Signing off on a brand-new home felt terrifying — how do you know what to look for when everything looks shiny and fresh? A friend recommended Stuart at Lake Macquarie Building Inspections, and booking a PCI inspection before handover turned out to be one of the smartest things we did. Stuart organised access directly with our builder’s site supervisor, which meant I didn’t have to chase anyone around or feel awkward asking questions.
What he uncovered genuinely shocked us. The waterproofing in the main bathroom hadn’t been correctly applied at the shower recess, and several floor tiles had hollow spots underneath — classic signs of poor adhesion that would have cracked within a year of normal use. Stuart’s background as a licensed builder with over thirty years of hands-on trade experience meant he knew exactly where to look and what these defects actually meant in practical terms. He also used thermal imaging as standard, which picked up a moisture concern behind one wall that wasn’t visible to the naked eye at all. The report landed in my inbox well within twelve hours — plain English, detailed photos, no confusing jargon — and Stuart rang me personally to walk through everything before I faced the builder. That phone call alone gave me so much confidence going into that conversation.
The builder fixed every single item before we accepted the keys. We’re talking thousands of dollars worth of remediation work we would never have known to ask for. If you’re building in Cooranbong or anywhere nearby, don’t skip the independent building inspection. It’s absolutely worth every cent.
