A commercial building inspection tells you what condition a building and its systems are in, what needs attention now, and what you should plan for. We inspect offices, retail, industrial and multi-unit buildings across Alberta, BC and Ontario, and we write findings so that owners, buyers, tenants and facility managers can act on them.
Why owners and buyers ask for one
Before we look at anything, we ask why you need the inspection. A buyer doing due diligence needs a different report than a facility manager building a capital plan, and a tenant about to sign a lease cares about different things again. Knowing the purpose lets us set the scope, decide which systems need a closer look, and write a report that answers your actual questions rather than a generic list.
Common reasons include:
- Due diligence before buying or refinancing a property
- Planning maintenance and capital spending for the next several years
- Checking the condition of a space before you lease it or hand it back
- Investigating a recurring problem such as leaks, comfort complaints or tripping breakers
- Getting an independent view before a renovation, change of use or insurance renewal
What we look at
- Site and structure: visible foundations, framing, slabs, parking areas, retaining walls and signs of movement or deterioration.
- Building envelope: roofing, walls, windows, doors, sealants and the details where water and air most often get in.
- Mechanical systems: heating, cooling, ventilation, rooftop units, boilers, pumps, controls and plumbing.
- Electrical systems: service entrance, distribution, panels, visible wiring, lighting and emergency power.
- Life safety: fire alarm and sprinkler components, emergency lighting, exit signs, fire separations and egress routes, as they appear on a visual review.
- Interiors and accessibility: finishes, washrooms, common areas, and obvious barriers to access.
- Records: maintenance logs, past inspection reports, permits and drawings where you can provide them.
Our inspectors come from mechanical, electrical and building systems backgrounds, so the report connects what we see on site to how the systems are supposed to work.
How it works
- Scope call. We talk through why you need the inspection, the type and size of building, the areas we can access and any documents you have.
- Document review. We read drawings, maintenance records and past reports ahead of the visit so time on site goes to the areas that matter.
- Site inspection. We walk the building, roof, mechanical and electrical rooms and representative suites, and we can talk through findings with you or your representative on site.
- Specialist follow-up. Where a finding needs more than a visual review, such as a roof core, concrete scan or electrical thermography, we tell you what is needed and can coordinate it.
- Written report. You receive a report that ranks findings by urgency and explains what each one means for you.
- Debrief. We go through the report with you and answer questions from your lender, insurer, contractor or board.
What you get
The report is written for the people who have to make decisions, not just for other engineers. It includes:
- A summary of the building's overall condition and the main issues
- Findings organized by system, with photographs and locations
- A priority for each item: safety concern, near-term repair, or plan for later
- Recommendations for further investigation where a visual review is not enough
- Notes on items that may need a mandated inspection or a licensed trade
Regulated equipment. Elevators, boilers and pressure vessels, fire alarm systems and some other equipment have inspections required by provincial or municipal rules, done by designated inspectors or licensed contractors. Our inspection does not replace those. We note the condition of this equipment, check whether current certificates and records are available, and can help you prepare for and follow up on the mandated inspections.
Who it's for
- Buyers, investors and lenders who need an independent view before a transaction
- Property and facility managers planning maintenance and budgets
- Condominium boards and owners' associations
- Tenants taking on or leaving a commercial space
- Owners dealing with a problem that hasn't been solved by repeated repairs
Learn more before you book
If you want to understand the process first, read what a commercial building inspection covers and how it differs from a property condition assessment. If you are about to sign a lease, our guide to inspecting a commercial space before you lease covers what tenants should check. To talk about your building, call 1-833-888-0091 or email contact@ehzee.ca.
Common questions
Is a commercial inspection the same as a property condition assessment?
They overlap. A property condition assessment usually adds cost estimates and a longer-term capital view to the inspection findings. We set the scope based on what you need the report for, so tell us whether you need cost planning as part of it.
Do you need access to every suite?
Not always. For larger buildings we usually inspect common areas, roofs, service rooms and a representative sample of suites. We agree the sample with you at the start and state it in the report so readers know what was and wasn't seen.
Will the inspection find hidden problems inside walls?
A visual inspection can only report what can be seen and safely reached, but it often finds the signs of hidden problems, such as staining, cracking or unusual readings. When we see those signs, we recommend the right follow-up, such as opening a small area, scanning or testing.
Which cities do you cover?
Our head office is in Edmonton and we have offices in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. Contact us about buildings elsewhere and we will tell you what we can arrange.