Why investors should do due diligence with an architect

“In the red hot property market that exists in most popular residential areas, there is an increasing number of first home buyers rushing in when they have secured finance and not paying attention to thorough pre-purchase assessments, with a number then paying the consequences,” Mr Georgiev said.

“Residential property assessments carried out by architects are independent – importantly dispassionate – aimed at identifying construction or design issues that have the potential to turn into nightmares.”

The cost, Mr Georgiev suggested, can be offset through other areas, such as maintaining an energy efficient property and being based in a well-zoned living area.

An architect can provide a level of expertise not found with regular inspectors, but as Mr Georgiev pointed out, that does not mean property owners can turn a blind eye to building and pest inspectors either to ensure all elements of the purchased property are sound.

For more information on differentiating between building and pest inspectors, check out this article with Andrew Mackie-Smith as he explains the difference.

“Four eyes are better than two, and when combined with a [building and] pest inspection, … architect assessment [services are] comprehensive and thorough, ensuring that … pests and threats are identified, along with other building problems (such as mould) that may put the health and safety of residents at risk,” Mr Georgiev said.

“Unlike many European countries where the public is protected by laws requiring buildings to be designed by architects, this is not the case in Australia, making the efforts of … architects all the more important as purveyors of independent and informed design and construction advice.

“This should be seen as a necessary investment rather than as an added extra that home buyers can avoid.”