How Much Does a Commercial Inspection Cost?
How do commercial inspectors determine prices?
Commercial inspectors have a few different methods they can use for pricing inspections. Some inspectors go by percentage of the sale price. This format of pricing is a longstanding approach to pricing large commercial inspection projects. The inspector will charge a percentage fee out of the total the building is being sold for, then subcontract other inspectors and experts to help them with the project. This form of pricing, however, can quickly drive up costs for the client and isn’t always a good strategy for pricing all types of commercial buildings.
Some inspectors go by a flat fee based on the building type and the types of components present on the property. This might be the most common type of pricing for commercial building inspections and offers a more fair pricing option to the client.
Finally, some charge by the square foot, which is also a common method for residential home inspectors. The price per square foot can vary depending on the state and are typically congruent with the cost per square footage of the property. A good rule of thumb for pricing commercial inspection per square foot is to stick between 16 cents to 30 cents per square foot. For example the inspection cost for a 5,000 square foot office building would cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500.
Ultimately, it’s hard to get an idea of an average cost of a commercial inspection because each building is different and every commercial inspector has a different method when determining the cost of the inspection. However, you should always look for commercial inspectors who have good reputations, experience, technical knowledge, and are fair and ethical in their practices and pricing.
What a commercial inspection includes at Focus Building Inspections
Every CCPIA - ASTM Property Condition Assessment/Inspection includes:
Foundation – construction, walls, floors
Roof – covering, flashing, drainage
Insulation – type, amount
Interior – walls, floors, rooms, offices, restrooms
Exterior – site, walls, windows & doors, drainage, parking lots & structures
Electrical & Plumbing Systems — including fire suppression systems
HVAC Systems
Every building will have unique structures and features. For a more comprehensive view of what an inspection can cover, check out our sample reports.
We Price Uniquely and Transparently!
Focus Building Inspections’s Easy Flat Rate Pricing
At Focus Building Inspections, we believe pricing should be simple and transparent. Our prices are based on the timeline of the project and number of inspectors needed to complete the project in that timeline. For example, typically a 5,000 sq ft office building will take approximately 3-4 hours to inspect with an additional 1-2 hours of report writing, the quote for this project would be $800. However, a 300 unit multi-family complex would require multiple inspectors (meet our team) with multiple days of inspections, plus a day of report writing.
Full-Day Rate (Per Inspector) - $800 (up to 8 hours)
Half-Day Rate (Per Inspector) - $450 (up to 4 hours)
We also offer these additional services that can be added as a flat fee onto the inspection project.
Termite Inspection + ODAFF Report | $150
Structural Engineer | Price Quoted Per ProjectSewer
Scope - $300 initial hour | $150 per subsequent hour
We inspect a full range of commercial buildings:
Office Buildings
Retail Spaces
Industrial & Warehousing Spaces
Multifamily Buildings
Hotels/Motels
Schools & Religious Buildings
Commercial RestaurantsShopping/Strip Malls
Sources:
https://ccpia.org/how-to-price-a-commercial-building-inspection/#:~:text=The%20fee%20would%20be%2012%2C000,may%20be%20higher%20or%20lower.
https://icaschool.com/state-licensing/oklahoma/#:~:text=The%20average%20fee%20for%20a,our%20online%20home%20inspection%20course.