What to Send Before a Stage Building Inspection | BSPI Inspections
What to send before a stage building inspection: Learn which plans and documents to send your building inspector, when to send them, and why they matter today.
4/25/20262 min read
What to Send Your Building Inspector Before a Stage Inspection
Building a new home comes with plenty of paperwork, so it's no surprise one of the most common questions we get is:
"What do you actually need from me before my inspection?"
The good news is that it's much simpler than most people think.
Watch our 30-second video below for a quick overview, then keep reading for the full guide.
What Do You Actually Need?
Whether you're booking your first inspection or joining us later in your build, there are only a few documents we need to help us provide an accurate quote and carry out a thorough inspection.
Keeping these documents up to date ensures we're inspecting your home against the latest information available—not an outdated set of plans.
Here's what to send and when.
1. To Receive Your Quote
To prepare your quote, simply email us a full copy of your most recent building plans.
These plans help us understand:
The size and complexity of your home.
Which inspection stage you're booking.
Any unique construction details.
The overall layout before attending site.
If your builder has already issued revised plans, always send the latest version.
2. Before Your First Inspection
Before we head to site for your first inspection, send us a copy of your structural engineering plans.
These drawings provide important information that isn't shown on your building plans, including:
Slab and footing details.
Reinforcement requirements.
Structural beams and lintels.
Engineering notes and specifications.
We'll use these alongside your building plans to assess your home against the engineer's design where applicable.
3. If Your Builder Updates the Plans
Changes during construction are completely normal.
If your builder issues revised plans, simply email us the latest version before your next inspection.
That way we're always inspecting against the current documentation.
Why Do We Need These Documents?
Independent building inspections aren't based on guesswork.
Having the correct documentation allows us to compare the construction on site with the approved plans, engineering details and relevant Australian Standards where applicable.
It also helps us:
Carry out a more accurate inspection.
Identify defects against the intended design.
Reduce delays caused by missing information.
Produce a more comprehensive report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to send my plans before booking?
Yes. We'll need your most recent building plans to prepare an accurate quote.
What if I don't have the engineering plans yet?
No problem. Your builder will usually provide them before your first inspection. Just send them through once you have them.
What if the builder changes the plans?
Simply email us the updated version before your next inspection.
A Quick Summary
Before your inspection, here's all we need:
✅ Your most recent full set of building plans.
✅ Your structural engineering plans before your first inspection.
✅ Any revised plans issued during construction.
That's it.
Keeping us updated with the latest documents helps ensure your inspection is completed accurately and against the correct information.
If there’s a specific stage you’d like to learn more about, click the link below to explore that section on our blog.
