Depending on the condo and how the condo association’s Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) are written. This document is included with property disclosure documents and sets out the unique rules regarding behavior and guidelines for how you can use the building, common areas and what your responsible for maintaining in your individual condominium.
In most cases, when buying a condo, most of the building systems, like electrical, plumbing, stairwells, hallways, lobby, roofing, pools, etc. are common property, which means they are jointly owned with the other condominium owners and are joint expenses. These are usually covered by the condo corporation and don’t need to be inspected during a home inspection for a condo.
Home Inspections for a Condo:
For more details about how HIC Home Inspection Cleveland will inspect your condo, just call Jason Balamenti, our licensed and certified home inspector. Jason loves talking to home buyers, learning about the situation and the condo. He’ll be able to tell you how long the inspection will take, how much it will cost (depending on what he’ll need to inspect) and put you on the schedule ASAP.
Some basic areas most home inspectors will check for a home inspection of a condo include:
Attics: If a condo has an attic, an inspector may check for proper insulation, or for pests, or holes to the outside created by other animals or rodents. As a certified Attic, Insulation & Ventilation Inspector, as well as a Moisture Intrusion Inspector and a Pest Inspector, Jason will make sure to find anything that there is to worry about in this space, or give your condo a clean bill of health.
Smoke Alarms: How many are there? Are there enough installed? Do the batteries work?
Electrical and Wiring Issues: How many plug outlets are there? Are they 2 or 3 prong? Are all of them grounded? What does the inside electrical and wiring look like inside the condo you are considering buying? Are there excessive extension cords around the condo, and if so, why?
General Plumbing Issues: Also a certified plumbing inspector, Jason will check all the sinks and bathtubs and toilets for leaks, and make sure they operate well. They may check the areas inside and around for possible flooding problems or evidence of previous flooding.
Furnace and Air Conditioning Units: How old are they? Do they function and how well? In a condo inspection your home inspector will usually test them, turning them on and off and checking inside the units for any possible defects or deferred maintenance.
Appliance Checks: Jason will check the appliances to see if they are operating well and efficiently. He has also earned his Kitchen Inspector certification through InterNACHI which means he has extensive knowledge in the inspections of appliances like dishwashers, food-waste disposer, range exhaust vent, electric/gas range, cooktop & oven, microwave oven, trash compactor, refrigerator, mechanical exhaust & bathroom heater, garage door operator and more.
Aluminum Wiring: Older condos built between 1965 – 1972 may have aluminum wiring in place, which is important to point out and explain.
