Commercial real estate inspectors specialize in evaluating the value, condition and state of commercial properties for investors, lenders or brokers looking to invest. These specialists may be hired by investors seeking investment properties.
At the start of a commercial property inspection process, an inspector will require essential documents like appraisals, building plans, citations, certificates of occupancy, maintenance records, surveys, evacuation plans and fire safety system records.
Building Inspections
Commercial real estate building inspectors Melbourne specialize in inspecting and reporting on building structures such as multi-family dwellings, office buildings, retail structures and warehouses. A building inspection involves performing an in-depth examination of any structure to check its structural integrity as well as looking for any signs of damage or rot and evaluating interior spaces. If a structure falls short of code standards then commercial inspectors can make recommendations on how best to rectify its condition.
Clients that hire commercial real estate inspectors tend to be businesspeople and investors. They need to know whether purchasing a property will become an asset to their company and generate income in the future, as well as determine its potential financial gain potential. Commercial investors generally follow a specific procedure when evaluating new properties, which involves inspecting and evaluating each building they consider for acquisition.
Commercial real estate inspectors conduct an exhaustive inspection, inspecting everything from the foundation of a building through its foundation, roof and basement levels to check for signs of water damage, rot or cracks in walls or floors as well as electrical wiring and plumbing systems that comply with local code requirements.
Commercial inspectors offer invaluable reports on the condition of properties for both clients and sellers alike, known as property condition reports (PCR). A PCR contains observations made by an inspector, along with photos to help clarify information, so either party can use it to make informed decisions about whether a property should be purchased or sold at fair market value. A commercial inspector’s comprehensive property condition reports can assist them both when it comes to negotiations over pricing of properties for sale or purchase.
Electrical Inspections
Electrical systems at commercial properties consist of a complex web of switches, outlets, wiring, and breaker panels that must operate in harmony to prevent fire hazards or energy waste. Regular electrical inspections can detect problems before they become serious enough to lead to an outage.
At an electrical inspection, an inspector will compare equipment and wiring against standards set forth in the National Electrical Code. They’ll check that everything is bonded and grounded properly, clearly labeled circuits/devices with no access for non-qualified personnel to tamper with them and no exposed areas where high voltage systems could arc – potentially leading to physical harm or death.
Small electrical system issues may go undetected for long, leaving businesses vulnerable. Unfortunately, major electrical problems can have disastrous results on businesses causing downtime and lost revenues; an annual electrical inspection can prevent such problems from arising.
Inspections not only help identify safety concerns, but can also assist a company in avoiding unnecessary insurance premium increases. Many insurers provide discounts for companies who undergo regular third-party inspections by qualified professional inspectors.
Electrical inspections are an integral component of building inspection. Unfortunately, however, they can also be complicated if you’re unfamiliar with the requirements set out by NYC DOB. Our team can help navigate through their red tape quickly and get your inspection completed efficiently – contact us now to learn more or schedule one!
Plumbing Inspections
Plumbing inspection is one of the most essential services a commercial real estate inspector provides. It identifies potential issues that could impede on health and safety for those occupying or working within a property, and evaluates pipes, fixtures, water-using appliances and more during a full combination plumbing inspection – typically costing buyers slightly more than an ordinary home inspection but potentially saving them thousands on costly repairs in the future.
Your commercial inspector will request and review documents and records relevant to your property, such as maintenance records, building code violations, blueprints, lease agreements or certificates of Occupancy. They may even interview people involved with it in order to gain a more holistic perspective of its condition and history.
Commercial inspectors do not need a background in plumbing or any other building trade to be successful in this career field, however passion for their industry and networking with professionals in it are vital components. Building connections within your field of interest will lead to opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise get access to and the possibility of new clients that wouldn’t otherwise come your way.
Starting on your path towards becoming a commercial property inspector starts by completing any training necessary by your state, then honing your inspection skills and becoming proficient. After this step has been accomplished, it is time to transition into commercial inspections; but this won’t happen quickly or easily; dedication and an entrepreneurial mindset are required if this career path is to succeed. Fulfilling management roles are also vital elements that may not come easily for everyone.
HVAC Inspections
An HVAC inspection is an integral component of a thorough home or commercial property evaluation. An experienced technician can examine both indoor and outdoor equipment to assess its condition and lifespan, and offer advice about potential repair issues. In addition, professional evaluation of an HVAC system can help you decide if it fits well into the environment of either home or business as well as provide suggestions about improvements for making changes that might make life better overall.
Commercial real estate inspectors must often be capable of conducting HVAC inspections as part of their due diligence work, since investors, insurance lenders, and portfolio lenders often order such inspections in order to gain more insight into the quality of properties or buildings before making purchasing decisions. Investors, insurance lenders, and portfolio lenders typically request these assessments because many aspects of commercial buildings tend to be larger and more complex than residential homes, thus necessitating more extensive inspections with multiple systems that need inspecting before purchasing decisions can be made.
Commercial real estate inspectors in Houston must inspect HVAC systems at each property they inspect, especially during Houston’s hot summers. A poorly installed or maintained system may lead to carbon monoxide poisoning as well as being more costly if it fails.
As such, anyone hoping to become a commercial real estate inspector needs the necessary qualifications and experience. There are various pathways into becoming a commercial real estate inspector; each requires different personal traits and skillsets. If this career path interests you, it is vital that you identify both your strengths and weaknesses before seeking team members or specialists that can fill any gaps that exist within yourself or fill any other required specialization gaps.
Roof Inspections
Commercial properties differ drastically from residential ones and thus necessitate different expertise from inspectors than would typically be found when inspecting them. For instance, medical office inspection requires knowledge of sanitary systems, laboratory equipment and other technical details not found during an average residential inspection. Therefore, many commercial inspectors employ subspecialists in order to conduct these complex occupancies properly.
Inspectors conduct roof inspections to look for damage such as missing shingles or leaks, structural integrity and materials analysis and safety compliance with regard to any possible codes that govern its construction and usage, along with advice from construction contractors, roofing experts and building code inspectors in order to fully assess a property’s exterior health.
At the conclusion of their inspection, an inspector will evaluate and assess the condition of a building’s utilities, such as electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems’ safety and operational efficiency. They’ll also conduct fire safety and sprinkler tests to see whether they’re functioning as expected. Finally, their report will document their walkthrough survey, documents acquired and interviews conducted – an integral component of any commercial property inspection report.
An inspection service is an invaluable asset that investors, insurance lenders and portfolio companies rely on to make sure they’re getting maximum return from their investments. Inspections may also be requested by commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) lenders looking for more information before making their purchasing decision. Depending on the type of inspection conducted and its purpose, fees for services could either be set as a flat fee or charged as a percentage of sales price (with larger projects opting more often for this latter approach).