builder is still legally obligated to fix them.

Question 16

Do you inspect in my suburb?

Accepted Answer

VG Inspect covers all of South East Queensland including Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane North and South, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, and Gold Coast. See the full suburb list at vginspect.com/regions. If you're unsure whether your suburb is covered, call 07 3180 8041.

Question 17

Which Australian Standards do you inspect against?

Accepted Answer

Every finding in your report is tied to the specific standard or code it sits under — AS 2870 for slabs and footings, AS 3600 for concrete, AS 1684 for timber framing, AS 3740 for wet-area waterproofing, and the National Construction Code that sits over all of them. We maintain a plain-English library explaining what each standard governs and why it matters at each stage at vginspect.com/standards.

Question 18

Can I see real examples of the defects you find?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We publish anonymised case studies at vginspect.com/case-studies that walk through a real defect at a specific stage — what was found, which standard it related to, and how it was resolved with the builder. Each one shows how an independent inspection works alongside your builder to verify the work, not to criticise it.

Question 19

How do you decide what counts as a defect?

Accepted Answer

We assess every item against the relevant Australian Standard, the National Construction Code, and the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide — not personal opinion. If something falls outside the documented tolerance, it goes in the report with the clause it breaches. Our full approach is set out at vginspect.com/methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions