It Pays to Stick To Your Guns

Had a call 1 week ago for a 6,000 sq ft commercial inspection, an old Elks Lodge a nonprofit was buying. Wasn't too difficult as it was mostly open air inside, CBS construction, 1 continuous shingle roof, 10 HVAC units, 3 phase, usual. I priced it at .10 cents a square foot plus a little extra for time at $750. Client said they would not pay that, I told them ok, but thats what it will take to hire us. Client goes out, gets some jobber inspector who quoted them $350. Guy shows up with a camera, flashlight, and notepad and goes inside the building, looks around, says to the client "I have no idea what I am doing" turns around, and walks right out of the building, gets in his pickup and leaves. Guess whose commercial building we inspected today. I just love the typical Florida Home Inspector.

Good job, Glen! (Is that really the typical Fla inspector?)

I actually applaud the home inspector who recognized he didn't have the skills or report to back up an inspection of an older commercial building. wish there were more of them around.

Nice! I don't do commercial because I know I am not qualified. One day though.

Juan Jimenez wrote:Nice! I don't do commercial because I know I am not qualified. One day though.

William Chandler wrote:

Juan Jimenez wrote:Nice! I don't do commercial because I know I am not qualified. One day though.

Me too. Recall Nathan saying if you do Commercial, people will believe more you are an expert. Have never run across a good class, tho'. Maybe Mike Casey will come thru in that regard. But in the meantime, I feel blessed the local inspection school here will be having a one-day Commercial inspection course in Feb.

It's on the list. I have a 16 hour video of a classroom commercial class, but that's a lot of time to watch a class. We need to break it up into 1 hour segments.

Anyway, yes commercial is good business. We did one a month or so ago, 6500 sq.ft. total in four old buildings for 2,250.

Thanks!

Mike Casey wrote: I have a 16 hour video of a classroom commercial class, but that's a lot of time to watch a class. We need to break it up into 1 hour segments.

Commercial Building Inspections: The Mini Series

All the drama, intrigue, and knowledge a home inspector could hope for.

Can't wait

I promise no love triangles though.

Bring it on. commercial is a good portion of our business.

Mike Casey wrote:It's on the list. I have a 16 hour video of a classroom commercial class, but that's a lot of time to watch a class. We need to break it up into 1 hour segments.

Anyway, yes commercial is good business. We did one a month or so ago, 6500 sq.ft. total in four old buildings for 2,250.

Thanks!

Good Idea, will generate more interest broken down

Light commercial like this one is really no different than residential, its just packaged a little differently. Industrial, yes, very different. We don't have the training for it, so we're not there yet. Light commercial has all the components of a house, attic with insulation, ductwork, hvac systems, a few electric panels. It actually was alot simpler in some regards as the inside was mostly open air, a few small offices. Commercial kitchen which we excluded. Took us only a few hours onsite and 1 hour writing and sending report out. You're doing yourselves a disservice by not delving into it, especially if you have an assistant or more inspectors on your roster.

.10/sf is very very low for comm'l work.

Pete Campbell wrote:.10/sf is very very low for comm'l work.

I had a person call this week for a 76,000 sq ft commercial building. They had a bid of $1800 and thought that was too much. They wanted to get it for 900 or less. I told them I would be more than the 1800.

This is a very common thing other than the fact they admitted they did not know what they were doing. Here in my market they do it then call me asking me a lot of questions which often results in me telling them they have no business inspecting a commercial building. I personally do a lot of commercial and have done structures all the way up to 600,000 sq ft, thats right over ten acres under roof.. That project took 2 weeks to do and a week to write the 400 page report.

The other one that gets me is a class they teach on commercial buildings in which they do a complete visual inspection without operating equipment and then put a condition remark such as good, fair, or poor.

They write down the roof was a metal roof, average condition.
there were 43 parking spaces, good condition.
electrical, good,
plumbing fixtures, fair

They do not inspect and write up non bonded panels, double lugged breakers, the exact defects with the roof, etc, etc, etc. They charge far less for these bullshit inspections and the client buys the building with roof leaks, fire hazards, foundation and drainage issues and so on.

If we want to be labeled as professionals we must act like one. (for many in this business act is a key word cause thats all they are is an actor)