By SH Seman | Dec 3, 2010
DIY defects inspection
The day you've waited for a long time has finally arrived, when the keys to a house is finally in your hands. But wait, the exuberance of homeownership can unfortunately be replaced with dismay, once the detailed once-over is properly given to the property.
Fact 1: No property is without any defects, and the best one can hope for is that it can be easily dealt with.
Fact 2: Unfortunately, the humid weather in Malaysia is a potent brew in promoting dreaded defects that all property owners usually hope that they never have to face. The kind that can stretch from the floor right up to the ceiling – cracks – and those that leave tell-tale marks of a much deeper problem – leaks.
Both points to potentially costly repair jobs, and worse, hints at the possibility of latent structural defects. Horror tales of sinking homes come to mind in even the most optimistic of house owners. Architect Centre Malaysia Sdn Bhd's resident accredited inspector and trainer Anthony Lee Tee said that while such concerns are valid (with quite a few cases of buildings suffering from actual structural deficiency), the majority however aren't so afflicted.
Lee, who practised a good 15 years as an architect, pointed out that cracks and leaks are usually symptomatic of problems related to architectural finishing rather than structural defects.
“Most of the problems are visual-based. These are the architectural finishing includes roofing, plumbing, paintwork, et cetera but, of course, there are also cases of actual settlement of the soil which causes cracks to occur in the property,” he says.
Professional help
Architect Centre, which was established in March 2009, provides property inspection and building advisory services to the Malaysian public. So, do you need a professional to inspect your new property, then?
Formal property inspections have its place in properties’ purchases, especially with escalating prices. As such, getting professional help can prove invaluable. Property owners can still opt for a DIY to spot defects.
“Even we (property inspectors) will be using our senses when executing our task. In other words, you'll still be using your eyesight, your sense of smell and your sense of touch. That essentially mean that anyone can detect symptoms of property defects on their own,” says Lee.
“What Architect Centre does is add value to the whole exercise especially with inputs as to the possible reasons and causes for the detected defects so that they could be properly rectified.”
Spotting defects
What would be the rule of thumb in spotting defects? Lee said common sense can be useful in DIY inspections.
“When you go into a room that's leaking, you can usually smell the dampness. Bathrooms, for example, are especially an area prone to be not properly waterproofed.”
An often used method of testing would be to flood the area by blocking the waste water outlet for a couple of days, as to “force” the leaks, if any, to appear. Another tip is to run your fingers along repainted walls which could show where the touch-up jobs are done. Lee said that latent defects in the walls would lead to deterioration in the paintjob when the cause of the defect recurs.
“These are some of the red flags you have to really note when you're inspecting defects on your own. Owners should remember that these are also sometimes symptoms to the actual defect which might not be visible,” Lee advises.
When really serious symptoms are detected, it is important to conduct deeper probes to discover if these are latent and recurring structural issues. Another important aspect of DIY inspection which Lee said new property owners should adhere to is that of recording and reporting every instance of defects found.
“Write everything you discover while the defects liability period is still in place. You need to protect yourself from costly repair jobs for any latent defects,” he says.
Detailed inspections
According to Lee, Architect Centre would usually conduct feedback sessions with both developers and property owners to channel the pertinent information as to assist both parties in identifying the core issues and allow more effective rectification where possible. Lee said the services are more popular among owners of high-end properties.
“When you are forking out a substantial sum of money, of course value for your money is an important criteria. What we offer is a formal inspection unlike what used to be the case; personal favours mainly from architect friends or engineers,” he says.
Lee is all for the undertaking of detailed property inspections for both new as well as sub-sale properties.
“Obsolesce is a built-in aspect of all properties and so is wear and tear. In the case of a sub-sale, buyers as well as sellers need to know just how much of both are in place. These are facts that need to be disclosed for a smoother transaction of the purchase,” he states.
Inspection fee starts from RM900 for a simple, single unit inspection and goes higher the bigger the property and a detailed report is part and parcel of the whole exercise. Lee said it is also important to realise that property inspectors are not miracle workers.
“In the unfortunate cases of highly severe defects detected, you can't do much except to highlight the possible remedies. It's sometimes a case of being unable to even make lemonade from lemons,” he points out.
For more information on Architect Centre, call 03-2698 2488 or visit www.architectcentre.com.my
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