Good Home Inspection provides Baseline Commercial Property Inspections (referred to as a Property Condition Assessment or PCA by the standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials – ASTM E2018).
These inspections include a walk-through survey and visual inspection of the structure and systems, inventory documentation of mechanical systems, area documentation of amenities such as parking, risk assessments to determine the property’s condition. These inspections can also include document review and interviews to further determine the property’s condition. The results of the PCA are reported in a Property Condition Report (PCR). The report includes information obtained from the PCA ASTM E2018.
This information assists property owners, management companies, and buyers in understanding operation and maintenance required. This can help provide confidence to prospective investors decisions and planning.
The scope of the inspection needed and the specific areas to be inspected are based on various factors. Age, size, use, occupancy and type of construction are considered when determining how the property will be inspected and the performance criteria needed to complete a quality inspection. Inspections can range from a visual examination of the property, to a comprehensive inspection of all the building’s technical components. More comprehensive inspections may require specialized contractors.
A BASELINE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY INSPECTION INCLUDES:
- Site Characteristics (paving, landscaping and utilities)
- Structural Frame and Building Envelope
- Roof Surface Areas
- Fenestration Inspections
- Mechanical and Electrical Systems
- Plumbing Systems
- Heating Systems
- Air Conditioning and Ventilation Systems
- Vertical Transportation
- Life Safety/Fire Protection
- Interior Elements
- Opinions of Probable Costs
- Recommendations
ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE INCLUDE:
- Document Review
- Wood-Destroying Organism Inspections
- Extensive HVAC Evaluations (contracted)
- Elevator Inspections (contracted)
- Fire Suppression Safety Inspections (contracted).
- Other services would be part of the comprehensive due diligence process and are beyond the scope of even a thorough baseline inspection.
Depending on the type of property and needs of the client, more advanced Baseline PCS inspections may require specialists or consultants. But most of the time the scope of inspection gets to this point these services are routinely handled during the due diligence process.
Extensive or Due Diligence inspections often specialists and/or consultants to assist us in the commercial inspection process by providing expertise in relevant areas.
These professionals may include:
- Structural Engineers
- Environmental Specialists
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Specialists
- Electrical Specialists
- Fire Suppression Protection Specialists
- Elevator Specialists
- Roof Specialists
- Paving Specialists
- Full Service Wood-Destroying Organism Specialist
Some of the client’s responsibilities in regards to Due Diligence typically include, but are not limited to;
- Check with the state, municipality, etc. to see if there are any current/pending/future building or other code, fire, zoning, occupancy, use, ADA, etc. violations attributed/attributable to the property
- Copies of any available building plans, specifications, engineering/lot surveys, etc. of the property/building
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Building Permit history
- Leases that may apply to the property
- Contact information for any and all companies that have serviced the building or its equipment (e.g. elevators, fire sprinklers, alarm systems, etc.)
- Certificates and documentation (e.g. boiler inspection certificate, elevator inspection certificate, environmental assessment reports, fire alarm reports, tenant complaint
- logs, electrical compliance certificate, specialty equipment inspections, etc.)
- Earthquake/seismic information, including that which may already be available from the State/County/City Geologist
- A history and evaluation of any underground storage tanks
- Evaluation of items that are mentioned in the contract as items or systems, etc. that we will not be evaluating
- Some municipalities, etc. do not require commercial building upgrades to meet code until a building is sold and a new Certificate Of Occupancy is required. It would be prudent to determine what is required upon the sale of the building in question in order to obtain the new Certificate Of Occupancy.
- Other supplemental evaluations my required or desired to be done for the property that go beyond what we will provide in our report (e.g. evaluation by the municipality for acceptability of any change in building design, energy audits, indoor air quality, intelligent building systems, security systems, specialty equipment, items not included in a Baseline Property PCA ASTM E2018 report, etc.).