Commercial Building Inspection Services
Property Condition Assessment (PCA)
A Property Condition Assessment under ASTM guidelines, is a specific type of due diligence, pre-purchase, pre-lease, or post-lease property inspection, performed according to a specification developed by the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials).
The purpose of this inspection is to "define good commercial and customary practice …for conducting a baseline property condition assessment …of improvements located on a parcel of commercial real estate by performing a
walk-through survey and conducting research as outlined in the guide."
Additional information and a copy of the ASTM Property Condition Assessment can be found by clicking here, ASTM.
Our clients include investors, end users, lessees, lenders, loan servicers, lessors, owners and sellers. We have been serving the real estate industry since 1974 and we inspect various types of commercial buildings including; warehouses, industrial properties, apartment buildings, office buildings, lodging and long term care facilities, shopping malls, strip malls, retail buildings and triple net leased space and buildings.
Our services also provide;
· Acceptance by most lenders and insurance companies
· Fast turn around, typically 10 days from acceptance of quote to delivery of report
· An executive summary that is clear and concise
Environmental Site Assessments, Phase One (ESA)
Phase One;
A Phase One ESA provides the information you or your client needs to meet environmental due diligence obligations, lender requirements and protect your assets. This assessment meets or exceeds the ASTM-E-1527 Standard for Phase One Environmental Site Assessments.
The Phase One ESA includes a computerized color map showing the subject property with those sites surrounding it designated in searchable databases. The assessment is presented in written form and can be provided via email or mailed as a CD if preferred.
Disabled or ADA Access Analysis
Many older buildings do not have ADA compliant features and, while some newer buildings contain some special ADA components, they are often not in full compliance with state and federal laws. Our Property Condition Report includes general information on restrooms, parking areas, and other areas designed to provide disabled access.
A Detailed ADA Compliance Report typically includes listing and measuring all ADA components, grab bars, ramps, pay phones, parking ramps, etc., to determine whether they are installed according to the latest state and federal requirements.
There are often no requirements for existing buildings to adopt ADA-required improvements unless those buildings are substantially altered or modified. The extent of alterations, structural repairs, or additions necessary to trigger ADA requirements is set to a dollar amount that is adjusted annually by the local enforcing agency.
There are several exceptions to ADA requirements related to the concept of "reasonable hardship," when the cost of alterations necessary to make the building fully accessible is disproportionate. Identification of those portions of a building that are not ADA compliant can help prevent future liabilities and potential law suits against the future building owner.
Building Code Compliance
Under some building codes for “existing buildings”, there is a requirement to bring portions of the existing building up to current building code standards if the building is added on to or significantly modified. This requirement applies to multi-family residential structures as well as commercial buildings.
Some state building codes reference the “Health Code” which dictates minimum standards for human habitation. When a building is poorly maintained or improperly modified by the building owner or tenants, code violations can easily build up.
Our inspectors are certified by the International Code Council in residential and commercial building codes. A building code compliance report can help the new building owner by;
· Identifying lack of compliance on buildings that were built and/or modified recently
· Avoid potential litigation & liability
· Lower insurance premium costs
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