The top 5 building inspectors in Canberra you can trust By James Morgan
Buying a home is exciting, but let’s be honest, it can also be terrifying. As a homeowner myself, I know that sinking feeling of wondering if you’re about to invest in a dream or a disaster hiding behind freshly painted walls.
What you need is a building inspector who takes the time to walk you through what a report actually includes, how long it takes, and what happens if they find termites, leaks, or structural problems.
If you’re buying, selling, renovating, or just want peace of mind about your property, these are the Canberra-based building inspectors I’d trust to give you the full picture before you sign anything.
How much does a building inspection service cost in Canberra?
Building inspection services in Canberra typically cost between $400 and $700, depending on the size of the property and the type of inspection required. Bundled services that include pest, asbestos, or energy efficiency reports may increase the total, but often offer better value overall.
1. My Canberra Building Inspections ACT
Address: Unit 5/1 Flecker Pl, Florey
Phone: 0418 388 911
Business hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
When I called My Canberra Building Inspections ACT, they explained that they are a registered Class A builder with over a decade of local experience and have done inspections all around Canberra.
They provide building, pest, and energy efficiency reports, all bundled into a single session, and assured me they carry full professional indemnity insurance.
Their representative sounded confident and transparent, and said that the reports they provide include plain-English summaries, annotated photos, simple fix-it guidance, and clear compliance notes.
I like that I could book via Facebook Messenger, but they did warn that busy periods, like holidays, might delay appointments by a week. Their pricing is decent, and I appreciated how clearly they outlined what was and wasn’t included.
Excellent communication and clear updates
“I recently had a building and pest inspection completed by Nick, and I was extremely impressed with his service. The communication was excellent from start to finish, with clear updates provided throughout the process. Nick was fast, efficient, and the level of detail in his report was outstanding. His thoroughness and attention to detail made me feel confident in the findings. I will definitely use Nick again for any future inspections in the area. Highly recommended!”
– Kate Quinlan, Google Review
Goes above and beyond
“I recently consulted with Nick and he went above and beyond in giving out his advices and genuinely trying to help. Highly recommended! Make the industry better.”
– Quang Nguyen, Google Review
2. Residential Reports
Address: 35 Poynton St, Hughes ACT 2605
Phone: (02) 6288 0402
Business hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
I reached out to Residential Reports, which has proudly been inspecting Canberra homes for close to 20 years, via the website booking form and immediately got a response from their team.
Their team includes licensed building inspectors and specialists in energy ratings and pool compliance. Clients can also choose between a buyer’s and seller’s package, add energy or timber pest inspection, or even a swimming pool compliance check.
They guarantee next-day delivery, no upfront cost, and are closely aligned with real estate agents, yet friendly to buyers.
I asked specifically about sample reports, and they sent a 40-page document with high-resolution photos, defect severity rating, and a clear defects summary.
They’re a Facebook and Instagram-savvy company with polished, agent-focused service, although packages leaned on the pricier side. Still, including termite and energy checks together saves time and stress.
Extremely professional and provides detailed reports
“I highly recommend Residential Reports. They are extremely professional and take time to very carefully assess properties and write excellent detailed reports describing everything in great detail. The report was provided within 24 hours of the inspection. In making the appointment I was impressed by the excellent questions they asked. A great local business that I would use again.”
– Roxanne Missingham, Google Review
Promptly completed reports
“We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Residential Reports! Danielle and Derek were both incredibly lovely, professional, and a breath of fresh air in what can often be a stressful process. They handled our Compliance and EER reports with such efficiency and care — everything was completed promptly and without any fuss. What truly stood out was their warm, engaging manner and their exceptional communication. They were consistently responsive, far exceeding the level of service we were receiving from our agent and conveyancer. Honestly, they made a big part of our property process feel so much smoother.”
– Maryam Cheema, Google Review
3. ACT Property Inspections
Address: 1/33 Altree Ct, Phillip
Phone: (02) 6232 4540
Business hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
ACT Property Inspections has been operating since 2011 and has earned multiple “Service Provider of the Year” awards from the Real Estate Institute of the ACT.
When I talked to one of their representatives, he said that all inspectors are independent, licensed professionals with extensive training in residential inspections, energy ratings, and timber pest work.
He also explained their process clearly and even encouraged me to be there during the inspection so the inspectors could walk me through everything in real-time.
What stood out the most was how approachable he was; he was patient in answering my questions and sent a sample report that was easy to read, complete with photos, and a breakdown of major versus minor issues.
They follow Australian Standards, offer $0 upfront sellers’ reports, and commit to delivering reports within 24 hours.
They focus mostly on residential properties, so if you’re buying a home, you’re their ideal client. The only downside is that they don’t offer services like energy efficiency ratings or asbestos reports, so you’d have to book those separately if needed.
Very friendly and efficient staff
“Very friendly and efficient staff made the inspection a breeze. We were in the middle of clearing out 55 years of possessions, and the guys very kindly worked around our chaos. And even offered assistance a few times when we were moving things. Great staff are worth their weight in gold!!!! Much appreciated.”
– Colleen Cross, Google Review
Thorough and helpful
“Our real estate agent recommended ACT Property Inspection. Ben was thorough and helpful. He also helped to replace a broken tile while inspecting the roof. We needed to update some information about the home improvements that have been completed. Grant was very helpful and amended it swiftly as requested. I highly recommend their service.”
– Sandhya Lama Tamang, Google Review
4. Surety Property Canberra
Address: (Head Office) 45 Pyang Avenue, Malua Bay
Phone: 1300 767 741
Business hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
I reached out through the Surety Property website, and they quickly followed up with a phone call to discuss what I needed.
They described their flagship “Surety Seven” all-in-one pre-purchase inspection, which is a super detailed report covering structural, electrical, plumbing, pest, moisture, roof, and compliance checks.
They also explained their fixed pricing, which can help you avoid last-minute surprises. I also liked that they sent sample reports upfront, showing clearly marked defects with urgency ratings.
However, their bookings are mostly handled via web form or phone. This means that there is no instant scheduling.
Their branding also felt more geared toward seasoned investors than everyday homeowners.
Thorough inspection and provided a detailed report
“We engaged Surety to conduct an inspection during the pre-lining stage of our property under construction in Canberra. Our objective was to inspect the framing and the brickwork mainly and also to check for any defects with the workmanship as well. We are very pleased with the thorough inspection and detailed report provided by Grant. Also very satisfied with the quick response time provided by Jacqui whenever we have reached out with a question/appointment scheduling. Lastly, the pricing and invoicing process was also very transparent and streamlined. I will wholeheartedly recommend their service for your next home build.”
– Renga Rajan, Google Review
Thorough, excellent communication
“Grant and the team were recommended to me by a family member who was very impressed by their thoroughness. I asked for an inspection for termites. I was equally impressed. Thorough, excellent communication, experienced and forthcoming with helpful insights and advice.
I will be using them annually.”
– Peter May, Google Review
5. Jim’s Building Inspections (South Canberra)
Address: (Head Office) 24a/479 Warrigal Rd, Moorabbin
Phone: 131 546
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Saturday to Sunday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Jim’s inspection service has been around since 2011 and now supports all of Canberra. Their inspectors hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
When I contacted Jim’s team through their website, I received a callback the same day from an inspector covering South Canberra. He was friendly, professional, and explained how they could do building, pest, asbestos, and even methamphetamine contamination checks.
What impressed me most was their 24-hour report turnaround and satisfaction guarantee. It felt like they had a solid system and were used to dealing with time-sensitive real estate deals.
That said, because Jim’s is a franchise, the experience might depend on who your local inspector is. I’d recommend asking for a specific person if you get a referral.
Excellent to work with
“Rob was excellent to work with! He provided a detailed building report highlighting any areas of concern. He happily elaborated on any questions or concerns I had regarding the property. I would highly recommend Rob to anyone looking at purchasing a property.”
– Josiah James, Google Review
Professional and friendly
“We were in need of dilapidation reports to support one of our jobs and had luckily come across Rob in my search. I am totally impressed, from our first interaction to the whole process. He was professional, friendly & got us the reports in record time. They were in depth and thorough and I cannot recommend him enough!”
– Accounts Canberra, Google Review