General Resources

• The International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties (ComSOP)
• Glossary of Commercial Property Inspection Terms
• Commercial Real Estate Industry Terms
• Safety Guide for Approaching Commercial Building Systems
• Commercial Property Inspection Image Gallery
• Courses:
  • Commercial Inspection Standards of Practice
  • Commercial Inspection Code of Ethics
  • In-Person Training Calendar

Business Practices

• Getting Started as a Commercial Inspector:
  • Moving from Residential to Commercial Inspections
  • Who Can Perform Commercial Property Inspections?
  • Determining Your Business Structure
  • Defining Your Service Area
  • Preliminary Walk-Through Procedure
• Commercial Inspection Agreement (Between Inspector and Client)
• Research:
  • Document Research: Why It Matters
  • Pre-Inspection Questionnaire

• Speciality Consultants:
  • Creating Your Commercial Inspection Team Article
  • Hiring an Independent Contractor Article
  • Professional Services Contract (Between Inspector and Speciality Consultant)
  • Independent Contractor Agreement

Setting Fees & Writing Proposals

• How to Determine Inspection Prices and Write Proposals Online Course
• Competitor Analysis:
  • Competitor Analysis for Commercial Property Inspections
  • Competitor Analysis Spreadsheet

• Pricing:
  • Resources for Pricing Commercial Property Inspections
  • Calculating Your Inspection Fee: The Hourly Approach Article
  • Multi-Family Dwelling Inspection Fee Matrix Article
  • How to Price a Commercial Building Inspection Article
  • Online Fee Calculators
    • Commercial Property Inspection Fee Calculator
    • Multi-Unit Inspection Fee Calculator

• Proposals
  • Anatomy of Commercial Property Inspection Proposal Article
  • Commercial Property Inspection Proposal Template
  • Fillable PDF Proposal Feature on Inspection Fee Calculators
  • Email Templates for Sending Winning Inspection Proposals

Report Writing

• Introduction to Report Writing Online Course
• Commercial Property Inspection Checklist
• Organizing Multi-Family Inspection Report Article
• How to Use of Schedules in Reports Article
• Sample Reports
• Life Expectancies:
  • Understanding the Life Expectancy of Commercial Building Systems Article
  • Life Expectancy Chart

• Cost-to-Cure Reporting:
  • Cost-to-Cure Reporting In-Person Class
  • Repair/Replacement Cost Clause

Sales & Marketing

• Guide For Landing Jobs and Building Business Relationships
• Call Sheet Document
• Registering a DBA Article
• Marketing One-Sheets
• Branding Considerations for Commercial Property Inspection Companies
• How Home Inspectors Can Market Their Commercial Inspection Services Article
• How to Sell Commercial Inspections Article
• Online Marketing:
  • Commercial Inspection Website Guidance
  • Common Mistakes When Adding Commercial Inspections to Your Existing Website Article
  • How to Optimize Your Commercial Property Inspection Website for Search Engines

Low-Slope Roofing

• Online Courses:
  • Inspecting Low-Slope Roofs Online Course
  • Fixed Ladder Safety Online Course
• Low-Slope Roof Inspection Terms and Definitions
• Video’s:
  • Ballasted Roof Inspection Video
  • Walking a Low-Slope Roof Video
  • Common Defects Found During a Low-Slope Roof Inspection
• The History of Low-Slope Roofs Article
• Pre-Inspection Process for Commercial Roofing Systems Article
• Low-Slope Roof Components Article
• Types of Low-Slope Roof Insulation Article
• How Wind Uplift Can Affect a Commercial Building’s Roof Article
• Why Low-Slope Roofs Fail Article
• Low-Slope Roof Construction and Failure Assignment of Responsibilities
• Low-Slope Roof Reference Sheets
• Low-Slope Roof Defect Recognition Inspection Checklist
• Ladder Safety Inspection Checklist

 

Exteriors and Structure

• Online Courses:
  • Commercial Building Structural Evaluation Online Course
  • Accessibility Inspection for Existing Commercial Buildings Online Course
• Commercial Property Exterior Inspection Video
• What Inspectors Should Know About Bowstring Trusses
• Plumb, Level, Square , and Straight Article
• Commercial Building Exteriors Articles:
  • Concrete Tilt-Up Panels
  • Split-Face Block Concrete
• Conventionally-Reinforced Concrete vs. Prestressed Concrete Article
• Types of Lateral Force Resisting Systems in Commercial Buildings Article
• Concrete Slab Foundations: Monolithic and Stem Wall Article
• Fenestration: Exit Doors Article
• Fenestration: Curtain Walls, Window Walls, and Storefronts
• Inspecting Exterior Lighting at Commercial Buildings Article
• Inspecting Parking Areas at Commercial Buildings
• Catch Basins and Manhole Inspection Article
• Landscaping: Is It Included in a Commercial Property Inspection? Article
• Structural Evaluation Checklist

HVAC

• Inspecting Commercial HVAC Systems Online Course
• Systems
  • Rooftop Unit:
    • Commercial Rooftop Unit RTU Basics Article
    • Rooftop Unit (RTU) Inspection Video
  • Inspecting Hanging Gas Furnaces in Commercial Buildings Article
  • About Infrared Tube Heaters Article
  • About Water Oil Recovery Article:
  • Hydronic
    • Commercial Steam Boilers: A Primer Article
    • Steam Boiler: Types and Designs Article
    • Hartford Loop Article
    • Inspecting Hot Water Boilers and Steam Boilers Article
    • Cast Iron Steam Boilers Article
    • Low-Water Cutoffs Article
    • Steam Boiler Mechanics and Their Application in Commercial and Industrial Settings Article
  • Inspecting Mini-Split Ductless Heat Pumps Article
  • Evaporative Cooling
    • Evaporative Cooling at Commercial Buildings Article
    • Inspecting Evaporative Coolers (Swamp Coolers) Article
  • Central Plant Systems and Chilled Water Systems Article
  • Inspecting Air Curtain Units
  • Inspecting Electric Baseboard Heaters
  • Variable Air Systems (VAV) and How to Inspect Them
• Checklists
  • Split System
    • Forced Air Furnace Inspection Checklist
    • Electric Forced Air Furnace Inspection Checklist
    • Split System (Direct Expansion Inspection Checklist)
  • Mini-Split Heat Pump Inspection Checklist
  • Hanging Gas Furnace Inspection Checklist
  • Hydronic Systems
    • Warm Water Boiler Inspection Checklist
    • Steam Boiler Inspection Checklist
  • Infrared Radiant Tube Heater Inspection Checklist
  • Rooftop Unit (RTU) Inspection Check
  • Electric Baseboard Heating Inspection Checklist
  • AHU and VAV Box Inspection Checklist
  • Waste Oil Recovery Unit Inspection Checklist
• Legionnaires’ Disease CDC Resources:
  • Legionnaires’ Disease PDF
  • Controlling Legionella in Potable Water Systems PDF

Plumbing

• International Plumbing Code (IPC) and Commercial Property Inspections Article
• Assessing the Main Water Service at Commercial Building Article
• Backflow Preventers at Commercial Properties Article
• Commercial Water Towers
• Plumbing Devices for Waste Control at Commercial Properties
• Inspecting Restrooms at Commercial Properties Article
• Checklist for Inspecting Commercial Plumbing Systems Article

 

Electrical

• The Basics of Commercial Electrical Systems Video Series
• About the Electrical Service at Commercial Buildings Article
• Commercial Electrical Systems: What Is Three-Phase Power? Article
• How to Inspect a Commercial Electrical Panel Article
• Safe Clearances for Electrical Equipment: Working Space and Dedicated Space Article
• Inspecting Transformers Article

Life Safety

• Life Safety Inspection Course Online Course
• Life Safety Inspection: Fire Sprinkler Room and Related Components Videos and Article
• Fire Alarms Systems Article
• Firestops Article
• Inspecting for Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting at Commercial Buildings

 

Commercial Kitchens

• Inspecting Commercial Kitchens Online Course:
• Inspecting Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Article
• Deep Fryer Inspection Article
• Grease Trap Inspection Article
• Checklists:
  • Commercial Kitchen Inspection Checklist
  • Kitchen Fire Control System Inspection Checklist
  • Exhaust Hood Checklists:
    • Type I Hood Inspection Checklist
    • Type II Hood Inspection Checklist
    • General Kitchen Hood Inspection Checklist

• • Make-Up Air Unit Inspection Checklist