Melbourne's specialist retirement village inspection service. Independent, plain-language condition reports from an inspector who spent 10 years working inside the retirement living sector — for residents and the families helping them decide.
A standard building inspection treats a retirement unit like any other property. It isn't. The unit sits inside a contract — and its physical condition carries financial and safety consequences most inspectors never look for.
Many contracts let the operator deduct refurbishment costs from your exit entitlement. A dated bathroom isn't just cosmetic — it can be thousands of dollars off what you or your estate gets back. We assess every element through that lens.
Grab rails that are actually anchored, step-free showers, ramp gradients, door widths for walkers and wheelchairs, scald-risk hot water, emergency call systems. The features your day-to-day safety depends on — checked properly.
Ten years inside the sector taught Nathan exactly what village operators keep up and what they quietly let slide. Deferred maintenance around your unit becomes your problem, and your recurrent charges pay for it.
Paths, lighting, drainage and common areas near the unit — the things that affect daily life and are funded by your ongoing fees. A full village assessment covers the shared facilities your charges maintain.
Every report is written in plain English for you and your family — not 60 pages of jargon. Verbal walkthrough on site, written report in your inbox the same day.
Full condition inspection of the unit before you commit: structure, wet areas, fixtures, heating/cooling, accessibility features, safety systems — plus an assessment of the defects and wear that could affect your exit entitlement. Findings explained in person, in plain language.
Photographic documentation of the unit's condition on the day you move in — your independent evidence against refurbishment deductions when you leave. With Victoria's new reforms, this is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy on your exit entitlement.
For families doing complete due diligence: everything in the pre-purchase inspection, plus the village's shared facilities, common areas, paths, lighting and drainage — the assets your recurrent charges pay to maintain.
Already living in a village? Independent condition assessments to help residents' committees hold operators to their maintenance obligations under the Act.
Victoria's biggest overhaul of retirement village law in decades is now in force. It gives buyers more protection — but only if you use it.
New reforms commenced under the Retirement Villages Act, with stronger disclosure obligations on operators and greater transparency about fees, charges and contracts.
Mandatory standard-form contracts apply — making it easier to compare villages, and putting refurbishment and exit-fee terms in plain sight.
Lawyers, conveyancers and families are now expected to do real due diligence before signing. The contract review covers the paperwork — an independent inspection covers the unit itself.
Make the last big property decision of your life with the same care as your first. Attend the inspection, ask anything, get straight answers.
Helping Mum or Dad decide from across town — or interstate? Reports are written for the whole family, and you're welcome on site or on the phone during the walkthrough.
Independent condition evidence to sit alongside your contract review. Fast turnaround to fit settlement timelines.
Independent assessments of common property and maintenance standards to support discussions with operators.
Tell us the village, the unit and your timeline. We coordinate access with the village operator or sales manager — you don't have to.
Nathan inspects the unit top to bottom — around 60–90 minutes. You and your family are welcome throughout. Nothing is rushed.
Findings explained on the spot, in person, without jargon. Bring your questions — about the unit, the village, or what things cost to fix.
A clear, photographic report in your inbox that evening — written so it can go straight to your solicitor, your family, or the operator.
"Used Nathan for a pre-purchase building inspection and was greatly impressed with his professionalism and attention to detail. I would highly recommend Nathan." — Verified Word of Mouth review of Nathan's work, Melba Building Services (Camberwell)
Anything else — call 1300 489 150. You'll speak to Nathan, not a call centre.
You can — but a standard inspection checks the building, not the contract exposure. It won't assess refurbishment-clause risk, exit-fee implications, accessibility and safety features, or the village maintenance picture. Nathan spent 10 years working inside retirement villages: he knows how these units are built, what operators maintain and what they defer, and how physical condition translates into dollars under the contract.
Absolutely, and most bookings work exactly this way. You can book on her behalf, attend in person or join the walkthrough by phone, and the report is written in plain language the whole family can read. If she has a solicitor reviewing the contract, the report is formatted to sit alongside that review.
The unit's structure and interior, wet areas and waterproofing indicators, fixtures and appliances, heating and cooling, accessibility features (step-free access, grab rails, door widths, non-slip surfaces), safety systems (smoke alarms, emergency call system, hot water scald risk) — and a condition-versus-exit-fee assessment of the kitchen, bathroom, floor coverings and paint, the items refurbishment clauses usually target.
It documents the unit's condition on the day you move in, with photographs. When you leave, many contracts allow the operator to deduct refurbishment costs from your exit entitlement. Without independent evidence of what was already worn or dated when you arrived, it's your word against theirs. At $295, it typically protects entitlements worth hundreds of thousands.
The reforms strengthen disclosure and contract transparency — they don't automatically make operators fix defects. What they do is give you a clear window to do due diligence before signing. Knowing the unit's true condition lets you negotiate repairs, price, or contract terms before you're committed — or walk away.
Most inspections are scheduled within 48 hours, and the report arrives the same day as the inspection. Tell us your deadline when you book and we'll work to it.
No. Completely independent — no referral arrangements with operators, sales agents or anyone else. The report is prepared for you alone. That independence is the entire point of the service.
Not sure which service fits? Call and describe the situation. Nathan will tell you honestly what's worth paying for — and what isn't.