Property Condition Assessments – Are they Reliable?

Building owners, lenders and real estate professionals are always looking for ways to protect their investments.  Property due diligence is a key factor to ensure that the facility you want to purchase is worthy of your hard-earned money.  You want to make sure you are getting a thorough property condition assessment by a reputable firm that wants to help you reduce the risk in your real estate venture.  

The first step in making sure you are getting what you pay for is to hire a reliable consultant with an exemplary track record that understands the complexities of the evaluation standards and limitations.  Many times, large nationally accredited firms are used in providing Property Condition Assessments.  This does not mean they are the most qualified.  Large firms often have a disconnection from the physical inspector to the report reviewer, which can lead to deficiencies and lost insights.  At Natura, we don’t hand you off to a “project manager” that offers second-hand information. At Natura, the team that performs your inspection is also the team that walks you through every aspect of it, so you gain crucial insights only communication with trained experts can provide.  

Why invest in a Property Condition Assessment?

Prospective investors should invest in a Property Condition Assessment to fully inform themselves of the conditions of the building they are purchasing.  An accurate PCA will alert the investor to any aspects of the building that may not be up to the appropriate standards or codes.  Therefore, giving the investor leverage to negotiate a better price on the property they wish to buy.  An accurate PCA can provide you with a Capital needs plan to allow you to precisely budget for future upgrades or renovations.  

A typical PCA will have inspections of the following scope items:

• Visual inspection of the site and grounds,
  • Pavement, parking, curbs, loading docks, sidewalks, landscaping, drainage, lighting walls, fencing, railings, signage
• Structural systems
  • Foundations, walls, columns, floors, roofs
• Building exteriors
  • Exterior finishes, stairs, and steps, exterior doors and windows
• Roofing
  • Roof membranes, parapet wall, flashing, penetrations, drainage, and skylights
• Plumbing and Mechanical systems
  • Domestic water, plumbing fixtures, natural gas, sanitary sewer and stormwater systems
• Electrical systems
  • Power, lighting and emergency systems
• Fire Safety systems
  • Fire protection sprinkler and standpipe systems, fire extinguishers, alarm and security systems
• HVAC
  • Cooling, heating, air distribution and ventilation systems
• Interior building components
  • Interior finishes of common areas and tenant spaces
• Vertical Transportation Systems
  • Elevator and escalator equipment
• Review of architectural drawings and mechanical systems
• Interview key personnel
  • Facility maintenance operators or property managers
• Accessibility review (ADA)
  • Parking, ramps, entrances/exits, path of travel, elevators, and restrooms

Why choose Natura to provide a Property Condition Assessment?

We love buildings and we genuinely want to help you protect your investment.  Our team has the expertise and knowledge to provide you with the most accurate Property Condition Assessment.  We will do whatever it takes to inspect every aspect of your building to provide you with a comprehensive report to secure the lending you need.  

We take pride in getting to know our clients and why they want to purchase a particular building.  During that process, we find out what the intended uses will be for the building and surrounding property.  We can then develop the tools needed to plan for an accurate inspection.   

Here at Natura, we ensure you are not only getting a reliable and accurate property condition assessment, but also the expert insights to help you understand your investment.  

Call us today to set up your inspection.