These are some tips that commercial property inspectors can give to their clients to help prepare them for their commercial property inspection.

Preparing for a Commercial Property Inspection

These are the things that the client should do:

  • You should visit the property multiple times and at different times of day and night before the day of the walkthrough survey.

This will allow you to get a better understanding of the property’s operation and help you to identify potential problems and points of interest that you can mention to the inspector. You might hear strange noises from the HVAC system, that it is running at night, or have uneven airflow. These are just a few of the things you should mention to your commercial inspector.

Notify your inspector if you notice any disarray areas or dirty equipment in the building, particularly mechanical rooms. These could indicate deferred maintenance or items in disrepair. You should remove any obstructions before the inspector inspects all areas.

  • Describe your inspection goals.

After reading the International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties, note any work that you would like to complete or exclude from the ComSOP. This will allow you to agree on a clear scope of work for the inspection. Based on the information disclosed, accepted risks, building use and type of real-estate transaction, the scope of work for commercial inspection in Tampa will vary between projects.

Be prepared to tell the commercial inspector in any event of:

        • Timeframes and deadlines
        • Recent or planned building repairs and/or renovations
        • Previously used and planned building use
          Building maintenance and repair are responsibilities that have been assigned to the real estate transaction.

The inspector might recommend that you adjust the Scope of Work in order to meet your project’s requirements. This could include:

        • Exclude certain items from inspection
        • For a greater level of certainty regarding specific building systems, order inspections by specialists
          After the building renovations or repairs are complete, schedule a re-inspection.

The inspector may be able to use his team of specialist consultants to estimate the cost of repair and replacement for any material defects that were identified during the walk through survey. You can also order ancillary inspections such as:

        • An Accessibility Survey or Accessibility Inspection
        • A Phase I or II Environmental Site Assessment
        • An Indoor Air Quality Assessment
        • A Thermal Imaging Inspection
        • an Energy Audit;
        • Inspection of a Wood-Destroying Organm
        • A Mold Inspection and/or
          Radon Testing.

  • Get documents and records from the person who has the best knowledge about the property.

This document is usually the current owner, manager, tenant, or tenant of the building. Lease agreements, Certificates Of Occupancy and violations of building and fire codes, service contracts, invoices and maintenance records are all examples of relevant documents. These documents and records can provide important information about the building’s history and many other issues.

Some people might be reluctant to give these documents depending on what the purpose of the inspection is and where they are in the real estate transaction. If you work with a broker or real estate lawyer, however, it is common to obtain such records and documents as part of the standard procedure. If you don’t ask, the answer will be “no”.

  • Coordinate interviews and develop pre-inspection questionnaires.

After identifying the person or persons with the most knowledge, make arrangements to have them present at the walk-through survey. The commercial inspector will be able to send a pre-inspection questionnaire via email or telephone to the person who is unable to attend. You should return the completed questionnaire to the commercial inspector prior to or on the day for the walk-through survey.