A Building Condition Assessment objective is to outline physical deficiencies in that property and recommend repair and replacement cost. The standard guide for carrying out the Building Condition Assessment is ASTME_2018-15.
The Building Condition Assessment comprises of:
- Walkthrough a survey to identify physical deficiencies of the property
- Document Reviews and Interviews – Document reviews, research, and interviews are done to help in assessing the physical deficiencies of a property.
- Preparing the property condition report– Information obtained from the document reviews and interviews, the walkthrough survey is incorporated in the building condition assessment report.
The building condition assessment report outlines the physical deficiencies and opinions of cost to remedy the physical deficiencies that are identified.
The inspection and the report cover the following section of the property:
- Site inspection – which includes topography, drainage, parking, utilities & landscaping.
- Structural Frame & Building envelop – This is comprised of Foundation, Roofing & Exterior
- Mechanical & Electrical System – This is comprised of Electrical, Heating & Cooling, Insulation, Ventilation & plumbing.
- Interior – This includes interior finishes of ceiling, wall & floor.
- Vertical transportation – Like elevator & escalator
- Fire Protection – What sort of fire protection system is in place in the building.
Some home inspectors think that they can do the inspection for the commercial property as they can get more money. But Home inspection is not the same as commercial inspection, and the reports are completely different.
Not all Building Condition Assessment Companies can provide Commercial Building Inspection Services. Companies with prior experience should be engaged to do the work. They should be able to evaluate and recommend the opinion of the probable cost of repair or replacement. Should be able to comment on the remaining useful life of each component and the remaining useful life of the building.
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Various things that are not covered in building condition assessment are:
- Capital improvement cost, renovation cost.
- Reporting on the presence or absence of pests such as wood damaging organisms, rodents, or insects.
- Reporting on the condition of hidden conditions, such as soil types and conditions, underground utilities, wells, manholes, utility pits
- Entering into confined space, which is dangerous and which can be a health and safety risk for the inspector, is not included.
- Neither Phase 1 nor phase 2 environmental site assessment is carried out during the inspection.
- No thermal imaging is carried out during the inspection
While doing the inspection, it is recommended to take videos as well as pictures of the property and Nowadays Drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) can be used to take an aerial view or it can take a close view where the inspector’s vision cannot reach like high rise walls, sloped roof and many other places which are inaccessible to the inspector.
Also Read: Challenges faced during Building Condition Assessment and how to mitigate them
It also improves the quality of inspection and saves considerable inspection time. However, the drone can take only the external images. The internal of the building has to be inspected by the inspector. Definitely use of a drone can help in Building Condition Assessment.
When is a Building Condition Assessment required?
Well, there a few very good reasons to get a building condition assessment. It will help you decide if the purchase is the right decision or what problems—and costs—you might encounter with the building.
- Not only can defects be revealed in building inspection, they can be points for negotiation with the seller, but knowledge of required upgrades can also help you plan for adequate financing.
- Most lenders require a Building Condition Assessment to finalize the commercial loan, especially older buildings. The assessment gives the bank valuable information about the cost of ownership and the remaining useful life of the building. When severe problems are identified in BCA, the bank may not approve the loan or even the buyer may not go ahead with the purchase.
- Building condition assessment can also be helpful for the contractor who is going to renovate the building as he can reference the cost. A building condition assessment can also be useful if you are planning to renovate the building because your contractor will review the building condition assessment to help determine total renovation costs. If the cost of renovation is too high, the owner may decide to sell the property.
- Sometimes owners require a building condition assessment to plan for their next five or ten-year renovation or repair cost.
- Some time owners need a Building Inspection Company to assess the repair cost involved at the end of an existing long-term lease.
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Patrick Buffalo
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