The 5 best building inspectors in Sydney for covering all your bases
Doing anything with a house or a building is a big commitment — whether you’re selling it, buying it, or preparing to live in it. There are a million things that can go wrong, many of them not immediately obvious.
Maybe the structure of the building is weak. Maybe there are termites in the walls. Or maybe there’s just too much wear and tear.
To catch these issues before you pull the trigger on a house or building, you need expert eyes. Our recommendations for building inspectors in Sydney will help you spot problems before they become catastrophes.
How much does a building inspector cost in Sydney?
A building inspector in Sydney will charge at least $400 + GST for a basic home inspection. Expect to pay more if you have a larger structure like an office building or a multi-bedroom home. More specialised inspections, such as for pest infestation or dilapidation, may also cost more.
1. Tyrrells Property Inspections
Address: Suite 29, 1-7 Jordan Street, Gladesville
Phone: 1300 131 270
Business hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Tyrrells Property Inspections (now called Tyrrells Building Advisory) was established in 1983, with an architecture and building background behind it. It’s an ISO 9001 certified company, and maintains staff who have qualifications and training in the various sub-fields of building and construction.
Their consultants and inspectors are insured by the business’ professional indemnity and public liability policies.
Tyrrells offers inspections for pre-purchase, regular maintenance, surveying, structural engineering, and more. They can perform these inspections on detached homes, strata, highrises, commercial structures, among other building types.
They can also do limited plumbing and electrical inspections on request, though they are not licensed tradespeople in these particular fields.
We got them on the phone to talk a little about the inspections they perform as well as the resulting reports. We got the impression that they provide thorough reports, with strong attention to detail and actionable advice. The business really seemed to want to make things easy for us.
We would have liked to see some specific, detailed pricing on the Tyrrells website, but we were generally impressed by the breadth and depth of their services.
Highly recommended
“They provide proper reports which actually give direction and recommendations, unlike many of the cheaper reports we have seen. The reports aren’t cheap, but you get what you pay for. Given the quality of the report and the post inspection phone call we got, the cost is reasonable.”
– David Weng, Google review
Professional and informative
“My maintenance report for a residential property was professional and informative. The report clarified maintenance needed at the property so that I could plan and prioritise work to protect my investment.”
– Kirsten Oataway, Google review
2. Houspect NSW
Address: A. 20/14 Jubilee Ave, Warriewood
Phone: 1300 258 789
Business hours:
- Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Houspect New South Wales has been providing inspection services for buildings for several decades now. They’re available all throughout Sydney for anyone looking to get all the facts and prepare thoroughly before building, buying, or selling property.
Houspect does inspections for buildings in the construction stage or ready for pre-purchase, structures with disputed integrity or dilapidation, and strata that need investigation or work schedule reports.
Their website also offers various home maintenance tips, and even a DIY checklist in case you’d like to perform a basic home inspection yourself.
Most feedback from former clients we interviewed praised Houspect for being easy to work with, as well as employing inspectors who have deep knowledge of the necessary processes. It would have been nice to see some pricing estimates on the website, though.
I highly recommend them without reservation
“Huge thanks to the entire team at Houspect for their amazing support throughout the process. Alison and Enza were responsive, helpful, and always on hand to assist. Matt’s workmanship and knowledge of the building industry were outstanding. This team exemplifies a culture of support and unity—it truly feels like family.”
– Fredie Taouk, Google review
Their commitment to the process gave us great confidence
“They were proactive and highly knowledgeable, providing clear and independent advice that we could trust. Beyond their expertise, they brought kindness, patience, and understanding, which made a significant difference in helping us navigate the challenges we faced. Their honesty and professionalism were unwavering.”
– Nicole Edwards, Google review
3. iSPECT Building Inspections
Address: Level 3, 330 Wattle St, Ultimo
Phone: (02) 7229 1137
Business hours:
- Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 7:30 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am – 7:30 pm
- Sunday: Closed
iSPECT Building Inspections only employs inspectors who fulfill key criteria: accredited training, at least a decade of building and construction experience, a trade qualification, and more. The business places a premium on expertise and industry knowledge.
iSPECT performs building inspections for pre-purchase, pre-sale, and pre-auction. They will inspect apartments, commercial properties, and buildings under construction.
They also check for termite infestation or structural degradation.
We appreciated seeing upfront pricing information on the website, broken down by inspection type and house size. A pre-purchase inspection for a small house will run you for $400 + GST, while a more intensive inspection for a larger commercial property will cost $770 + GST.
Lastly, iSPECT is open on Saturdays, which is convenient for busy customers. The business has earned mostly positive feedback, though a few mention unreliable pricing and unfulfilled appointments.
Quick and responsive team
“Did our inspection the next day and got a detailed report before 24 hours. The report was very detailed with photo evidence. Recommended.”
– Dipesh Dhakal, Google review
Easy to talk to and fast response in providing service
“Requested the inspection to happen on the day I called, and Manuel made it and generated the report on that day, very fast service turn-around time.”
– Simon Wang, Google review
4. Jim’s Building Inspections
Phone: 131546
Business hours:
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Jim’s Building Inspections is an inspection company that’s been operating since the 1980s, and has grown beyond the borders of Australia. The business claims over 12 million jobs completed over its lifetime, as well as over 5,000 franchises worldwide.
The business leverages technology to provide clients with reports within a single day of the building inspection — something that not many other inspection companies can claim. They create reports for residences, commercial buildings, strata, and for mould or pest infestations.
The company maintains a team of local inspectors all across Australia, using a franchise model. Every inspector is required to have professional indemnity insurance, so you can put stock in their reliability. They are also trained to present reports in a straightforward, non-technical way.
Jim’s Building Inspections is well-liked by users, especially for the team’s communication skills and thorough inspection procedures. However, we couldn’t find any recently updated pricing on the website (the last update was in 2014).
I couldn’t be happier with his service
“Terry recently inspected my new townhouse in Casula and I couldn’t be happier with his service. He was incredibly thorough, professional, and took the time to explain everything clearly. His attention to detail gave me confidence and peace of mind throughout the process.”
– Shawki Nassar, Google review
10/10 & amazing communication skills
“Terry was outstanding. Bought my first apartment & he was available to do the report & give me all the details the next business day. 10/10 & amazing communication skills. It was a smooth process for my fiance & I.”
– T Train, Google review
5. Resicert
Phone: +61450310156
Business hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Resicert is relatively new in the building inspection industry, having been founded in 2009. Despite this, they have a wide reach, operating in Western Australia, Victoria, NSW, and Queensland. They also adhere to the ISO 9001 series of standards.
Resicert offers building inspections for owners, vendors, handover events, pest control, and dilapidation checks.
They can even check for traces of methamphetamine before you buy or rent out a property, helping to mitigate any legal problems. They can get their reports into your hand within 48 hours.
We couldn’t find any pricing data on their website, so you’ll need to call for details. That said, the business has a 100% money-back guarantee in case you’re unsatisfied with their work, and keeps you in the loop throughout each inspection procedure.
The majority of Resicert’s customers are happy with the service, mentioning positives such as professionalism and efficiency of work.
I highly recommend Resicert
“I recently used Resicert Building for my new property inspection, and the appointment process was very easy. My inspector, Ray Lee, is the best. He knows what he is doing and genuinely cares for his clients. He really helped me with my pre-settlement defects inspection.”
– Nazmul Huda, Google review
Highly recommended!
“My solicitor recommended Ray Lee for the building and pest inspection. He conducted the inspection in an incredibly professional manner. My husband had many questions, and Ray explained everything very clearly. I moved into this house in April, and so far, everything has been great.”
– Dotdotdot Grit, Google review