If you’re buying a condo, should you get a home inspection? I’m a home inspector, so of course I’m going to tell you yes. But what can really go wrong at a condo? If you need convincing, check out my post on condo inspections, featuring 40 photos of things you’d want to know about before buying: Do Condos Need Home Inspections?
Assuming you’re convinced, what should you expect to be inspected if you’re hiring us? We’ll inspect what belongs to you. I’ll break it down into what’s included in every condo, what’s included in some condos, and what’s not included.
What gets inspected at every condo
We inspect all of the interior components, such as:
- The floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, cabinets, and countertops.
- Fixed kitchen appliances and laundry appliances.
- Plumbing components, such as the sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, and any visible water lines, drains, and vents.
- Electrical components, such as outlets, switches, lights, wiring, and the electric panel. Every condo has its own electric panel. Side note: approximately 40% of the hazardous FPE Stab-Lok panels we find are in condos, while condo inspections account for only 5% of our business.
- HVAC components, such as heating and cooling sources, dryer ducting, and exhaust fans.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Gas lines.
- Fireplaces, typically gas.
What gets inspected at some condos
- The furnace and air conditioner. Many condos have their own heating and cooling appliances, which are the sole responsibility of the condo owner. This is just like a single-family home.
- The water heater. Again, many condos have their own.
- The water softener.
- The deck or balcony. Most condos have their own, and we inspect this area for safety, to whatever degree we can access.
- The attic area. Many condo units have an attic access panel. If we can get up there, we will inspect it.
- The garage, when a unit has its own dedicated area. This might be a tuck-under garage or a detached garage with a dedicated stall and an overhead door.
What’s not included in a condo inspection
The common areas owned by the condo association are not included in the home inspection. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Exterior components.
- Roofs.
- Siding/wall coverings.
- Driveways and common parking areas.
- Structural components.
As you can see, there is still a long list of important items to inspect when you’re buying a condo. Nobody ever hires us to inspect a condo and regrets it later, because there is so much in common with a single-family home. If you have specific questions about a condo you’re buying, feel free to reach out to us. We’re happy to discuss specifics before scheduling.
