Gold Coast Unit & Apartment Inspections
Building & pest inspections for units, apartments, townhouses & villas — same-day reports.
★★★★★5.0 from 70+ Google reviews
QBCC licence 1519 2537Licensed & insuredAS 4349.1 & AS 4349.3Same-day reports
Units & Apartments
Know Exactly What You’re Buying.
Units and apartments need a building and pest inspection just as houses do — and the case is arguably stronger. The body corporate maintains the common property, but everything inside your lot is yours from settlement day, and that is exactly where the costly defects hide: failed shower and wet-area waterproofing, balcony and balustrade issues, and moisture tracking through walls and ceilings.
CYTE inspects units, apartments, townhouses and villas — from ground-floor walk-ups to high-rise towers — across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern NSW. Each is a combined building and timber pest inspection to AS 4349.1 and AS 4349.3, with the written photo report delivered the same day, so you know exactly what you are buying before you commit.
Pre-Purchase Unit & Apartment Inspection
Know exactly what you are buying
A pre-purchase inspection gives you the unit's condition in writing before you commit — major and minor defects, safety items, moisture and timber pest. So you can make an informed decision, and move forward with confidence.
What's covered
A combined building and timber pest inspection to AS 4349.1 and AS 4349.3, scoped for strata and company title: the building interior of the unit, and the building exterior immediately associated with it — wet areas, balconies and courtyards included. Common areas of the building are not part of the inspection. Written photo report the same day.
What We Look For in Units
Wet areas and waterproofing
Failed waterproofing is one of the most expensive defects a unit can hide. Showers, bathrooms and laundries — and the walls and ceilings around them — get close attention for moisture and movement.
Balconies and balustrades
Balcony surfaces, drainage and balustrades are assessed for defects and safety hazards — among the most common and costly repair items in older walk-up blocks.
Termites in ground-floor units
Ground-floor and garden-level units carry genuine timber pest risk, especially in older blocks with garden beds against the slab. The timber pest inspection covers visible activity, damage and conducive conditions.
Inspection detail
What We Check in a Unit.
A unit hides its problems in the details. These are the checks we work through, room by room — visual and non-invasive to AS 4349.1 and AS 4349.3, supported by a FLIR E54 thermal imaging camera, a Tramex Moisture Encounter ME5 moisture meter and a laser level. Every finding goes into your written photo report, delivered the same day.
Wet areas & plumbing
- Leaking showers, shower screens and seals
- Moisture readings around showers, baths and vanities
- Flexible hoses under sinks and vanities — a leading cause of water damage in units
- Operation of taps, drains and accessible plumbing fixtures
Windows & doors
- Moisture around window frames, sills and reveals
- Window seals, hardware, locks and winders
- Door operation, hinges and hardware throughout
- Lift-off hinges on bathroom and toilet doors
Safety & balconies
- Balustrade security and safety hazards
- Balcony surfaces, drainage and membranes
- Visual inspection of smoke alarms
- Corrosion on fixings, balustrades and external steel — accelerated in coastal buildings
Structure & surfaces
- Floor levels checked with a laser level
- Cracking and movement in walls and ceilings
- Moisture tracking through walls from adjoining areas
- Timber pest evidence and conducive conditions to AS 4349.3
Combined building & pest inspections
Fixed price confirmed before you book · Same-day written report
We inspect the property itself — strata records searches are a separate service your conveyancer or solicitor arranges.
What does it cost?|Learn morePopular unit and apartment areas: Burleigh Heads · Palm Beach · Southport · Mermaid Beach · Broadbeach · Miami · Tweed Heads · Coolangatta · Labrador · Runaway Bay
Common questions
Unit Inspections, Answered.
Do you inspect units and apartments?
Yes, we inspect eligible units, apartments, townhouses, duplexes and villas. For strata and company title properties, the inspection is limited to the nominated lot and the immediately associated exterior areas where safe and reasonable access is available. Common property is not inspected.
What does a unit or apartment inspection cover?
For a strata or company title unit, the inspection generally covers the interior of the nominated lot and the exterior immediately associated with that lot, where safe and reasonable access is available. This may include wet areas, balconies, courtyards, windows and visible accessible areas directly associated with the unit. Common areas, body corporate records, strata records and areas owned or maintained by the body corporate are not included. Your conveyancer can advise on the relevant body corporate records and ownership responsibilities.
Do apartments really need a pest inspection?
Yes — particularly ground-floor and garden-level units, older walk-up blocks, and any building with garden beds against the slab. The timber pest inspection to AS 4349.3 looks for visible activity, damage and the conducive conditions that invite it.
Does the body corporate cover defects inside my unit?
Generally the body corporate maintains common property, while everything inside your lot is the owner's responsibility — which is why a pre-purchase inspection of the unit itself matters. For what the scheme covers at a specific building, speak with your conveyancer.
Can you inspect a high-rise apartment?
Yes. We inspect apartments at any height, from ground-floor walk-ups to high-rise towers. The inspection covers the interior of your lot and the building exterior immediately associated with it — wet areas, balconies, windows and a timber pest assessment — with the written photo report delivered the same day.
How long does a unit or apartment inspection take?
Most unit and apartment inspections take around 45 minutes to an hour on site, depending on the size of the lot and access. Your written photo report follows the same day.
Should I get a building and pest inspection for an investment unit?
Yes. A pre-purchase inspection gives you a clearer understanding of the visible condition of the unit before you commit. The inspection can identify major defects, serious safety hazards, visible wet-area issues, balcony concerns, moisture-related findings and timber pest conditions where these are observable and within scope.
Why do older Gold Coast homes have a higher termite risk than units or newer builds?
In our own sample of 50 recent Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern NSW inspections, active termites or termite damage were confirmed in 12 properties (24%) — and 11 of those 12 were older, standalone houses (roughly 18 to 60 years old). Only one was a unit. The pattern we see on site is consistent: termite activity tends to start in the yard — old tree stumps, garden timber, retaining walls and fence lines — before working toward the building. Older established homes typically carry more of these yard-level conditions built up over decades, plus more timber-to-soil contact around the structure itself. That doesn't mean units or newer homes are immune — conducive conditions such as moisture and missing durable notices turn up across every property type we inspect — it means the chance of finding live activity is measurably higher in an older standalone house in our experience. An annual timber pest inspection is how you keep that risk in view year to year, whatever the age of the property.
More questions answered on our FAQs page, or read how to choose a building and pest inspector. For a detailed look at what we find in walk-up blocks, read our guide to balcony and balustrade defects in walk-up apartments.
Reviews
What Our Clients Say.
★★★★★I really cannot recommend Rhys highly enough. A very diligent and thorough inspection and he provided us with a large amount of information both in his report and over the phone. If you're reading this review, you've found your building and pest inspector.
Ben · Google review
★★★★★Have used Rhys as both a seller and a buyer. His attention to detail is amazing. Detailed easy to understand report. And very quick response. Highly recommend.
Nardia Raynham · Google review
★★★★★I am so very lucky to have chosen CYTE to inspect a home we have on contract. Rhys was a total professional. Knowledgeable and his efforts to explain and communicate were second to none. Thank you Rhys you made our decision worthwhile.
Kat Seaman · Google review
How It Works
Three Simple Steps. Same-Day Report.
Call Or Enquire
Send us the property address and let us know what inspection you need. We’ll confirm the fee upfront before you decide to book.
We Attend The Inspection
Once you’re ready to go ahead, we help coordinate access with you or the agent. Every inspection includes a signed pre-inspection agreement before we attend.
Same-Day Written Report
You’ll receive a clear, photo-rich written report in your inbox the same day. We’re also happy to walk you through the findings, so you understand what was observed and what the recommendations mean.
Know the Unit Before You Settle.
Contact Us | Request A Quote
Request Your Inspection Quote
We pride ourselves on quick replies — often within 30 minutes.
Prefer to talk? Call 0431 114 815.