The keys may be only days away, but settlement is not the time to assume the property is exactly as you agreed to buy it. The question, “do I need a pre settlement inspection”, usually arises when buyers realise they have one final opportunity to view the home before ownership changes hands. Used properly, this inspection can identify damage, missing inclusions or changed conditions while there is still time to raise the issue through your conveyancer.
What is a pre settlement inspection?
A pre settlement inspection, sometimes called a final inspection, is a walkthrough of the property shortly before settlement. It is usually arranged through the selling agent and is not the same as a pre-purchase building inspection.
Its purpose is straightforward: to confirm that the property is in substantially the same condition as when contracts were exchanged, subject to agreed changes, and that the inclusions listed in the contract remain. You are checking the actual home you are about to take possession of, not relying on photographs, memory or assurances made weeks earlier.
In Victoria, the timing and scope of a final inspection can depend on the contract of sale. Your conveyancer or solicitor can explain your rights under the specific contract and advise how any concern should be handled. Do not treat a final inspection as an opportunity to renegotiate minor cosmetic matters that were visible when you purchased. Focus on changes, damage, contractual inclusions and issues that affect your ability to take possession as agreed.
Do I need a pre settlement inspection?
In most residential purchases, the practical answer is yes. While it may not be a legal requirement in every transaction, it is a sensible risk-control step before a substantial financial commitment becomes final.
A property can change between the day you signed the contract and settlement. The vendor may still be moving out, tenants may have recently vacated, trades may have attended, or weather events may have occurred. Furniture that once concealed damage may be gone. A leaking appliance, cracked glass, damaged wall, missing remote control or rubbish left behind can be far easier to address before settlement than afterwards.
The inspection is particularly worthwhile if there has been a long settlement period, the property has been tenanted, the vendor has agreed to repairs, or valuable fixtures and appliances form part of the sale. It also matters where you have not visited the property since the auction or contract signing.
There are exceptions. If you inspected the property very recently, settlement is imminent and the home was vacant and unchanged, the risk may be lower. Even then, a brief final walkthrough offers reassurance and creates a clear record of the property’s condition immediately before handover.
What should you check at the final inspection?
Allow enough time to inspect calmly. Rushing through the home while discussing moving arrangements with the agent is how details are missed. Bring a copy of the contract, any agreed repair list, your original building inspection report and a charged mobile for photographs and notes.
The final inspection should cover the following practical checks:
- Confirm all contract inclusions are present, such as fixed appliances, light fittings, blinds, curtains, remotes, keys, garage controls and any items specifically listed in the sale contract.
- Look for new damage to walls, floors, doors, windows, benchtops, cabinetry, fencing and external areas, particularly where furniture or stored items have been removed.
- Turn on taps, flush toilets and check visible plumbing fixtures for leaks, poor drainage or damage.
- Test readily accessible appliances, lights, exhaust fans, heating and cooling where practical. This is not a full technical assessment, but obvious faults should be recorded.
- Check that agreed repairs have been completed and appear consistent with the agreement. Obtain evidence of trade work where this was required.
- Inspect the garage, shed, roof space access point, garden and bins to ensure the property has been reasonably cleared and no significant items or rubbish have been left behind.
Take dated photos or short videos of any concern. Be specific in your notes. “Bedroom window cracked” is more useful than “window issue”, especially if your conveyancer needs to communicate the problem promptly.
A final inspection does not replace a building inspection
This distinction is critical. A pre settlement inspection is a condition and inclusion check. It is not designed to uncover concealed structural defects, non-compliant building work, drainage problems, roof faults or broader workmanship concerns.
A pre-purchase building inspection should be completed before you commit unconditionally, wherever the contract allows. It gives you an independent assessment of visible building defects and maintenance risks that may influence whether you proceed, negotiate or budget for repairs.
If you bought subject to a building inspection and a significant defect was identified, follow the contract process and obtain legal advice quickly. Waiting until the pre settlement inspection may leave you with fewer options. Likewise, if a defect identified in your original report is still present at final inspection, that does not necessarily mean the vendor has breached the contract. The key question is whether they agreed to rectify it.
Extra care for new builds and recently renovated homes
For new homes, townhouses and major renovations, a standard final inspection is rarely enough on its own. You may be dealing with unfinished work, incomplete documents, visible defects, poor finishes or items that do not align with the approved plans and specifications.
A Practical Completion Inspection is a more detailed assessment undertaken before you make the final payment or take handover from your builder. It focuses on workmanship, visible defects, incomplete items and practical completion requirements. This is the point at which an independent inspector can help identify issues before the builder’s final payment is released.
Recently renovated established homes also deserve careful attention. Fresh paint and new finishes can make a property appear complete while concealing poorly executed work. Check that wet areas, doors, cabinetry, flooring and fittings operate properly, and ensure any agreed certificates, warranties or approvals are provided where relevant. A final inspection cannot certify compliance, but it can highlight obvious concerns that should not be ignored.
What to do if you find a problem
Do not rely on a verbal discussion with the agent. Photograph the issue, write down what you found and notify your conveyancer or solicitor immediately. They can assess the contract position and advise on appropriate next steps.
Depending on the circumstances, this may involve asking the vendor to rectify the issue before settlement, arranging a further inspection, seeking an adjustment through the settlement process, or documenting an agreement. The right response depends on the significance of the problem, the contract terms and whether the property is materially different from what was purchased.
Avoid arranging repairs yourself before settlement or agreeing to informal solutions without advice. Once settlement occurs, your ability to have the vendor address a concern may be substantially reduced. Clear evidence and timely communication give your legal representative the best basis for protecting your position.
Make the inspection work for you
Schedule the final inspection as close to settlement as practicable, ideally after the vendor has moved out. If a repair was agreed, ask for enough time to verify it properly rather than viewing the property from the doorway. Where a matter is technical, significant or disputed, consider independent inspection advice instead of trying to assess building quality under pressure.
For buyers in Box Hill, Doncaster, Malvern and Chadstone, Apexi Building Inspections can provide clear, technically informed advice for pre-purchase, practical completion and handover-related concerns. The objective is not to create unnecessary alarm. It is to give you reliable information before a decision becomes expensive to reverse.
A final walkthrough may take less than an hour, but it can be the moment you confirm that the home, its inclusions and its condition match the purchase you agreed to make. Treat it as a final safeguard for your investment, not a formality to skip.
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