That’s a great question. We were in a similar situation not too long ago when looking at a place on the Mornington Peninsula. The house looked solid overall, but there were a few exterior cracks and uneven areas that made us wonder if there might be something more serious going on underneath.

We had a private inspector from Building Inspection Mornington come out for a pre-purchase inspection, and what he explained was really helpful. A lot of surface cracks are just cosmetic, but sometimes they can point to drainage issues or poor sub-base prep, especially around patios and driveways.

If you’re thinking about selling, it might be worth sorting out the more noticeable stuff. Buyers can get spooked by cracks, even if they’re harmless. And having an inspector’s opinion gave us confidence to either move forward or negotiate repairs when needed. It really depends on how competitive the market is and how the rest of the home presents.

Good luck with it!