Inspections should be thorough and cover roof and floor timbers and other areas. In an average size home an inspection should take approximately one hour or more. The purchaser may wish to insert a special condition that makes the contract subject to an inspection made in accordance with the above Australian Standards. Note that inspections made in accordance with these standards may be more costly than less thorough inspections that are often made for Termite Clearance Certificates. Termites can cause considerable damage if allowed to go unchecked and this can affect certain safety aspects, as well as the value of the property.
Termite activity can also cause damage to furniture and other household effects.
Negotiations for the sale of an established home generally include a requirement for the provision of a Termite Clearance Certificate to show it is free of termite activity or evidence of previous damage. If the termite certificate discloses current termite activity or damage due to previous termite activity, then the purchaser has absolute discretion to terminate the contract by giving written notice of termination to the vendor or the vendor's agent within 14 days of the date of the contract or the date of finance approval whichever is the later, in which case all monies paid by the purchaser towards the purchase price shall be refunded without deduction. If the purchaser does not terminate the contract within the time specified in this clause then the purchaser will be taken to have waived the benefit of this clause. As this clause may not be suitable for contracts which are not subject to finance, or where the date of settlement is less than 14 days from the date of the contract, it should be suitably adjusted to take account of these factors. On the form itself you should state that there is an annexure.