Who this article is for
Buyers and buyer’s agents considering or purchasing an Expert Report through Cohabit
Anyone who wants to know what a Building Insight Report actually is
What is an Expert Report?
An Expert Report in Cohabit is a Building Insight Report prepared by a strata inspector / strata expert for a specific building (and usually the lot you’re buying).
Their job is to:
Review the strata records for the building, and
Translate what they find into plain English, and
Highlight any risks, concerns or “things to watch” for a buyer.
Each Building Insight Report currently costs $49 including GST.
(Screenshot: top of an Expert Report showing building name, “Building Insight Report”, date and expert name)
What does the expert actually do?
When you purchase an Expert Report through Cohabit, the expert will:
Use authorised access to strata records for the building (via your request and a letter of authority / owner connection).
Review key documents such as financials, minutes, insurance, compliance and maintenance records.
Look for patterns, risks and issues that matter to someone buying into the building.
Write a report in layman’s terms, not legal or technical jargon.
They are not just copying or attaching documents — they’re giving you their interpretation.
Think of it as:
“I’ve read the strata paperwork for this building.
Here’s what I think you should know as a buyer, in plain English.”
The 12 categories your Expert Report covers
Your Expert Report is structured around 12 key categories.
In each one, the strata inspector gives a short, plain-language view of what they’ve seen in the records.
Building Profile
Big-picture context about the building (age, size, type, any notable characteristics).
Lot Profile
Anything relevant to your specific lot (the unit you’re buying), based on the records.
Contacts
Who is involved in managing the building (e.g. strata manager, committee) and any notable points about that.
Financials
Whether the money side appears healthy or under pressure: levies, funds, arrears, special levies, etc., explained in simple terms.
Compliance
Whether key obligations (e.g. insurance, safety checks, certificates) appear up to date or if there are gaps/unknowns in the records sighted.
Sustainability
Any information about sustainability initiatives or environmental upgrades that shows up in the strata records.
By-laws
Any important rules that might affect how you live or use the lot (e.g. pets, short-term letting, renovations, parking).
Meetings
What the inspector can see from meeting minutes (e.g. calm and organised vs frequent disputes or delays).
Works & Maintenance
The general story of maintenance: what’s been done, what’s planned, and whether there are signs of deferred work.
Defects
Any documented defects or defect-related disputes that appear in the records.
Issues
Other concerns that don’t fit neatly into the above categories (e.g. recurring complaints, governance issues).
Historical Documents and Files
How complete the historical records look (e.g. a consistent trail vs gaps or missing information).
(Screenshot: side panel or section list showing all 12 categories with simple status icons/labels)
You don’t need to know strata law to read this — the expert’s commentary under each category is written for everyday buyers.
A “snapshot in time”, not live data
Your Expert Report is based on the documents that were available at the time of the inspection.
It is accurate as at the most recent inspection date shown in the report.
It does not automatically update when new minutes, levies or certificates are issued later.
For ongoing, higher-level information, you can use:
Your Cohabit Building Profile, and
Your Building Snapshot
These surfaces show the top-level data, while the Expert Report gives you the expert’s interpretation.
What an Expert Report is not
It’s important to know what this report doesn’t do:
It is not live data from the strata manager’s system.
It is not a guarantee that no issues exist — it’s based on the records sighted at that time.
It is not legal, financial or tax advice tailored to you.
You should always use it alongside advice from your:
Conveyancer/solicitor
Financial adviser or broker
Any other professional advisers you rely on.
How this fits into your buying journey
Your Expert Report is one piece of your due diligence. You can use it to:
Understand what the strata records say about the building.
Identify risks and questions to raise with your conveyancer or broker.
Compare different buildings if you’re deciding between options.
For help reading your report once it’s ready, see:
👉 How to read your Expert Report