Commercial Real Estate Blog

CCPIA is 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization and federally tax-exempt membership trade association for commercial real estate inspectors. CCPIA provides online training and resources to help its members become even better commercial inspectors. CCPIA provides up-to-date industry news, online classes and workshops, marketing and business tools, and a member’s directory for consumer and professional use. Members are from across North America and they all adhere to the International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties (ComSOP).

Residential properties and commercial properties are different, and the knowledge needed to professionally inspect both types of buildings aren’t always transferable. You can’t just do a home inspection on a commercial building, or vice versa. This is because the standards of practice are different for commercial and residential inspections.

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic has changed all of our lives for the time being, and has taken a toll on every industry in the United States. The reported first Coronavirus case in the U.S appeared in January, and in March most of the country went into some form of lockdown or stay-at-home order.

If you are a landlord or owner of a commercial building, it is important to understand the differences between specialists you will eventually need to hire to upkeep and maintain your property. Here at Focus Building Inspections, we are commercial building inspectors, but our work is often mistaken for other jobs, such as structural engineers. So what is the difference between structural engineers and commercial building inspectors? How do they compare?

As commercial inspectors, we regularly inspect multi-unit properties. Multi-unit properties are any property that have multiple units and uses within it, such as shopping/strip malls, multi-family buildings, and some office buildings. Through experience and observation, we have realized that multi-unit properties should get regularly-scheduled exterior inspections. Why?

It’s tempting to think that all inspectors are the same, and that the skillset of a home inspector is the same as those of a commercial inspector. Not true! A commercial inspector must have a different level of knowledge than a home inspector. This is because commercial properties are more complex and have more regulations than residential properties.

It’s a common misconception that it’s better to have a crew of specialists versus a dedicated generalist. Although that might sound better, in reality it is not. We have great respect for our professional colleagues within specialist fields, however when it comes to inspections a specialist technician is not in the wisest interest of the buyer.

Commercial and Home Inspectors Differ - Commercial building inspections call for a foundation of technical knowledge above and beyond that of a general home inspector. Systems are more intricate pieces of equipment, and building structures more complex.