Are you tired of living in a rented apartment and in search of your own building? Do you need to downsize? Then we have a perfect pick for you: A condo.
You’ll probably be content in a condo if you don’t want to spend your weekends mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, power washing, and fixing up the exterior of your house.
Living in a condo allows you to own property while being a part of a larger community with exciting amenities, unlike owning a single-family home, which is separate and situated on a parcel of land.
But before you get a condo, you have to consider getting a condo inspection. Let us tell you why.
What Is A Condominium?
A condominium, sometimes known as a “condo,” is a type of ownership arrangement where a structure (or collection of buildings) is divided into a number of units that are either individually owned or owned in common, with the exclusive right of occupancy for each owner.
An owner of a condominium unit shares ownership of the building’s common areas with the owners of the other units, but they own the air space inside their apartment. A typical condominium will have:
- Elevators
- Communal hallways
- Laundry rooms
- Swimming Pools
Condos can be found in suburban and urban settings, and units can be rented or bought.
Condo Inspection:
The state of the building and its systems can be revealed through a condo inspection.
In condo inspections, most inspectors will provide two kinds of inspections:
- An interior only inspection
- A full condo inspection
Usually, a professional condo inspector will evaluate the general state of a building in a thorough condo inspection.
They will accomplish this by considering such elements as:
- The subterranean spaces and attic areas attached to your house for possible problems and firewalls.
- Particularly if they surround your apartment, basements, garages, and other shared spaces or common-use zones
A Condo Inspector will evaluate the following during an interior-only check:
- The standard of your unit’s walls, Indicating water damage or other plumbing and water flow problems. Systems for HVAC
- Among the main appliances are the furnace, water heater, and other Systems of electricity. The degree of past repairs’ quality patios and other outside areas.
Is A Condo Inspection Necessary?
While individual unit owners are in charge of maintaining the inside of their property, condo corporations handle outside building repairs.
Any possible problems with your property, like leaks, broken electrical systems, or HVAC concerns, can be found with a condo inspection.
A condo inspection can also offer information on the state of the construction and its systems. If the structure is older, this knowledge can also be valuable since it will enable you to project future repair or replacement expenses.
How Much Does A Condo Inspection Cost?
Nevertheless, a condo inspection often costs $250, while a house inspection typically costs $325. Of course, the particular dimensions of your condo will also matter.
You should budget more money for a luxury penthouse with six bedrooms than you would for a single-family home with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Condo Inspection Checklist:
The following are the most important areas to check when a condo inspection is done
1. Ceilings and Floors
For good reason, a condo inspection starts with a thorough examination of the floors and ceilings. Fixing floor and ceiling problems can be expensive and may point to larger structural problems.
Warped hardwood planks and wet, moldy, or damaged ceilings are common problems to check for. If the damage is slight, it’s usually straightforward to treat, even if they can be expensive repairs.
It is in your best interest as the seller to resolve this before listing your apartment for sale. If not, you’ll get substantially less money.
2. Windows, Doors, and Walls
Dampness in the walls can be indicated by a variety of factors, including warping on the floors and ceilings, mold, water damage, and cracks.
When inspecting windows and doors, inspectors make sure the units lock, operate as intended, and don’t exhibit any signs of warping (if the frames are made of wood).
Additionally, they look for drafts from poorly fitted windows and doors, which reduces a condo’s energy efficiency and may result in expensive heating costs.
3. Lavatories
One of the first things on any condo property inspection checklist is typically the plumbing. Inspectors evaluate the water pressure and look for caulking gaps in the shower and bathtub areas.
Any odd, musty odors or mold growing on the bathroom walls or ceiling should be taken seriously.
They can point to a leak in the plumbing system. Unless you know exactly where the fault is and can get it repaired promptly, this is a costly problem to fix.
4. Kitchens
The same tests that are performed on the bathroom plumbing will also be performed on the kitchen plumbing, such as water pressure checks.
Once more, evidence of mold growth or moisture will raise questions about potential plumbing leaks into the walls.
In order to make sure that extractor fans and built-in appliances are fitted safely and correctly, inspectors should also inspect them.
We’ll examine the caulking for gaps, just like we did with the bathroom. If discovered, these suggest the possibility of leaks and moisture.
5. HVAC And Electrical Systems
Without checking the electrical wiring and HVAC systems, no checklist for inspecting a condo is complete. The electrical systems need to be functional and up to code.
This is important because improper wiring might cause a fire. Other HVAC systems, including the A/C, will also be inspected.
They need to be in good operating order and installed correctly. Additionally, because obstructions in the ventilation ducts can lower indoor air quality and cause issues with energy efficiency, inspectors will look for them.
6. Cabinets And Drawers
The inspection checklist will cover built-in worktops, cabinets, and closets in the unit, should they exist. Drawers should open and close readily.
Doorways for cabinets and closets should close tightly. Drawer knobs and door handles have to be tightly fitting.
Though they seem like little issues, for new homeowners, these can be rather frustrating. Make sure your home-buying checklist covers this as well.
7. Patios, Decks, And Outside Space
In circumstances when a condo house has a patio, deck, or other outside space like a balcony, the outdoor area belonging to the unit will also be included on a condo house inspection checklist.
Cracks in adjacent walls or paving could point to underlying problems. Older structures should be anticipated to show some wear and tear.
Many buyers so like newly built condos. These kinds of issues are not likely in a newly constructed building.
8. Common Ground Areas
Though it appears on the condo home inspection checklist, the building’s homeowners’ association (HOA) is responsible for the sections of the structure outside the designated condo borders. Your monthly fees cover only this.
Common area and exterior upkeep calls for them. Legal requirements bind condo owners to insure common facilities against fire and personal injury.
That is the minimum, though, and buying a condo leaves little peace of mind. You know there will be problems down the road if the upkeep has been inadequate. Make sure that communal areas are generally clean and free of structural problems or risks.
Check facilities, including parking lots, elevators, and lobbies, to see if they satisfy safety criteria and are in working order.
9. Condo Building Outside Views
Signs of general exterior degradation and collapsing exterior walls could point to structural issues in the outer walls. The homeowners’ organization bears care for the condo building’s outside.
10. Common Facilities
Common facilities include pools, spas, gyms, and other entertainment areas set aside for everyone using the facility.
These, too, fall within the HOA’s maintenance obligations. Should you be the potential buyer and the pool water is green, or the spa area shows mildew on the walls, you should be alarmed. Not enough upkeep causes these problems.
This raises concerns since you could have to pay fees in return for inadequate maintenance of facilities.
Choosing the Best Company for a Condo Inspection
As you are getting a condo inspection, make sure you cross off all the following boxes from the condo inspection checklist. If you are selling your condo, giving these important areas top attention will help you get more for sale.
If you are purchasing a condo, you know what to search for to guarantee you obtain what you pay for. Either buying or selling, though, you are searching for your new condo.
All in all, all you need to make sure is you are choosing the right company to get the condo inspection from!
And, of course, that company is Elite Inspections!
Contact us now if you have any questions.
