A building report should be included as a condition as it may reveal hidden problems with a property that may have been causing deterioration over time or something that requires fixing urgently. If not discovered, you could face huge bills to fix the issues shortly after moving in and have difficulty trying to get the old owner to pay up.
A building report must be in writing and carried out by a ‘suitably qualified builder’. Just getting ‘your mate’ to come and check out the property won’t work if you want to make any claims.
If any issues arise from the report, you can negotiate with the owner of the property for these to be taken care of before you move in or you have a safe way out of the purchase if it’s something major. The report will also help identify any upcoming maintenance due for you to keep in mind.