A commercial property inspection is much like a residential property inspection except that the building being inspected is larger and there are more regulations involved. Commercial properties include the following:
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Apartment complexes
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Manufacturing facilities
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Office buildings
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Strips of shops
The purchase of any commercial property is an expensive investment. One that requires careful consideration and research. Real estate investors regularly conduct commercial property inspections to ensure that the property meets their expected valuation prior to entering into a purchase agreement.
The following is a standard commercial property inspection checklist that details how the inspection is improved through infrared.
Inspecting the building systems
The systems of a commercial building include the electrical, heating, mechanical, plumbing, air conditioning, and ventilation systems. The commercial inspector will determine whether these systems are in good working condition through the simplest of methods – turn it on and try it out.
With an infrared commercial inspection, the buyer will not only have a more complete picture of how well the systems are working, but they’ll also have a good idea of where the potential problems are – overheating circuits, heating and air conditioning pipes that are disconnected between floors, plumbing leaks behind walls.
Inspecting the building’s exterior
The exterior of a commercial building may include parking facilities, landscaping, roofing, and the building’s outer envelope. A standard commercial inspection will determine whether the building is structurally sound and what repairs might be necessary.
An infrared commercial inspection will spot problems under the roof and inside the walls – leaks, missing or wet insulation, problems with the flashing around points of entry/exit. These are all signs of repairs waiting to happen and this kind of knowledge only occurs with an infrared inspection.
Inspecting the building’s interior
The interior of any commercial building may be filled with offices, bathrooms, kitchen facilities and all the typical interior elements of a commercial property. All of these elements will be inspected but the typical commercial inspector cannot discover what they cannot see upon initial examination.
With an infrared commercial inspection, the buyer will know whether there are leaks under the kitchen sink that need to be fixed, for example.
The interior inspection of a commercial property is designed to give the investor the information they need for repairs and renovations, so getting a good picture of what’s going on behind the walls, in the ceiling, and under the floors is the best way to have a true idea what they will find then the construction teams tear into those walls.
When it’s time to schedule a commercial property inspection, review our infrared certifications and equipment & call 847.431.8800. You can also send an email to info@macdonaldpropertyinspections.com or fill in this contact form to schedule a commercial infrared inspection.
