Need a Pre-Purchase Building Inspection for a Home in Melbourne?

Get more information with a Pre-Purchase Structural & Building Engineer Report and find out exactly what you are buying.

Not ready for a consult yet? Learn more

Pre-Purchase Inspection

HOUSE INSPECTION • BUILDING INSPECTION • PRE-SETTLEMENT

Building & Pest Inspection

TERMITE RISK • THERMAL IMAGING • MOISTURE DETECTION

Structural Building Report

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER • FORENSIC BUILDING ENGINEER

LogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogo

Pre-Purchase Inspection

HOUSE INSPECTION • BUILDING INSPECTION • PRE-SETTLEMENT

Building & Pest Inspection

TERMITE RISK • THERMAL IMAGING • MOISTURE DETECTION

Structural Building Report

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER • FORENSIC BUILDING ENGINEER

LogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogoLogo

Why Homebuyers Choose Homebuyers Toolkit

Residential Building Inspections Delivered by Engineers

CPEng

Chartered Professional Engineer
Registered Building Practitioner

Professionally insured under the National Engineers Register & VBA Endorsed Building Engineer.

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION • REGULATORY COMPLIANCE • INSURED PRACTICE

5,000+

Building Inspections
Structural Building Engineer

Engineer inspections focusing on building structure and conditions conducive to moisture and timber pest.

PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION • STRUCTURAL HOME REPORTS • BUILDING & PEST

1,000+

Engineering Designs
Residential Structural & Civil

Timber & steel framing, masonry walls and foundation design for homes, extensions and renovation works.

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS • AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS • BUILDING CODES

The Same Engineers Insurers Call, Now Working Solely for Homebuyers

$1B+

Assessed Flood Damage
Lead Engineer (Victoria)

Structural building and infrastructure inspections for Emergency Response Victoria flood make-safe program.

FORENSIC STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING • MAKE-SAFE • BUILDING & INFRASTRUCTURE

$500M+

Risk Based Costings
Infrastructure & Buildings

Repair cost estimation and remediation works planning to inform major spending decisions.

RISK MODELLING • COST FORECASTING • CAPTIAL PLANNING & REPAIRS

15+ yrs

Residential Experience
Construction Supervision

Residential construction to engineering supervision, directing how homes are actually built & repaired.

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION • RENOVATIONS & EXTENSIONS • REMEDIAL WORKS

Book a Free Consultation and speak with a Building Engineer to identify the key risks for the home your buying

We don't need to tell you...

Buying a home is a huge investment for today, and for your future

  • So it’s important that you know that a Building Inspector will only give you snap shot of what needs fixing today, based on a simple list of visible defects.

  • Same tick-box checklist for every home

  • Short course training (3 day min)

  • Unregulated inspection industry

  • Cannot get you get you out of a contract for major defects

  • Not qualified to diagnose structural risk or repair costs

  • Inspection report = simple list of visible defects

Shows you only the condition today
  • While a Building Engineer can give you an expert diagnosis of risks and costs so that you’re in control of what happens in the future.

  • Foundation movement

  • Roof and wall structural failure

  • Termite risk and wet area leak detection

  • Stormwater drainage and moisture issues

  • Retaining wall movement and unstable slope conditions

  • Planning issues related to renovations

Gives you a plan for the future

The Expensive Problems We Find
(and Inspectors Miss!)

When things go wrong, homeowners and insurers don’t call Building Inspectors, they call Engineers like us to investigate.

Hidden Building Repair Costs

$25,000 - $80,000

Not covered by insurance. Missed by building inspectors.

Foundation Underpinning & Drainage

Structural Building Movement (Eltham VIC)

Book a Free Consultation and speak with a Building Engineer to identify the key risks for the home your buying

Meet The Founder

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH

Chris Dafter (Founder, Homebuyers Toolkit) | Chartered Engineer (CPEng, NER)
Registered Building Practitioner (RBP, RPEng)

For over a decade, I was a forensic, structural and civil engineer.
I inspected thousands of Melbourne homes under major insurance claims. And I saw the same gut-wrenching scene again and again. Families stressed out and facing massive repair bills (typically $40,000 to $150,000+)! Why? Because nearly every claim I investigated was rejected by the insurer as “pre-existing damage.” No cover and no help.

I was always called in too late. Most families in trouble, had done everything “right” and hired a standard pre-purchase building inspection.
But those fast, cheap checklist reports miss the critical issues. Like structural problems, foundation movement, or the things that cause the big expensive failures. I saw the unfair playing field clearly: insurers protect themselves by sending chartered engineers to fight claims, whilst homebuyers get sent in with a checklist. That never sat right with me.

So I walked away from the insurance work and built something different.
A comprehensive pre-purchase building service that puts homebuyers on the same footing as the insurers, before the contract is signed.

Our team are Chartered Professional Engineers and Registered Building Practitioners.
We work for homebuyers, not Real Estate Agents. Our job is to give you the facts to avoid the lemon, negotiate with confidence and never end up in a "pre-existing, not covered" fight with your insurer. We tell you what’s really going on and what it will cost, then give you a clear plan for exactly what to do next.

Book a Free Consultation and speak with a Building Engineer to identify the key risks for the home your buying

Homebuyers Toolkit Works For Homebuyers

Not Real Estate Agents

We are Registered Building Practitioners and Chartered Professional Engineers who are specialists in Structural, Civil and Forensic Engineering.

This means that we can do everything that a Building Inspector and a Structural Engineer can do, and more! We’ve done thousands of residential home building inspections across Victoria, saving our clients from expensive future problems insurers won’t cover.

Our Service is for you if...

You’re buying an established $1M+ residential home – NOT a unit, apartment or brand-new build.

You’ve found a home you're serious about in Melbourne’s inner east, north-east and eastern suburbs (see the map!).

You want an engineer-level inspection that gives you more information, so you can set your buying budget and negotiate (or walk away!) with confidence.

Book a Free Consultation and speak with a Building Engineer to identify the key risks for the home your buying

We Give You Everything That's In A Building Inspection Report Plus More

Work with Homebuyers Toolkit and we’ll provide a Pre-Purchase Building Engineer Report that covers everything you would receive from a Building Inspector, plus a Structural Forensic Engineer, plus a lot of other good stuff to help you buy, negotiate (or walk away from!) your new home with confidence.

What You Get (Our Service):

Building Inspector Basics

  • On-site inspection (we inspect for 2-3hrs, where inspectors average 1hr)

  • Building defect catalogue (AS4349.1 - visible defects)

  • Timber pest (risk factors, conditions conducive to activity)

  • Moisture readings (visible leak detection)

  • Thermal imagery (heat & moisture patterns)

PLUS Structural Forensic Engineering

  • Structural engineer assessment (registered building engineer)

  • Foundation & floor monitoring (digital level survey, footing assessment)

  • Timber framing assessment (sag, loads, alterations)

  • Site & drainage classification (civil engineering assessment)

  • Roof drainage & condition imagery (drone imagery)

PLUS Other Good Stuff!

  • Specialist referrals (incl. to licensed timber pest & building professionals)

  • Land & planning report (zoning, overlays, easements)

  • Cost guidance & risk assessment (repair & maintenance cost ranges)

  • Renovation feasibility advice (preliminary options review)

  • Post-inspection debrief meeting (engineer walk-through of all the findings)

  • On-demand phone support (get your questions answered, even after moving in)

And if your first offer falls through,
we will review your next home for free!

Book a Free Consultation and speak with a Building Engineer to identify the key risks for the home your buying

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still need a building inspection if I choose your engineering service?

Our Building Engineer Report includes a full Pre-Purchase Building Inspection plus a lot more. You’re not paying extra; you’re just getting more.

What happens if you find major issues?

If a major defect is found, only a Registered Building Engineer or Practitioner is qualified to get you out of the contract of sale. If we find something serious, we’ll break it down for you in plain English. We will work with you for as long as it takes, to ensure that you are confident with the next steps.

How long does the assessment take and when do I get the report?

We’re typically on-site for 2-3 hours, depending on property size. You’ll receive a full written report with findings, photos, and recommendations within 1-2 days. Faster turnaround time can be arranged if needed.

How is your assessment different from a typical inspection?

Our background is in forensic engineering, structural design and consulting. Unlike building inspectors, we can diagnose the root cause of issues and give you a plan for the future. You’re not just getting an opinion; you’re getting an expert evaluation from chartered professional engineers.

What kinds of properties do you inspect?

We specialise in established residential homes. No apartments or high-rises. We service Melbourne suburbs from Greensborough and Eltham through Heidelberg, Kew, Balwyn, Box Hill and Doncaster, across to Ringwood, Croydon and Glen Waverley, and down to Brighton and Cheltenham. We also service Geelong, Bayside and Mornington Peninsula.

Do you offer advice after the inspection?

Absolutely. We don’t leave you with just a report, we include a 1-on-1 phone debrief to answer your questions and guide your next steps. We are committed to helping you get into your new home, and even check in after you have settled in.

What if I have more questions?

Feel free to book a call with Chris. You can also contact us at [email protected] or call us on 0492 909 191 for questions, quotes or advice.

WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING HOMEOWNER ENQUIRIES ONLY


PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION CAPACITY IS CURRENTLY FULL

Book a Free Consultation

Submit the form below to speak with a Building Engineer. Chris will respond same business day.

We never share your details with third parties.