Why there is no pass or fail
A pre-purchase inspection carried out generally in accordance with AS 4349.1 and AS 4349.3 is a reporting service, not a compliance assessment. It does not certify a building, it does not assess whether the property meets the National Construction Code, and it does not issue any form of approval. Those are different activities carried out by different people — building certifiers, engineers and licensed trades — under different authority.
This is not a technicality. A buyer who believes the inspection is a test the property either passes or fails will read the report looking for a verdict that is not there, and will either panic at a normal list of findings or feel falsely reassured by a short one.
What the report gives you instead
- A written record of the condition observed in the readily accessible areas, at the time of inspection.
- Findings classified by significance — major defect, minor defect, safety hazard, and conditions conducive to timber pest attack.
- Photographs, so you can see what is being described rather than taking it on trust.
- Recommendations for further assessment by the appropriate licensed specialist where the visual inspection has reached its limit.
- A clear statement of the limitations that applied on the day — areas that could not be accessed, and why.
"It came back clear" is not what a report says
A report with few findings describes a property that presented well on the day of inspection, in the areas that could be accessed. It is not a warranty and it is not a statement about concealed areas. No visual inspection can report on what is behind a wall lining, under a floor covering or inside a sealed cavity, and an inspector who implies otherwise is making a claim they cannot support.
The same is true of a timber pest inspection. A result with no live activity found is a snapshot of that day. Conditions change — which is exactly why routine inspections matter for a property you own.
What buyers really mean when they ask this
Usually the question behind the question is "is this going to cost me the deal". The honest answer is that most reports on established Gold Coast properties contain findings, including significant ones. A finding is the start of a conversation, not the end of one. What the report changes is the terms — what you know, what you budget for, and what you have in writing if you decide to renegotiate.
For what the classifications mean, see what is a major defect. For how the findings fit into a Queensland contract, see the inspection clause timeline.