Local property context
Modern Truganina homes can still have post-build owner-managed work
Truganina is part of Melbourne’s western growth corridor, and much of its housing is relatively modern. That often leads sellers to assume Section 137B cannot apply: the house was built recently, by a builder, under a contract.
The original construction is only part of the picture. After handover, many owners keep improving the home in stages. A plumber and tiler are booked to redo the ensuite, an electrician and carpenter fit out a garage, a flooring crew replaces the original carpet, and a pergola or deck is added the following summer. Each job is small and organised directly by the owner.
Over a few years those post-build alterations can add up to a renovation that no single builder ever managed. When the home is sold, it is that later, owner-coordinated work — not the original build — that may need to be considered under Section 137B.
Post-build alterations are where many Truganina sale questions begin
In a modern home the questions rarely come from the structure the builder handed over. They come from what changed afterwards, often one trade at a time. Typical examples we are asked about in Truganina include:
- Bathroom or ensuite re-done after handover, with plumbing, waterproofing and tiling booked separately
- Kitchen alterations such as a new island, relocated sink or extended benchtops
- Original floor coverings replaced throughout the living areas
- A pergola, deck or covered alfresco added behind the house
- Garage converted, partly enclosed or fitted out, or a carport or shed added beside it
- An internal wall removed or added to change the layout, or roofing work completed later
Separate licensed trades do not necessarily mean one builder managed the whole renovation
Using licensed trades is the right thing to do, and it is often what sellers point to first: “a licensed plumber did the bathroom”. A licence shows who did each part of the job. It does not by itself show who contracted for and took responsibility for the work as a whole.
Where the owner chose the trades, set the order of work and paid each one directly, the owner may be treated as the builder of that later work. Whether Section 137B then applies depends on the type of work, when it was completed and the sale circumstances, and should be confirmed with the conveyancer or solicitor preparing the contract.
The key question may be who coordinated the later work — not who built the original house
Before listing, it helps to put together a simple timeline of everything done since handover. For each job, note:
- What was changed and roughly when it was finished
- Which trades were involved and who engaged them
- Any quotes, invoices, compliance certificates or permits
- Whether any single business quoted for and managed the whole job
The problem usually becomes urgent after the sale is already moving
In practice the issue tends to surface late. The listing is live, buyers are inspecting, and the conveyancer preparing the contract asks about the renovations. Only then does it become clear that the later work was owner-coordinated and that a 137B report may be needed before the contract is signed.
If that happens, tell us the auction or signing date when you request the quote. Inspection timing depends on availability, the property and the scope of work.
What the inspection covers
The inspection is a visual inspection of the owner-builder work you declare — for a Truganina home that is usually the post-build alterations, not the original structure. The registered building inspector records defect observations for that work and the report is delivered digitally.
What can be included in the inspection?
We inspect the owner-builder work you tell us about. You can select more than one renovation area and, where relevant, tell us how many bathrooms or bedrooms were involved.
Local inspection scope
What to identify before requesting the report
- List each post-build job separately — ensuite, flooring, alfresco, garage — rather than describing the work as one renovation.
- Note which jobs you coordinated yourself and which, if any, were quoted and managed by a single business.
- Include outdoor additions such as pergolas, decks and sheds even if they were completed years after the rest of the work.
Area served
137B inspections around Truganina
The map shows the local area. Enter the exact property address in the quote form so the inspection scope, travel and availability can be assessed for that property.
Local permit information
Most of Truganina is in Wyndham City, with some streets on the City of Melton side, so permit records sit with whichever council covers the property. Those records help show what was approved; the Section 137B report is a separate inspection of the owner-builder work at the time of sale.
Permit information can be useful, but it is separate from the Section 137B requirements that may apply when the property is sold.
Wyndham City building information →Get a quote for a Truganina property
Enter the property address and tell us what work was done. You’ll see the inspection price before payment. Some jobs need a quick price check first.
What happens after you book?
Work
Tell us what was built, renovated or changed.
Price
See the price before payment for standard jobs.
Inspection
A registered building inspector attends the property.
Frequently asked questions
137B reports in Truganina
Do I need a 137B report to sell a renovated home in Truganina?
Not always. It depends on the type of work, who was responsible for it, when it was completed and the sale circumstances. The free scope check can show whether the report is likely to apply, and the conveyancer preparing the sale contract can confirm it.
Can a newer Truganina home still need a 137B report?
Potentially, yes. A recently built home can still have later owner-builder work, such as an ensuite, alfresco, garage or internal alterations completed after handover. The report focuses on that later work.
What if I used separate licensed trades?
Using individual licensed trades does not automatically mean one registered builder was responsible for the whole renovation. If you engaged and coordinated the trades yourself, you may be treated as the builder of that work. Your conveyancer or solicitor can confirm how this applies to your sale.
Are bathroom or kitchen alterations relevant to Section 137B?
They can be, depending on who was responsible for the work, when it was completed and the sale circumstances. Bathrooms and ensuites with plumbing and waterproofing are among the most common items in a Truganina report scope.
How quickly can I get a 137B inspection in Truganina?
It depends on inspection availability, the property and the scope. Put your auction or signing date in the quote request and call us if the date is close. The report is usually issued on the day of the inspection.
How much does a 137B report cost in Truganina?
Enter the Truganina property address and the work completed to see the price before payment for standard jobs. Larger or unclear projects may need a quick manual price check first.
Need a 137B report in Truganina? Get your inspection price online.
Tell us which post-build work was done and see the price before payment. Not sure the report applies? Check first.