A Commercial Building Inspection (CBI) is a practical, engineer-led overview of a building’s observable condition to support purchase, lease, or internal decision-making. It is based on visual observations and professional judgment. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or standardized due diligence assessment.

We serve commercial properties throughout South Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.

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When a CBI is a good fit

Pre-purchase: Identify material conditions and near-term risks before moving forward.
Pre-lease: Understand building conditions and likely near-term issues before signing.
Internal evaluation: Get a baseline understanding of current conditions for planning and budgeting.
Lower-cost alternative to a PCA: A CBI is typically narrower and faster than a full Property Condition Assessment.

What we look at

The site inspection includes significant areas of the property that are readily and visually accessible at the time of the visit. The goal is to identify material conditions, visible deficiencies, and general building performance concerns that could affect your decision.

Building systems and components typically reviewed

Roofing systems: roof coverings, flashings, penetrations, drainage, and visible signs of leakage or distress
Structure: visible structural elements, distress indicators, cracking patterns, corrosion indicators, and water intrusion clues
Building envelope: exterior walls, windows, doors, sealants, waterproofing interfaces, and visible moisture pathways
HVAC and ventilation: major equipment condition indicators, basic functionality observations where feasible, and installation considerations
Electrical: service equipment, panels, visible distribution components, and general condition and safety observations
Plumbing: visible supply and drainage piping, water heating where applicable, and leakage indicators
Life-safety observations: visible fire and egress conditions and other apparent hazards observed during the walkthrough
Site and improvements: paving, parking, sidewalks, curbs, site drainage, and visible grading and water management issues

The evaluation highlights notable observed conditions, including items that may present elevated risk, warrant near-term attention, or reasonably be expected to require repair or replacement within approximately 0 to 5 years.

South Florida conditions we pay attention to

Coastal exposure: accelerated wear from wind-driven rain, salt air, and humidity
Water intrusion pathways: common envelope and waterproofing transition points
Concrete and corrosion indicators: early signs that may justify targeted follow-up
HVHZ considerations: roofing and exterior exposure factors typical in Miami-Dade and Broward markets

Deliverables

Written engineer-prepared report summarizing observed conditions and key findings
Representative photographs of major components and notable observed conditions
Professional observations and commentary focused on material risks and near-term considerations

The report reflects conditions observed at the time of inspection and is intended to support purchase, lease, or internal decision-making without extending into formal capital planning or detailed cost modeling.

CBI vs. Property Condition Assessment (PCA)

A CBI is often the right starting point when you want an engineer’s perspective without a full standardized due diligence product. Some lenders may accept a CBI. Others may require a more comprehensive and standardized PCA.

CBI: practical, visual, decision-focused, typically lower cost
PCA: more comprehensive, more standardized, often used for larger transactions and lender requirements

If you expect lender-driven requirements or need a broader standardized scope, see our PCA service:
Property Condition Assessment (PCA).

Optional scope enhancements

If helpful for your decision process, the scope can be customized to include repair cost opinions or targeted focus areas. If you tell us your goals upfront, we will recommend the simplest scope that fits the decision you are trying to make.

Engineer-led inspections

Our commercial building inspections are performed and / or reviewed by a licensed Florida Professional Engineer (P.E.). The value is not just the walkthrough. It is the engineering judgment behind what we flag, how we explain it, and what we recommend as the next step.

Request a proposal

The fastest next step is to request a proposal. If you are not sure whether you need a CBI or a PCA, include that in your note and we will point you in the right direction.