What's the Biggest Red Flag in a Building Inspection?

People ask all the time: what's the one thing in a building inspection that should make a buyer stop?

The answer is major structural damage.

Read the full breakdown on the Aus Property Report Educational Hub here.

Foundation movement or subsidence. Roof structure failure. Significant wall cracking. Structural water damage. These are not problems you negotiate a $5,000 discount on and move forward. They're problems that can cost tens of thousands to fix, or prove unfixable without a complete structural intervention.

Second-tier red flags that also stop buyers in their tracks:

Active termite infestation (past activity is a different calculation)
Roof leaks that have been running long enough to damage the structure underneath
Unapproved renovations that affect structural elements
Unsafe electrical wiring

If your inspection report flags any of these, the right next step is specialist advice. A structural engineer referral for structural issues, a timber pest specialist for active termites. Not just a reduced offer.

It's also worth knowing what the Australian Standard (AS 4349.1) defines as a "major defect", because the language in the report matters when you're deciding whether to renegotiate, exit the contract, or proceed.

Read the full breakdown of major red flags, what they mean in practice, and what to do next:

The Biggest Red Flag in a Home Inspection: What Buyers Should Watch For

What surprised you most in a building inspection you've had, or heard about from someone else? Anything that looked fine from the street but turned out to be a major problem?