Commercial Building Inspections AUSTIN TX
THE BEST IN CLASS Commercial Building Inspections In Austin & NEARBY AREAS
According to the International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties 2019, a Commercial Building Inspection relies on a walk-through survey, document review, & interviews performed by a professional commercial building inspector to determine the property’s condition. The results prepared by the inspector’s due diligence are reported in a Commercial Property Inspection Report.
The scope of a Commercial Building Inspection differs according to the type of construction, age, occupancy, and the client’s needs. An inspection can range from a Limited Walk-Through Assessments to a Non-Technically Exhaustive General Inspection for “Red Flag” items and a Comprehensive Technical Evaluation of a building’s technical components that needs to be evaluated further by a qualified expert.
Commercial Building Inspection Reports or Property Condition Reports are our specialty. Always trust us to inspect the asset and to identify the immediate repairs and deferred maintenance issues while investing in a significant complex commercial real estate asset.
Types of Buildings:
- Office/School/Industrial Buildings
- Multiple Unit Apartment Buildings
- Restaurants/Bars
- Strip Malls
- Warehouses
- Convenience Stores/Liquor Stores
A General Commercial Building Inspection Includes:
- Structural frame and building envelope
- Site characteristics (landscaping, paving, and utilities)
- Roof surface
- Mechanical and electrical systems
- Plumbing systems
- Heating systems
- Air conditioning and ventilation systems
- Interior elements
- Document review
- Vertical transportation
- Safety and fire protection
- Opinions of estimated repair costs
Now, the Comprehensive Technical Evaluation approach allows specialists to assist us in the commercial inspection by providing expertise in relevant areas, which may include structural engineers and specialists in the following areas:
- Environment
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)
- Elevator
- Roofing
- Paving
- Electrical
- Fire protection
- Wood-destroying organisms
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
Home Pro Inspections has completed many Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) reports on properties for commercial real estate transactions, lender financing, foreclosures, owner re-financing, and other programs for many years. Our Phase I ESA has been done for many program requirements, including:
- All Appropriate Inquiry 40 CFR Part 312
- SBA SOP 50 10 5 (C)
- ASTM Standard Practice E1527- 5 & 13
- Specific Lender Requirements
Baseline Commercial Building Inspections
According to standards set forth by the Society for Testing and Materials in North America, a Property Condition Assessment relies on a walk-through survey, document review, and interviews—all performed by one of our professional commercial property inspectors—to determine the property’s condition. The Assessment’s result is reported in a Property Condition Report.
Commercial Building Inspectors
In addition to its home inspection expertise, we at Home Pro Inspections are also a one-stop resource for all things related to commercial inspection. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or a realtor of a commercial property, we always make sure your needs are met by covering every aspect of the inspection process in detail, which sometimes includes tips for real estate professionals.
The information presented to you here can help owners and buyers understand commercial property operations and required maintenance. Also, it helps to improve the confidence of prospective investors.
The scope of a typical commercial building inspection and areas to be inspected are based on various factors like age, occupancy, & type of construction, which determines how a property will be inspected. Building Inspections can typically range from visual examinations of a property to comprehensive inspections of a building’s technical components.
Commercial Building Inspections by us are done by either a single building inspector or a team of inspectors. We can deploy a group of 3 to 6 inspectors, as per the requirement, and most of the time, the team is captained by our senior building inspector. However, the team may also include sub-specialists such as a Structural Engineer, a Licensed Elevator Inspector, an HVAC specialist, an energy auditor, & an ADA Inspector.
The benefits of sub-specialists are great. For instance, our building inspector may have inspected thousands of elevators in his/ her career. Still, without an elevator inspector’s license, he/she will not be able to open the shaft & inspect beneath the cab.
Important Building Inspection Report Findings
Regardless of the level of Commercial Building Inspection, our inspector will find and report:
- Inadequate design
- Improper maintenance or worn systems
- Building code violations
- Equipment nearing the end of its working cycle
- Poor workmanship
Most of our clients typically request a standard narrative Property Condition Report, which discusses each building system and describes all the significant concerns or defects that were discovered during the inspection. Each report generally includes a table of immediate repairs and a table of replacement reserves over the desired reserve period.
It’s All About What You Don’t See
You cannot gauge your actual purchase without an accurate inspection. This could be a potential disaster in the future. But when you entrust your commercial building inspection to our highly skilled building inspection experts, they address the following questions or concerns in a detailed report:
- If I need to fix or replace something, who do I call?
- Do any of the plumbing parts need to be repaired or replaced?
- Do I have enough electrical power/connections for all my business needs?
- How many years does the HVAC system estimate to have left?
- How much will the building repairs and maintenance cost over the next 5 years?
- Do I need a new roof, and how much will roof repairs/replacements cost?
- Are those cracks in the walls indicating structural damage?
We Always Provide the Best Property Inspection Experience
What are the goals of our commercial building inspection?
Commercial real estate acquisitions usually revolve around ROI or return on investment and residual value. Thus, Portfolio managers want to know only two things: “How much will I make on this investment?” and “How much will this cost?”
This is where a commercial building inspection comes in handy. An inspection will reveal the life span of five major systems within the building, which includes:
- Roofing
- Plumbing
- Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC)
- Structural Integrity
- Electrical
On the other hand, real estate management teams only want to know if the roof or HVAC system will need to be replaced in the coming years, or if electrical elements will need to be upgraded due to a change in the building usage.
A building audit or inspection will undoubtedly provide insight into these questions. And the resulting report is bound to advise the portfolio company whether or not you should invest in the property.
4 THINGS OUR COMMERCIAL BUILDING INSPECTOR WILL CHECK
Purchasing a commercial property is not only expensive, but it also requires a great deal of consideration and research before a decision can be made. Investors, commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) lenders, insurance lenders, and portfolio lenders routinely order property condition assessments (PCAs) to learn more about your property or before entering into a purchase agreement.
Here are four things our commercial inspector will focus on during his/her inspection:
1. The Building’s Five Major Systems
A Commercial building typically possesses five major systems: Electrical, Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning/Ventilation, and Mechanical. Our Inspectors will check these systems and make sure that they are in good working condition. Furthermore, if a system is not up to par, the inspector will also estimate the cost of repair in his/her report. Note that fire safety systems, building alarms, & sprinkler systems will also be checked during the inspection.
2. The Building’s Exterior
The building’s exterior doesn’t just include outer walls, but it also includes parking lots, landscaping, and roofing. Our inspector will determine whether the building is structurally sound and highlight any repair costs, if needed.
Keep in mind that our inspectors might also rely on insight from roofing experts, construction contractors, or building code inspectors to inspect the exterior health of the building thoroughly.
3. The Building’s Interior
Inspection of the Building’s Interior serves two purposes: first of all, to check that interior spaces meet local building codes, and second of all, to check for safety-related risks and hazards. Our inspector will also observe the building’s walls, floors, bathrooms, offices, kitchen spaces, and other areas. This inspection of this portion will illuminate any need for interior renovations (especially if anything within the building is not up to code).
4. The Building’s Documentation
Commercial building inspectors review several documents during the inspection process. For instance, they may review appraisals, certificates of occupancy, building plans, citations, construction permits, evacuation plans, environmental studies, floor plans, fire safety system records, maintenance records, and surveys. These records will reveal the actual cost of owning the building and help the investor determine the value of the property.
Further, an inspector’s findings will finally be compiled in a property condition report (PCR), which will feature written evidence of observations, as well as photos for clarification. The report will also include recommendations from the inspector on how to conduct corrective action. Also, in most cases, there are cost estimates for future repairs and replacements.
Making the right property investment starts with having the right tools, and a commercial property inspector is your leading resource, to be prepared for any kind of regulatory checks. Just call our Commercial Building Inspectors now, and relax, we’ll take care of everything for you.
The purchase of a commercial building is one of the largest single investments you will ever make. You should know what to expect both indoors and out, in terms of current and future repairs and maintenance. Keep in mind that a fresh coat of paint could hide serious structural problems, and stains on the ceiling may indicate a chronic roof leakage problem or maybe there because of a single incident.
Inspectors at Home Pro Inspections will interpret these and other clues. They will present their professional opinion related to the condition of the building so you can avoid unpleasant surprises in the future. Of course, our best in class commercial inspection will also point out the positive aspects of a building along with the type of maintenance needed to keep it in good shape. After the inspection, you’ll have a way better understanding of the commercial property you are about to purchase, and you’ll also be able to make your decision with confidence.
As a seller, if you have owned a building for a while, an inspection can identify potential problems during the sale of your building and can recommend preventive measures which might avoid future expensive repairs.
If you want to rent out your property or put it up for sale, it is best to have the building inspected before setting a price. The findings depicted in your inspection report can influence the value of your property offer. However, Commercial Building Inspections can also be stated under a contract, in which case a predetermined date as part of the transaction.
A Commercial Building inspection can be done thoroughly and quickly without any inconvenience. Inspections may take longer with bigger properties, but the experts at Home Pro Inspections are committed to working as efficiently as possible. Other factors that may influence the amount of time an inspection can take include the age of the property and the number of problems encountered.
Even if the inspector finds some problems in a building, it doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t buy it, only that you’ll know in advance what type of repairs to anticipate. A seller may also be willing to make repairs because of significant problems discovered by our inspector. If your budget is tight, or if you do not wish to become involved in any future repair work, you can opt-out of buying this property for you. The choice is yours.
Home Pro Inspection specializes in Commercial Inspection Services in all commercial property, including Office Buildings, Retail Space, Multi-family Housing, Apartment Complexes, Restaurants, and Industrial Buildings, Senior Housing, Hotels/Motels, Condo Associations, and more. We’ll review all major components of the property and let you know its condition and life expectancy. We can also undertake a Capital Reserve Study and also assist you with gathering cost estimates on the major current or potential future issues so you can plan and budget accordingly.
We’ll review all major components, including but not limited to:
- Electrical
- Roofing
- Plumbing
- Air Conditioning
- Structure
- Exterior Walls
- Interior Finishes
- Heating
- Insulation
- Ventilation
- Fire Protection
- Elevators
- Swimming Pools
- Environmental Site Assessments