Structural Cracks or Movement Found in your Melbourne Home?
Get a Structural Building Engineer Report to assess the cause, likely repair costs and give you clear steps on what to do next.
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About Homebuyers Toolkit
Residential Building Inspections
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, make safe works and forensic investigation.
FORENSIC 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
Professional Industry Experience
$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
Estimating repair costs and prioritising remediation works to guide major spending decisions.
RISK MODELLING • COST FORECASTING • CAPTIAL PLANNING & REPAIRS
15+ yrs
Construction Supervision
Trades to Engineering
Residential construction to engineering supervision, 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 your home
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
Chris and the team are very knowledgeable and experienced. They helped me understand why certain houses have maintenance issues and heaps of other tips to be aware of before placing an offer on the table. Confident I'll be using their services again! Highly recommend!
Had a great experience with Homebuyers Toolkit - really professional and friendly! We reached out to them following a negative B&P report, Chris walked us though the report and helped us navigate next steps by offering practical and expert advice
We had the pleasure of working with Chris during our recent home buying journey, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. From start to finish, Chris was incredibly thorough, professional, and clear in all our interactions. He made complex aspects of home structures easy to understand by speaking in plain language, which helped us feel confident in our decisions. His building inspection was comprehensive and detailed—he not only identified key defects but also used high-definition visuals to clearly show the issues, which was incredibly helpful. What impressed me most was his follow-up; Chris took the time to make phone calls to ensure he was presenting the most accurate and up-to-date information, which really showed his commitment to providing exceptional service. Communication was another strong point. Chris was always prompt in responding, whether by text or phone, making the process smooth and stress-free. We felt supported every step of the way. We've already passed Chris’s contact details on to several colleagues and friends, as I have complete confidence in his expertise and service. If you’re looking for someone to guide you through the home buying process, we can’t recommend Chris highly enough.
Absolutely awesome. Chris is a huge help and a genuinely kind person! 10/10!!!
Chris has been great in advising us on both our current home and what to look for in our future home. He’s definitely the (secret) agent you want with you on your property search. We feel so much more confident in buying a place knowing that Chris has looked and signed it off first.
We were referred to Homebuyers Toolkit for a pre-purchase building inspection on an older property going to auction, we were limited for time, however, Chris was able to attend and review the property in a timely manner. What a great experience with exceptionally detailed information provided from Chris and Warren. The 1:1 meeting to discuss the detailed report and answer any further questions we had was a great addition to the service, and I would gladly recommend them and use them again myself!
Homebuyers Tool kit was of an exceptionally high standard. Chris demonstrated outstanding professionalism, arriving promptly and conducting a thorough assessment of the property. The engineering report was comprehensive, well-structured, and supported with clear photographic evidence, which provided valuable insight into both the condition of the property and any areas requiring attention. Chris’s knowledge and attention to detail were evident throughout the process. His ability to explain technical findings in a clear and concise manner was particularly appreciated, ensuring full understanding of the report’s contents. This level of service has provided me with complete confidence in making informed decisions regarding the property. I would not hesitate to recommend Homebuyers toolkit to anyone seeking a reliable, detailed, and professional building inspection service.
My partner and I recently used the home buyers toolkit to assist us in buying our first home. After almost 2 years of house hunting we were feeling lost and unsure what steps to take to be successful in purchasing our first home. After consulting with Chris, we purchased out first home within 2 weeks. Chris was able to guide us through every stage of the home buying process and offered a holistic service referring us to a mortgage broker, conveyancer and pest inspector, as well as completing a building inspection for the property. Chris is knowledgeable, very approachable and was patient with us and all our questions. We would highly recommend his services to any potential first home buyer.
From the moment I started using the Homebuyers Toolkit and working with Chris I felt a lot more comfortable looking at houses and getting his input on places based on his expertise. He was very prompt in his responses and willing to help. I can’t recommend the Homebuyers Toolkit highly enough.
Chris has been invaluable in offering clear, expert engineering advice during our home purchase. He assessed the structural integrity of any potential properties, giving us confidence in their condition, and provided insight into the area's projected growth. Highly recommend his services! Thank you Chris.
Chris was highly professional and I will 100% be recommending his services to my family and friends!
Great service, very professional and great communication. Very resourceful and knowledgeable staff. Highly recommend
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 your home
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 building engineering service that puts homebuyers and owners on the same footing as the insurers.
Our team are Chartered Professional Engineers and Registered Building Practitioners.
Our job is to give you the facts. 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 your home
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Do I still need a building inspection if I choose your engineering service?
Our Building Engineer Report includes a full 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 structural defect is found, only a Registered Building Engineer or Practitioner is qualified to provide advice. 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.
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 0402 885 855 for questions, quotes or advice.
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.
We Service Greater Melbourne
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.
Morrison Crescent, Kilsyth VIC 3137
ABN: 11 663 961 788