Commercial Property Inspectors Roundtable Meeting #12

The Commercial Property Inspectors Roundtable Meeting is a monthly meeting hosted by the Certified Commercial Property Inspectors Association (CCPIA^®) for inspectors across the nation to gather and discuss business development opportunities and strategies.

Participants shared their insights on ancillary services, regional market conditions, differences between a PCA and a commercial property inspection, and new education.  Key points included some of the tools used to perform tension tests on receptacles.

CCPIA^® Find an Inspector Directory 

• Members can use the “Find an Inspector” tool to help them locate inspectors across the county. Many inspectors are beginning to branch out and have opportunities that are not local to their markets. 
• “Find An Inspector” provides CCPIA^®-Certified inspectors the opportunity to list their companies or themselves in a search tool for CRE professionals. 
• Member can use the Commercial Property Inspection Referral and Job Board to refer members to jobs nationwide or hire inspectors for specific jobs or their company.

Social Media 

• Using social media to help develop business is another tool for commercial inspectors to use.
• Some inspectors will use consultants to help them maintain their social media accounts while others will do it on their own.

Receptacle Tension Testing

• The NFPA 99 6.3.3.2 requires certain receptacles in certain buildings to have annual inspections. These inspections include:
  • Physical integrity of each receptacle
  • Continuity of the grounding circuit in each receptacle
  • Correct polarity of the hot and neutral connections in each receptacle
  • Retention force of the grounding blade of each receptacle shall not be less than 115g
• Inspectors with knowledge of these rules and regulations can perform these inspections.
• Specific tools are required (i.e., receptacle tension testers)
  
• Another Electrical ancillary service is infrared inspections on panelboards and switchgear. There will be a session during the InterNACHI Professional Inspectors Conference about this type of inspection. 

Accessibility Inspections

• One  inspector is building an accessibility template for their software and is looking for material guidance on formatting.
• Using the standard “yes/no” checklist fulfills the requirements but some form of accent should be present to highlight those conditions that do not comply with the ComSOP Section 15.
• Each element of the accessibility checklist should be separated out and the report is not a summary but an item-by-item list.
• Adding accessibility as an ancillary or primary service can help secure clients that might be on the fence about your offerings. 

PCR vs. Commercial Property Inspection

• These terms can be interchangeable. They are both nomenclature terms used to describe a property inspection on a commercial property. 
• It is important to make sure that the standards being used for the inspection are identified and referenced so that the client clearly understands the services being provided. 

Market Trends

• Participants in the call were asked to share marketing experiences and success stories. Especially those stories that involve unique sourcing opportunities. 
• One participant asked about Inspector Media and if there has been success with commercial inspections through that service. 

Announcements

• Announcement of the upcoming 2024-2025 in-person class schedule, which will soon be published on CCPIA’s In-Person Classes and Events Calendar.
• Promotion of InterNACHI’s Professional Inspectors Convention in Orlando, Florida, held from October 10 – 12, 2024.
• Promotion of Commercial Pricing Workshop being held virtually on November 12, 2024. This workshop will help inspectors refine their pricing models and methods for calculating fees.