Inspector West carries out building and timber pest inspections in Ellenbrook for buyers, sellers and owners of newer homes. Every inspection is done by Brian Collins, a WA registered builder (BC13603) with more than 33 years of building experience. He inspects the property and writes the report.
Ellenbrook is a master-planned suburb in the City of Swan, on the north-eastern edge of Perth at the approach to the Swan Valley. Housing has been built village by village since the mid-1990s, from the first streets of Woodlake through to Annie’s Landing. The houses on the market are mostly detached project homes of different ages, not a single era of building.
On 3 October 2026, REIWA listed 121 houses for sale in Ellenbrook, with surrounding suburbs excluded.
What the inspection covers
A combined inspection pairs a building inspection, carried out with reference to AS 4349.1, with a timber pest inspection carried out with reference to AS 4349.3. Both are visual and limited to areas that can be safely accessed.
Where access allows, the inspection covers the site, exterior, roof exterior, roof space, subfloor where there is one, interior and outbuildings. The timber pest component looks for termites, borers of seasoned timber and wood decay fungi, and for conducive conditions such as moisture, poor drainage, timber in contact with the ground, and bridged or missing barriers.
Findings are photographed. Major defects, safety hazards and the general extent of minor defects are recorded. Electrical, plumbing and gas compliance, swimming pools and asbestos identification are outside the scope. Buyers can read the full scope on the pre-purchase inspections page.
Who it is for
Buyers. There is no mandatory cooling-off period for residential property contracts in Western Australia. An offer is usually made subject to a building inspection and a timber pest inspection, and those conditions often expire quickly. The practical step is to book as soon as the offer is accepted.
Sellers. A seller inspection before the property is listed sets out the condition in a photographic report. That gives the seller a chance to repair or disclose items before a buyer’s inspector does.
Homes under construction. Stage inspections and a practical completion inspection are available for new builds in Ellenbrook. The report lists defects so they can be raised with the builder before handover.
Housing in Ellenbrook
Ellenbrook has been planned since 1994 as eight villages around a town centre. In order of release they are Woodlake (1995), The Bridges (1997), Coolamon (1999), Morgan Fields (2000), Charlotte’s Vineyard (2003), Malvern Springs (2006), Lexia (2011) and Annie’s Landing (2013). Woodlake, The Bridges and Coolamon were released in the second half of the 1990s. Malvern Springs, Lexia and Annie’s Landing were released from 2006 to 2013. Morgan Fields also includes larger lots along its rural edges, where sheds and outbuildings are part of the inspection.
Surface soils across most of Ellenbrook are Bassendean sands, with much of the suburb sitting on a dune ridge. That is a different setting from the coastal limestone suburbs further west, and it is not a reason to skip an inspection. Roofs, gutters, wet-area waterproofing, patios and site drainage still need to be looked at, and the earlier villages are old enough for ordinary wear, altered wet areas and later additions. The inspection does not provide a site classification and does not confirm how a particular lot was earthworked.
Ellenbrook is inland. Salt corrosion is not the exposure it is along the coast. Termites remain a genuine risk across the Perth metropolitan area, including planned estates, so the timber pest inspection is part of the combined visit. Neighbouring rural-residential land at The Vines is a different kind of property; sheds, fences and timber in contact with the ground should be mentioned when booking.
The northern-suburbs page already includes Ellenbrook. This page is the suburb-level brief. See building and timber pest inspections in Joondalup and Wanneroo.
Price
A combined building and timber pest inspection is priced from $550 including GST, depending on location. Ellenbrook is within Perth metropolitan coverage. Building-only and timber pest-only inspections are quoted on request. Reports are digital, photographic, written by Brian Collins, and usually delivered on the day of the inspection.
Suburbs nearby
The surrounding north-eastern suburbs include Aveley, Brabham, Henley Brook, Dayton, Bennett Springs, Whiteman and Bullsbrook, together with The Vines.
- Northern coastal and Wanneroo growth suburbs, including Alkimos: Joondalup and Wanneroo inspections.
- The rest of the metropolitan area: building and timber pest inspections in Perth.
Book an inspection in Ellenbrook
Call 1300 080 554 or email brian@inspectorwest.com.au with the address and, if the house is in a named village, the village name. Inspections can also be booked online where times are shown. Inspector West: inspectorwest.com.au.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What does a building and pest inspection cost in Ellenbrook?
A: A combined building and timber pest inspection is priced from $550 including GST, depending on location. Building-only and timber pest-only inspections are quoted on request.
Q: Does a newer house in Annie’s Landing or Lexia still need an inspection?
A: Yes. A recent build can still have defects in waterproofing, roof plumbing, finishes and drainage. Houses in the earlier villages, such as Woodlake, The Bridges and Coolamon, are also checked for wear, later renovations and additions. A practical completion inspection is available before handover.
Q: Is Ellenbrook inspected from the northern-suburbs service area?
A: Yes. Ellenbrook is part of Perth metropolitan coverage and is included with the northern and north-eastern suburbs. The same inspector carries out the work. See the Joondalup and Wanneroo page for the wider northern corridor.
Q: When is the Ellenbrook report delivered?
A: Reports are usually delivered on the day of the inspection. Brian Collins writes each report. It is digital and includes photographs of the findings.