A commercial property condition assessment answers a different question than a residential inspection. You are not asking "is this a good house". You are asking what the building will cost to own over your hold period, which capital items are approaching end of life, and whether anything about the structure or systems threatens the income the asset is supposed to produce.
Scope is negotiated, not assumed
Commercial buildings vary too much for a fixed checklist. We agree the scope with you in advance — envelope, structure, roofing, mechanical, electrical, life safety, site and parking, accessibility, and the level of detail you need for each — and price it against square footage, age and complexity.
What the report is for
It is written to be used: a component-by-component condition rating, remaining useful life estimates, and an opinion of probable cost for immediate repairs and for capital replacement over the next five to ten years. That table is what goes into your pro forma, your lender package, or your negotiation.
Multi-residential in Ottawa
Small apartment buildings and converted multiplexes are a large part of this market, particularly around the universities and in Centretown, Sandy Hill and Vanier. These need particular attention on life safety — fire separations, egress, alarms and emergency lighting — because deficiencies there are both a liability and an order waiting to happen.
What is included
- Scope agreed in writing before we start, priced to the building
- Structure, envelope, roofing systems and site works
- Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and life-safety systems
- Component condition ratings with remaining useful life estimates
- Opinion of probable cost: immediate repairs plus 5–10 year capital table
- Infrared survey of roof, envelope and electrical distribution
- Documentation review where available: permits, prior reports, maintenance records
Why this matters in Ottawa
We work across Ottawa's commercial fabric — Bank Street and Wellington West retail, suburban office in Kanata North and Nepean, light industrial in the east end and Stittsville, and multi-residential right across the core.