Focus of Inspections
House Inspections
SENWI’s House Inspections include a detailed look at all of the building components, both inside and outside. We focus our efforts on identifying those defects that represent a substantial investment or represent a danger to the dwelling’s occupants. We also will uncover items that will be difficult to maintain on an ongoing basis and will provide insights into proper maintenance of the particular structure.
Condominium, Townhouse or Apartment Inspections
SENWI’s Condominium Inspections include a detailed look at all of the building components located inside the unit.
We also provide you with a general overview of the rest of the building, generally known as common areas. Many inspectors in the industry do not cover these areas. But we feel this is the most important aspect of the inspection because the common areas are where the real liability exists when purchasing a multi-family dwelling. You can completely re-model an individual suite for under $60K but this figure can represent just a portion of what you might need to pay as a special assessment if the entire complex has a faulty and damaged building envelope or failing roof or parkade structure. So we look at the building envelope, parkade, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, and recreational facilities. We look at the accessible roof(s), interior passageways and storage rooms. In short, we look at the entire building.
We use our professional skills to determine: Is the building is being well maintained? Are there maintenance issues present that are not being addressed? Are there design flaws that will lead to water ingress into the building structure? To be clear, it often requires a specialist (e.g., building envelope technologist, mechanical engineer, civil engineer) to confirm the presence or absence of a problem in a multi-family building component, but as inspection professionals, we are usually able to determine if the likelihood of a problem that requires further investigation may exist. We will then recommend the right type of specialist to look at the suspected problem.
We will also review any provided engineering report(s) and provide comment (usually at no additional charge). For tips on what research you should do if you are buying a condominium or any other style of multi-family dwelling, visit Inspection FAQ.
