Process & timeline
How long does a commercial property inspection take?
Field time runs from about three hours on a small retail or office building to two full days on a large industrial or multifamily property. The written report follows in three to five business days, and rush delivery is available when a contingency deadline requires it.
All FAQ / Process & timeline
Field time by property
| Property | Time on site |
|---|---|
| Office condo, single-tenant retail, small freestanding building | 3 - 4 hours |
| Multi-tenant retail center or medical office | 5 - 8 hours |
| Industrial or warehouse, 40,000 - 150,000 sf | 1 day, often two inspectors |
| Multifamily, 20 - 100 units | 1 - 2 days including unit sampling |
| Portfolio or campus | Scheduled in sequence, typically one building per half day |
What consumes the time
Roof access, mechanical and electrical rooms, and representative tenant spaces are the bulk of it. Multifamily takes longest because unit access must be coordinated with residents and a representative sample of units, usually ten to twenty percent, has to be entered. Industrial buildings look fast because the interior is open, but a large roof plane and multiple dock positions still take a full day to document properly.
The full timeline, start to finish
- Day 0 - you send the address, asset type and square footage; we return a fixed fee and scope, usually the same business day.
- Day 1-3 - access coordination with the seller, property manager or tenants, and a document request for plans, permits, service records and prior reports.
- Inspection day - field work, photo documentation, and a verbal summary of material findings before we leave the site if you want one.
- 3-5 business days later - written report with immediate repair and capital reserve tables.
How to compress it
The two things that shorten a timeline are early access coordination and early document delivery. If tenant notice has been given and the seller has already produced roof invoices, HVAC service records and permit history, we can often be on site within three business days of engagement and issue the report in three. What cannot be compressed is a Phase I ESA, which requires fifteen to twenty business days for records research regardless of how quickly the site visit happens.
Verbal findings before the written report
On tight contingency periods we provide a same-day or next-day verbal summary and a short written punch list of material findings, then follow with the full report. That is usually enough for you to decide whether to proceed, ask for a credit, or extend.
Related questions
People also ask
How long until I get the inspection report?
A standard commercial inspection report is delivered three to five business days after the site visit. A full ASTM E2018 Property Condition Assessment with cost tables takes five to ten business days, and rush delivery in 48 to 72 hours is available.
How soon can you schedule a commercial inspection?
We can usually be on site within two to five business days of engagement across San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Next-day and weekend inspections are available when a contingency deadline is short.
What affects commercial inspection pricing?
Six things move a commercial inspection fee: total building area, asset type, number of tenant spaces, building age and system complexity, roof type and access, and whether the deliverable is a walk-through report or a lender-grade ASTM E2018 Property Condition Assessment.
Can you meet a 10-day contingency deadline?
Yes for a condition assessment: we can often inspect within one to three business days and deliver a report in 48 to 72 hours. A full ASTM E1527 Phase I ESA cannot honestly be compressed into ten days, so the usual answer is a rush condition report plus a negotiated environmental extension.
Request a quote
Get this answered for your property
Send the address, asset type and approximate square footage. We reply with scope and fee, usually the same business day.
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