Pre-purchase building inspections in Merbein

Merbein is one of the smaller towns in the Sunraysia, traditionally a citrus and grape-growing area, and the housing reflects that quieter pace. Mid-century brick veneers and weatherboards on generous blocks, with a handful of newer infill builds — and a fair number of properties with informal outbuildings, sheds and garages added over the decades.

Informal outbuildings are something I pay specific attention to in a Merbein inspection. A shed put up by the previous owner thirty years ago is unlikely to have a permit, may not be built to current standards, and can be a hidden cost or compliance issue when you come to sell or renovate. The report flags what we see, with photographs.

Drainage is the other Merbein-specific item. Older homes on settled landscaping can have ground that now slopes the wrong way, sending water back toward the house — and over decades that causes sub-floor moisture, footings damp, and rot in lower wall framing. We check.