A Melbourne-based building inspection firm says having a property inspection report on hand informs homebuyers on what to look for and can help them negotiate for a better price.

Port Melbourne, VIC -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/10/2015 -- Safe and Sound, a Melbourne property inspections firm, believes homeowners will avoid nasty surprises and feel more confident when buying a home if they obtain a property inspection report on their prospective property beforehand. A recent survey found that nearly half of Australian homebuyers do not know how to evaluate and compare properties for value, while a majority who went and bought a home found hidden problems only after moving in. Safe and Sound advises property buyers not to take the plunge without prior preparation.

The St. George Bank, which commissions national surveys on property, reported 44% of Australian homebuyers found it difficult to evaluate the properties they are looking at for value, while 57% said they would feel assured if they knew what to look for in such assessments. In another survey, the banking firm found that 55% of homebuyers report finding previously undiscovered problems with their homes after moving in. The top ten hidden problems discovered by homeowners surveyed include plumbing troubles, cracks in walls and floors and rising damp, items that a pre-purchase inspection of a property would have revealed.

St. George further reported that the owners of these problem-riddled homes believed that they had done the pre-purchase checks needed. Apparently, these checks were not thorough. In one finding, roots were found in the pipes in the bathroom, which had to be gutted to relay the pipes. In another, the toilet pipe leading to the septic tank had roots, preventing the toilet from flushing solids. Plumbing is one of the mandatory checks in a property inspection, which also includes an assessment of the roof, foundation, walls, electrical wirings, doors and windows, bath seals and integrity, floors, ceilings, stairs and sinks and taps. The ensuing report will reflect the inspector's findings and overall evaluation of the property, which should tell the buyers whether the purchase would be a sound investment.

The details in an inspection report also offer leverage during negotiation. Once homebuyers identify the faults and potential issues in a home they are looking at, they can bring these to the negotiation table to bargain for a price that is more to their liking. The repairs needed on the home can be deducted from the market price, or some other arrangement that will satisfy both the buyer and seller can be made.

Mark Brandon, head inspector at Safe and Sound Property Inspections, echoes the firm's view. "Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments a family can undertake. They need to make sure that they are taking on a good deal, one that will provide value for money. With an inspection, would-be homeowners will become aware of the true condition of a home. This knowledge helps them make an informed decision with regards a property purchase."

To learn more about property inspections and reports from Safe and Sound, feel free to visit http://www.safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.au

About Safe and Sound Property Inspections
Safe and Sound Property Inspections knows the common faults to look for when inspecting a home. Company inspectors will take as long as it needs to furnish an independent and thorough property inspection report to the satisfaction of every customer.

For inquiries, contact Mark Brandon at info@safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.au, or catch him on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Melbourne-based firm Safe and Sound Property Inspections urges Australian cities to conduct more inspections and update property inspection systems to avoid deadly and damaging fires.

Melbourne, VIC -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/21/2015 -- Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM, a Melbourne-based firm, says Australian governments should consider tightening housing and building laws and increasing inspections to avoid destructive fires. The company further suggests that cities bring themselves up to date on conditions in rental complexes, which may be currently unmonitored. Safe and SoundTM mentions these suggestions in light of several recent fires in the United States involving rooming houses that exposed violations and even flaws in city codes.

The latest of multiple fires that broke out in Spring Valley, New York, involved an illegally converted dormitory that revealed electrical violations and lack of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, among others. A deadly fire in Omaha, Nebraska, that killed 2 people also involved a rooming house that lacked detectors and fire extinguishers and was generally not up to code. Apparently, the boarding house had already existed years before the city began imposing safety requirements for rental properties. However, such incidents are not far from home. A Docklands apartment tower had also caught fire in November last year, expelling over 400 residents from their homes. Inspectors are still investigating what caused the fire and how it may have spread so quickly.

In spite of these events, an American city has made timely changes to its rental property inspection system that could provide a way to prevent fires and provide safer housing. Burlington, Vermont, is setting a good example with the recent adjustments to its system for inspecting non-owner occupied properties. Under the new system, rental properties will be certified up to code from one to five years, depending on their degree of compliance with city codes. The lowest-rating properties will receive a certificate that is good for one year, which means a visit from an inspector in the next year, as opposed to five years for those properties in very good standing.

Safe and SoundTM believes that such inspection policies as those of Burlington are not only pre-emptive measures against fires, but are also tools for promotion and evaluation for the rental sector. Landlords get to promote the quality of their rental units using the city's inspection rating. Tenants become better informed as to where it is more ideal to live and proceed cautiously with rental complexes that have lower ratings. Meanwhile, landlords with lower ratings are persuaded to draw level and be fully up to code themselves. Overall, such a property inspection system will cut city governments some slack in enforcing city codes and perhaps allow them to catch up on their backlogs of property inspections, if they have.

Mark Brandon, head inspector at Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM, agrees that cities do need to reassess their ordinances and keep a closer eye on rental properties. "We never know what goes on inside these buildings. We never know when the next fire is going up next. Conducting more frequent inspections allows us to keep closer tabs on the level of safety of rental units. Changing our inspections systems for the better won't hurt, either."

To learn more about property inspections from Safe and SoundTM, feel free to visit http://www.safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.

About Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM
Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM know the common faults to look for in any kind of property. They are a team of fully licensed and accredited building practitioners who can provide a comprehensive inspection according to Australian standards. For inquiries, contact Mark Brandon at info@safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.au, or catch him on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Safe and Sound Property Inspections claims that a home inspection service plays a vital role, whether one is in the pursuit of selling or buying a commercial or residential property.

Port Melbourne, Victoria -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/17/2014 -- A business that offers property inspection service in Australia says that they have, and will continue to become an indispensable asset in the real estate sector. When Chris Wright, one of its directors was asked why they are confident that this trend will continue in the future, he mentioned that it's because laws are now stricter, plus buyers and sellers want extra protection when parting or acquiring a property. He further cited some news in the industry that support his statement.

In the website for example of Queensland Government, one of its pages featured something about buying property an auction. It mentioned that the cooling off period (5-day grace for buyers to rethink the property deal) is not available if the buyer was acquired through an auction. This means that the buyer has no choice but to settle the contract, even if the property obviously did not pass home inspection, if he is unsure about it, or even if he does not have the financial capability to close it. The website further advised buyers that this could be avoided by performing necessary precautions such as asking for a building inspection report. In support to this advice, Fair Trading NSW says that inspection should not only include interior or exterior home inspection, but a combination or both.

In Ontario, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's External Research Program conducted funded a research in 2002, with the goal of understanding how the home improvement sector. This was made, following events where homes were subject to home inspection, but under the direction of an unqualified or uncertified personnel. The research project looked into home inspection as a mandatory process, instead of it being voluntary. In the end, the research was concluded were all respondents agreed that voluntary inspection is the better option because mandatory inspection has its not-so-positive implications for the industry itself, and other parties involved. Nonetheless, this still recognised the importance of home inspection as a whole in the real estate sector. One of its respondents commented that acceptable standard instead of mandatory inspection should be greatly considered.

For Mark Brandon, inspector at Safeand Sound Property Inspections, the home inspection industry is safe, thanks to the soaring sales of the real estate sector. But just because this is so, he says that those engaged in home inspection services should still consider the quality of service that they give to their customers. "Because this is what will let you grow your business. How do I know this? We have been able to pull our business through the lows. This is how we did it."

About Safeand Sound Property Inspections
Safe and Sound Property Inspections is a reliable property inspection business based in Australia. This offers services such as asbestos, electrical audit, and saleable inspection, all carried out by licensed and qualified inspectors. For inquiries, email Mark Brandon at info@safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.au or catch him on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Unexpected defects and hazardous materials in buildings can burden buyers with added costs and health risks. Safe and Sound Property Inspections says having a building thoroughly inspected has its merits.

Port Melbourne, Victoria -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2014 -- With the peak of property sales in South Australia already in progress, experts warn of the potential risks buyers are unwittingly taking on with skipping a building inspection. A buyer may forego a building inspection to save on costs but this comes with the risk of incurring unexpected repairs and health hazards. Melbourne-based firm Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM (PI) advises buyers to engage professional services to help them understand the actual condition of a property before purchasing. The firm contends that experienced consultants are not dazzled by the decor the real condition of a house.

Mark Brandon, Ivanhoe property inspections consultant at Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM, said, "A well-kept house is not certified up to code and may have hidden problems. Buyers should make inspections the first order of business in any property purchase." Mr. Brandon said trained inspectors can look beyond the granite counters and curb appeal to estimate the remaining life in a roof, the soundness of the foundation and the standards of the wiring and plumbing, among others.

Furthermore, an inspector can identify the presence of asbestos, a known cancer-causing substance. Homeowners, repair personnel and renovators can become exposed when asbestos is released into the air as dust or fibres during renovations and repairs. The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency estimates that approximately one out of three Australian homes contains asbestos products. Contrary to popular belief, the presence of asbestos cannot be determined by visual scrutiny alone and may be found in parts of the building one may not expect. According to Asbestos Education Committee chair Peter Dunphy, no level of exposure to the material is considered safe. With asbestos, a little can go a long way, in a negative sense.

For most people, buying a home is the biggest purchase they will ever make. The decision should go beyond surface appeal. However, in many cases, purchasing a home is as much an emotional decision as it is a business transaction. Bringing in an expert who can look at things from a technical standpoint is necessary to provide a degree of balance to the decision-making. If nothing else, a building inspection will help a potential buyer catalogue a home or building's faults and drive down the price. Armed with these notes and the inspector's official report, a buyer can use the findings as leverage to negotiate for a lower price.

A building inspection can be conducted at any point during the sale or auction. To ensure that inspections are performed professionally and efficiently, buyers should deal only with licensed professionals with verified references.

About Safe and Sound Property Inspections
Safe and Sound Property InspectionsTM has its clients' best interests at heart. The firm conducts inspections to the Australian standards AS 4349.1-2007 for property inspections and AS 3660.2-2000 for timber pest inspections. For more information, contact Mark Brandon at info@safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.au, or through his Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Following the improvement in the economy, this may be an ideal time to invest in a home inspection business.

Port Melbourne, VIC -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/20/2014 -- The home inspection industry's success is dependent on the overall performance of the real estate industry. One soars with the flight of the other. That is why the ability of home inspection service businesses to cash in on profit is considered dependent on how people are doing well with their finances. Now that the economy is slowing recovering, it is expected that both industries will see significant improvements in the coming months.

For those who are considering diving in to this positive trend, one of the easier option is to get a home inspection franchise. While one can always opt to start from scratch, it may take a while to establish a business brand. In comparison, a franchise cuts the owner's expense on advertising costs since this is already has a name recall. Furthermore, franchisees are given additional professional support from the franchise provider.

And the new business owners may be able to find help from the likes of Mplans, an online resource that provides free business marketing plans to small businesses. Its Marketing Pro Plan software has the ability to create a marketing plan for a home inspection service as seen from one of the samples shown in Mplans' website. Marketing is essential for any business, small or big, in order to succeed and the home inspection industry is no different in this area. Mplans is making it easier for the future entrepreneur to create a marketing plan that works with its array of tools and articles.

The skeptics may not be convinced by previous statements mentioned but statistics on the other hand will not lie. The Calgary Real Estate Board statistics report says that the real estate sector recorded an outstanding performance comparing to that of last year. Prices increased by 9% on home properties from 2013 to 2014. The same trend was also observed in Quebec where the statistics released by the Greater Montreal Real Estate Board showed an increase of 1% in residential sales. Moreover, this too recorded an increase of 11% in property listings.

In Australia, a property inspection service provider claims that their business has indeed moving uphill. Mark Brandon, senior inspector at Safe and Sound Property Inspections, says that while this may be so, he can't claim for the other home inspection businesses out there. He was quoted saying, "Although reports and stats may say that the whole sector is moving upward, we still consider that our own business is but a small part in that equation. We do take into account such reports, but we think you also need to strengthen your own business by providing the best service you can offer. I know for sure this is why we are still in here today despite the economy being shaky at times."

About Safe and Sound Property Inspections
Safe and Sound Property Inspections is a trusted building inspection service provider in Australia. This has helped many buyers make the right purchase, identifying major or minor structural defect.

For more information, email Mark Brandon at info@safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.au or catch him of Facebook, Twitter or Google+

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Many people pay for pest control services to protect their homes but several reports now show that this can save your business and life too.

Port Melbourne, VIC -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/20/2014 -- When people hire pest control services, they often pay for these to get rid of the inconvenience of living with unwanted pests at home. And who would be willing to put up with rodents stealing food at the kitchen, or termites eating away the lovely walls of their homes? But there may be more benefits to hiring a pest control professional rather than just an added expense as other people would think of. It could save lives and even save a food business.

Just take a look at how this woman died in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Fifty-five year old Rebecca Van Bibber of Tulsa was in her son's house for a visit. While sleeping in one of the bedrooms of the son's house, a tree fell, killing her in the process. The accident also reportedly killed a dog. Luckily, her son was in another room of the house which left him uninjured. Authorities are now looking into termites as the possible cause of the accident after considering that there were no strong winds or storm that day.

Meanwhile, a family in Weldon Spring, Missouri was forced to leave their home after discovering that this was infested with venomous brown recluse spiders. Brian and Susan Trost bought the house in 2007, but later found out that the house was infested with the dangerous crawling insects. They thought that cleaning would solve the problem, only to discover that more were hiding in its nooks and crannies. The couple filed for a lawsuit against the previous owners for nondisclosure of the pest problem and were awarded $472,110 after the jury voted in their favor. However, their insurance company refused to pay for the pest treatment. Afraid that their children would get hurt, the family eventually moved out of the house for good.

In the food business industry, cleanliness is considered utmost priority. When council officers found 120 roaches at the China Wings restaurant in Bradford, this was served a closure notice by the court. Dubbed as a health risk,the restaurant will only be allowed to reopen once proven that the pests are no longer a threat.

Though the incidents happened in other parts of the world, an Australian company still reacted to these reports since they too are engaged in the pest control business. Mark Brandon, pest control specialist at Safeand Sound Property Inspections, says that pest control is a serious business that could only be done with the right methods. "The different incidences only prove that pests will not only tear down your garden or home, but could seriously hurt you physically or financially too. If you want to protect your kids from being bitten by venomous spiders or keep your food business afloat, then call a reputable pest control professional to do it for you the soonest time possible. It's a small investment that worth's every penny considering the benefits it could give you in return."

About Safeand Sound Property Inspections
Safe and Sound Property Inspections is a property inspection service provider in Melbourne, Australia. This offers a broad range of specialised services that include pool safety certification, asbestos inspection and pre-sale inspection to name a few.

For inquiries,email Mark Brandon at info@safeandsoundpropertyinspections.com.au or catch him on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm