Question 1

Why do you have a Geelong-specific page?

Accepted Answer

Geelong is a buyer's market with extreme variety — buyers might be looking at a 1920s timber Federation in Newtown one weekend and a 2024 brick-veneer in Armstrong Creek the next. Each comes with its own kind of inspection report, its own defect patterns, and its own typical inspector caveats. We built this page because Geelong buyers (especially Melbourne expats new to the region) need help separating local norms from genuine red flags.

Question 2

We're buying a new-build in Armstrong Creek / Curlewis / Lara. Does this work for handover inspection reports?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we specifically support new-build handover reports as a separate report type when you upload. Handover defect lists are different in shape from pre-purchase reports (more cosmetic items, more compliance vs liveability items, builder-defects-at-warranty-stage) and we tailor the analysis accordingly. The output includes the negotiation language you can put to your builder before final settlement.

Question 3

Is the AI actually accurate?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and verifiable. Every major and minor defect we identify includes a citation to the page in your inspector's PDF where it was discussed. So you can flip to page 40 of your report and check that the inspector did say what we attribute. We don't extract claims we can't anchor.

Question 4

We're Melbourne-based but buying in Geelong. Do you know local building rates?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our cost benchmarks use Australian 2026 tradie rates and are not Melbourne-CBD-inflated. Geelong building rates run roughly 10-15% below inner-Melbourne for most trades, and our negotiation amounts reflect that. We also do local tradie matching using your specific property address — so if your inspector recommends a damp specialist, we pull names from Geelong, not Carlton.

Question 5

Will this replace getting a building inspection?

Accepted Answer

No — and it shouldn't. You should always commission a licensed AS4349.1 inspector for the actual inspection. This tool sits AFTER the inspection: it interprets the report you receive. Think of it as having a builder friend translate the 95-page document for you in under 2 minutes.

Question 6

The inspector flagged reactive-clay soil / movement cracks. How seriously should I take that?

Accepted Answer

Reactive clay is common across Bellarine and parts of greater Geelong, especially the newer-estate areas. Inspectors will almost always note potential soil movement on a slab-on-ground new build. Most movement is cosmetic and stabilises within 18-24 months of construction. We classify the cracks the inspector flagged (cosmetic / monitor / structural) and recommend the right next step — usually a slab inspection or engineering opinion before signing off.

Question 7

I'm in Newtown / Belmont / Highton / Geelong West / Lara / Curlewis — still works?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the tool works for any Australian property. The Geelong-specific framing on this page is for SEO; the underlying analysis is identical for Newtown, Belmont, Highton, Geelong West, Bell Park, Armstrong Creek, Lara, Curlewis, Ocean Grove, or anywhere else. Local tradie matching uses your property's actual address.

Question 8

How does the refund policy work?

Accepted Answer

If we can't read your PDF (e.g. it's a scanned image with no extractable text, or it's not actually an inspection report) we automatically refund the $59. You'll get an email explaining what we tried and what to upload instead. We catch most non-inspection uploads (Section 32s, vendor statements, contracts of sale) before you're even charged.

Got your Geelongbuilding report? Decoded.

Got your Geelong
building report? Decoded.