Appliances were not tested/inspected during the inspection in accordance with AS4349.1 - 2007.

Terms & Conditions of Service for Building Inspections

Definitions – “BWB” means Bestwest Building Pty Ltd ACN 143 759 611.

1. The client, upon making the booking for a Property Inspection or other Building Report, acknowledges having been given the opportunity to read our Terms & Conditions of Service. The client is deemed to have accepted BWB’s Terms & Conditions of Service upon the Inspector arriving at the property or site.

2. The report is subject to BWB’s Terms and Conditions of Service, which forms the basis of the agreement between BWB and the client. A copy is available on BWB’s web site, provided with each report and available separately upon request.

3. The report is valid solely for the client as detailed on the front of the report and is not transferable to a third party without the written authorization of BWB.

4. Please note that written reports will take precedence over any verbal comments or advice given.

5. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, a credit card authorization for the full fee is required at the time of booking. Only a booking fee of $100 will be processed on receiving the booking. The balance will be processed on delivery of the report. In the event of booking cancellation a fee up to $100 may apply unless a minimum of 72 hours’ notice is given. If a credit card authorization fails, payment is due forthwith.

6. If credit is provided, payment is due within 14 days of BWB issuing a valid tax invoice.

7. If the client pays by cheque, the cheque shall not discharge the client’s obligation to pay until the cheque clears.

8. If any money remains unpaid after the due date, the client shall:

(a) pay 15% per annum simple interest on the overdue amounts from the due date;

(b) pay an administrative fee of $30.00 for each reminder letter sent by BWB seeking payment of an overdue account; and

(c) fully indemnify BWB for any expenses incurred by BWB in recovering any overdue amounts, e.g. debt recovery or legal expenses.

9. The report is not a certificate that the property complies within the requirements of any Act, regulation, ordinance, local law or by-law, and is not a warranty against problems developing with the building in the future. The report does not include the identification of unauthorised building work or of work not compliant with building regulations.

10. It is not the role of the inspector to explain title and ownership matters and to deal with matters concerning easements, covenants, restrictions, zoning certificates and all other law-related matters.

11. The inspection shall comprise of a visual assessment of the property to identify major defects, minor defects and safety hazards and to form an opinion regarding the general condition of the property at the time of inspection.

12. Defect Description and Significance Summary.

(a) Satisfactory – the condition of the property or part therefore is such that would be expected of a comparison building of similar age and similar type which has been adequately maintained over the life of the building and is in reasonable condition. For example a 10-year-old property may be in a satisfactory condition for its age just as a new property may be considered to be in a satisfactory condition when considering the standard expected for the age of the property.

(b) Major Defects – are defects of sufficient magnitude where rectification has to be carried out in order to avoid unsafe conditions, loss of utility or further deterioration of the property.

(c) Minor Defects – are common to most properties and may include minor blemishes, corrosion, cracking, weathering, general deterioration, unevenness, and physical damage to materials and finishes, such as de-silvering of mirrors. It is expected that defects of this type would be rectified as part of normal ongoing property maintenance. It is neither intended nor expected that the report will include details of specific minor defects nor all minor defects, however, a poorly maintained residence may have more and extensive minor defects than a reasonably maintained property that is otherwise similar. It follows that it may be necessary for a purchaser to allocate substantial resources to return a poorly maintained property to a reasonable standard for occupancy. For this reason the report may include a general assessment of the general incidence of minor defects in the subject residence compared with otherwise similar properties.

(d) Safety Hazard – is a defect that in the opinion of the inspector is or may constitute a potentially serious safety hazard.

(e) Further Investigation – is a defect or possible defect that, in the opinion of the inspector, requires further investigation by an appropriate specialist.

13. Description of typical damage and required repair for Cracking in Masonry.

a) Hairline Cracks – width less than 0.1mm – None

b) Fine cracks that do not need repair – width less than 1.0mm

c) Cracks noticeable but easily filled Doors and windows stick slightly – width less than 5.0mm

d) Cracks can be repaired and possibly a small amount of wall will need to be replaced. Door and windows stick service pipes can fracture. Weather-tightness often impaired. Width more than 5.0mm but less than 15.0mm (or a number of cracks 3.0mm or more in one group)

e) Extensive repair work involving breaking out and replacing sections of walls, especially over doors and windows. Doorframes distort. Walls lean or bulge noticeably, some loss of bearing in beams. Service pipes disrupted. Width more than 15.0mm but less than 25.0mm (but also depends on the number of cracks).

14. Please note the criteria against which the subject building will be assessed. In the report the basis for comparison is a building of similar age and similar type to the subject building and which is in reasonable condition, having been adequately maintained over the life of the building. It follows that the subject building may not comply with Australian Standards, building regulations and the like that are applicable at the time of inspection.

15. The inspection includes an appraisal by a competent inspector to assess the condition of the building. As it involves a subjective assessment different inspectors or the same inspector on a different occasion may reach different conclusions.

16. The inspection is not intended to include an assessment of all of the building elements and or materials in the property.

17. AREAS TO BE INSPECTED – The inspection shall include only accessible areas and areas that are within the inspector’s line of sight and close enough to enable reasonable appraisal. The following areas shall be inspected where applicable:

(a) The interior of the building.

(b) The roof space.

(c) The exterior of the building.

(d) The sub-floor space (access permitting).

(e) The roof exterior (access permitting).

(f) The property within 30 m of the building subject to inspection.

Note: Reasonable access does not include the cutting of access holes or the removal of screws and bolts or any other fastenings or sealants to access covers. Subfloor areas sprayed with chemicals should not be inspected unless it is safe to do so.

18. AREAS THAT WILL NOT BE INSPECTED – Inaccessible parts of the property or areas which are not reasonably visible or safely accessible, including but not limited to:

(a) confined spaces;

(b) excessively high roofs (must be accessible from a 3.6m ladder placed on the ground); or

(c) areas effected during inclement weather, will be excluded from the inspection/report (at BWB’s sole discretion) and therefore no liability will be accepted on account of failure to report on any problems which may exist in such area(s) whether specified or not.

(d) hidden or obscured compartments or rooms.

19. No inspection has been made for the presence of or absence of mould. If during the course of the inspection mould is noticed it may be noted in the report. If you are concerned about the potential health risks, which can arise from mould you should seek advice from a relevant independent expert.

20. Please note our reports do not give or imply any warranty or guarantee and are merely an opinion of the inspected property.

21. A BWB Building Consultant or a Licensed Builder carries out all Inspections. The information given in this document is based on the BWB’s Building experience and its knowledge of the current Australian Building Standards and Codes. However BWB does not purport to cover all provisions of any Building Acts, Codes, Regulations or By-laws.

22. In addition to items detailed in the Terms & Conditions of Service please note that the reports do not cover items excluded by the Australian Standard AS 4349.1 – 2007, including but not limited to the following:

a) The identification of toxic material on site to include asbestos;

b) Swimming Pools, spas, rain or grey water tanks;

c) Drainage systems or underground pipes;

d) Footings below ground, concealed damp proof courses or membranes, adequacy of roof drainage, air conditioning, automatic garage door mechanisms, fireplaces & solid fuel heaters including chimneys and flues, intercom systems and soft floor coverings;

e) Utility Services & appliances;

f) Irrigation systems;

g) Plumbing or Electrical Systems; and

h) Security systems.

23. Australian Standards AS 4349.1 – 2007 excludes provision of costing. Therefore any opinion on cost of repair or maintenance provided verbally must be taken as a general and approximate guide and should not be relied upon. Actual costs can and often vary depending on the quality of materials used, standard of work, the availability of tradesman and other influences from 3rd parties of which BWB have no control. Independent quotes should be obtained to fully establish the extent of costs of any work required.

24. In accordance with AS4349.1 2007 a visual assessment will be carried out to identify any broken or cracked glass. However please note that the inspection does not comment on the suitability of the glassed used. The Building Code of Australia now requires safety glass to be used in doors, windows and throughout the home where in close proximity to the floor/ground. However it should be noted that houses built prior to the 1980’s may not comply with the current requirements. For safety purposes we recommend this is reviewed and glass.

25. Please note in accordance with the AS4349.1 2007, although it is not a requirement to test the operation of fireplaces and solid fuel heaters (including chimneys and flues) we recommend that these are inspected by a professional chimney sweep before lighting and periodically reviewed at least once a year thereafter.

26. BWB reports are not pest inspections and we recommend a specialist Termite Inspection Company carries out an Inspection.

27. The report remains the property of BWB until paid for in full.

28. BWB guarantees:

• to provide our services in a proper and workmanlike manner; and

• that our services will be fit for purpose.

29. If there is a major failure with the service we provide, you may be able to get a full refund.

30. If there is a minor problem with any of the services we provide, you can’t cancel and demand a refund immediately. You must give us an opportunity to fix the problem:

• free of charge, and

• within a reasonable time.

31. We may not have to fix a problem with the services if the problem arises as a result of:

• what someone else said or did (excluding our agents or employees); or

• something that is beyond our control and that happened after we provided the services to you.

32. We also may not have to provide you with a remedy if you leave it too long to complain. Please notify BWB within a month of receiving your report.

33. You are not entitled to a refund if you simply change your mind.

34. In many cases, the actual structural elements of a building will be obscured by finishes and other non-structural building elements, and the inspector may be unable to assess directly the state of the structural member. In such cases, the inspector has to infer the performance of the structure by observing the effect of the structure on the non- structural building elements. For example, the inspector normally will be unable to inspect the footings of a house as they are buried beneath the ground; however, cracking in non-structural masonry walls above the ground may indicate that a defect exists within the footing system.

35. This report may give reference to information contained within the Australian standards. Where reference to the Australia Standards is given the material is Standards Australia Ltd copyrighted material that is distributed by SAI Global on Standards Australia Ltd’s behalf. It may be reproduced in accordance with the terms of SAI Global Ltd’s Licence 1808-c045-4. All licensed copies of this document must be obtained from the Licensee. Standards Australia Ltd’s material is not for resale, reproduction or distribution in whole or in part without written permission from SAI Global Ltd: tel +61 2 8206 6355 or copyright@saiglobal.com.

36. Our inspections are generally carried out in accordance with AS4349.0 and AS4349.1-2007. Where the inspection is for a Construction Progress or Practical Completion Inspection it is expected that the builder will rectify the defects listed without dispute or referral to a third party for arbitration. Should these defects be disputed, a more detailed report may be necessary for submission to the the Building Commission, SAT or the Court System.

37. During a Construction Progress or Practical Completion Inspection we will undertake a limited review of the overall room size dimensions on the main habitable rooms and garage (excluding, but not limited to the kitchen, bathrooms, WC and laundry) to verify that the size of the room is within tolerance provided that building plans have been received at least one working day before the inspection.