The #1 Thing That Wrecks Property | FUNdamental Fridays

Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch. In this episode, Ben is joined by building inspector Paul Baker to unpack one of the biggest hidden problems in property: Water damage. It might not sound exciting… but according to Bakes, water is responsible for the vast majority of issues he sees in homes. From leaking gutters and cracked grout to under-slab plumbing failures, balcony leaks, mould, timber rot, movement, and even termite risk — water can quietly cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage before most owners even realise there’s a problem. Ben and Paul walk through real examples, what to look for before you buy, and why trying to DIY certain waterproofing fixes can end up costing more in the long run. If you own property, want to buy property, or just want to avoid a very expensive surprise, this is one worth watching. Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:15 – Welcome to Friday Fundamentals 00:41 – Paul Baker’s hill to die on 01:03 – Why water causes so many home issues 01:27 – How water leads to movement, mould and pest problems 02:07 – Water issues you can’t see under a slab 03:01 – Real story: the pipe failure under Paul’s home 04:16 – The surprising fix that avoided major damage 05:07 – Small bathroom issues that can become big problems 05:58 – Why waterproofing matters so much 06:49 – Water, timber and hidden damage 07:13 – Balconies, pools and other high-risk areas 07:30 – What to look for outside a property 08:13 – Why water problems need professional repairs 09:02 – Final takeaway: water can wreck property value #ThePropertyCouch #PropertyInvesting #BuildingInspection #WaterDamage #HomeOwnership