Pre-Purchase
Commercial buildings are designed with complicated systems; repair or replacement of undisclosed defects can result in delays and create non-budgeted costs. Buildings may look sound, but a only detailed property condition assessment will be able to uncover those items that are not readily evident from a cursory walk-thru. Finding out you have a problem after settlement will many times delay moving in which can result in both a lost of revenue and productivity. Having a Property Condition Assessment performed prior to purchase has proven to be a sound business investment.
Pre-Selling
Obtaining a pre-sale property inspection can have the added assurance that if the buyer obtains a professional building inspection, the likelihood of an unexpected surprise is much lower. This will reduce the risk of a delayed settlement.
Pre-Lease
When entering a lease agreement, an inspection can serve both parties by describing the conditions at the beginning of the lease period. Often, a second inspection is undertaken at the end of the lease to review the building condition.
Technical Audits for New Buildings
An audit of new buildings usually includes a detailed review of the drawings and specifications for the building, and a comparison of these to what was actually built. Construction deficiencies such as omissions, improper installation, substandard workmanship or substituted materials are often uncovered during such a survey.
Long Term Planning / Reserve Fund Studies
When building owners or property managers are estimating future repair costs, the present condition of the building system must be known, reasonable life expectancies must be established, and the replacement costs must be identified, based upon on-site conditions.
Problem Resolution
In some cases, only one or two areas of a building are causing concern. An apparently "good" roof which suffers intermittent leakage can be very frustrating. This is doubly true when every contractor has a different proposed solution. An inspection by a registered professional can reveal the source of the problem and provide direction toward the most cost-effective solution.
Pre-Renovation or Pre-Expansion
Building improvements can require a large capitol commitment, and unless one knows the physical status of the existing facility, the best decisions cannot be made. An inspection report prepared before the design process begins will put the designer, owner and contractors in a better position to optimize the value of the capitol commitment.
Standards of Practice
Square-One Inspection Service employs both the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM E-2018-01) Standard and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Standards of Practice as our guidelines for commercial inspections. These standards combine to establish a baseline for commercial inspections so that you know exactly what to expect from the Property Condition Report.
