Advanced Inspection Services (AIS) has been conducting single-family home and condo inspections in the North Dallas area for more than 30 years. Our personnel have undertaken professional training and certification by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). We have examined hundreds of homes, apartment buildings and condominiums in Dallas. And over the years, our business has expanded to Plano, McKinney and Frisco, TX.
This experience enables our Dallas condo inspectors to readily identify problem areas (or potential problems) in a condo’s external or internal structural components or systems. We schedule inspections promptly and provide clients with a comprehensive inspection report within 24 hours. This prepares AIS clients to act quickly to evaluate home soundness and value. We enable our buyer clients to negotiate offers and set short closing dates in the competitive North Dallas real estate markets.
If you are buying or selling a condominium in Dallas, Frisco or Plano, call AIS today to schedule a professional condo inspection. Mike Martin (972) 342-9183
Condo Inspections in North Dallas
Many young professionals and empty nesters in North Texas are looking to downsize their homes. They prefer the simplicity of condo or townhouse living to the traditional single-family home. Active people don’t want to have a large house and the attendant maintenance headaches when they have so many other fun things to do!
This demographic trend has really increased our Dallas condo inspection business in the last few years. The surge of people moving to Texas for jobs and lower taxes creates a lot of activity in the residential real estate market. In the past five years, we have spent more time inspecting new homes. However, the largest increase has come from townhouse and condo inspections.
Due to the frenzied nature of the North Dallas real estate market, buyers need to submit appealing offers to sellers. They need to get their financing in order (cash or pre-approved loans). Buyers also need to limit the contingencies in offers to allay seller concerns. Finally, the buyer needs to get the condo inspection scheduled and completed as soon as possible. In an environment where sellers are getting multiple offers, the buyer who has the fewest contingencies and the shortest option period acquires an advantage. Our Dallas condo inspectors know this, so they schedule inspections promptly. We conduct these in a timely manner (typically just a few hours for a 2000 square foot condominium), and deliver a report to enable the buyer to make an informed decision.
Typical North Dallas Condo Inspection – February 2015
Mike Martin recently performed a Dallas condo inspection that illustrates the important aspects of our work. The condominium benefits from a great location in a desirable community near University Park. This appeals to commuters using the North Tollway and Northwest Highway. We knew the buyer would want the condo inspected thoroughly and promptly, so she could confirm the property’s value – and preempt competitive offers.
Like all AIS home or commercial building examinations, condo inspections encompass the dwelling’s main structural components. Mike first examined the foundation, drainage, roof structure and covering. Then he moved on to the interior and exterior walls. as well as the doors, windows, stairs, porches and deck. We also inspected the condo’s major systems: Electrical, Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). Condominium inspections entail some different aspects compared to single-family homes. Unlike detached housing, condos share structural components and systems with other units. But we subject these to the same rigorous procedures we use for standalone dwellings.
Thorough Condo Foundation and Electrical Inspections
This 1957 vintage first floor condo has a pier and beam foundation (very common in the Dallas area). So the inspector went into the crawl space to look for signs of structural problems. We also examined this space for water penetration or ventilation issues. Mike discovered some sill plate deterioration, but no major deficiencies or signs of potential problem. He reinforced this positive impression by walking the first level floors and observing no signs of unevenness.
The electrical inspection revealed some issues. We found several substandard components and deficient installations. These began with the electrical subpanel box (manufacturer/model known to have problems), improper grounding and improperly labeled breakers. These did not comply with the National Electrical Code, and we noted this in our report.
Mike also found problems with the polarity of several electrical outlets, and lack of Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) outlets in the kitchen. He observed spliced wires in one of the kitchen cabinets (with no electrical box). We see this kind of work all the time in our condo inspections. Evidently amateur electricians or previous owners made these modifications — clearly not the work of a licensed electrician.
Our inspection of the condo’s other systems and appliances did not find any discrepancies or issues. We found all to be in good working condition. Mike did observe some deflection cracks in the exterior masonry and stress cracks on interior walls that are indicative of foundation settling. But he did not deem these to be severe, and recommended re-mortaring the exterior cracks and patching the interior cracks.
Certified Home and Condo Inspectors – Dallas, Texas
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Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or an experienced real estate veteran, a professional condo inspection can ensure you’re getting a safe and sound residence, and good value on your purchase. The inspector’s report provides valuable information about the structural integrity of the building and functioning of major system. This can help you avoid buying a ‘lemon’. Additionally, it can assist you negotiate for a better price to compensate for deficiencies or problems discovered during our examination of the property.
We also conduct condo inspections for sellers, so they can identify any deficiencies or potential issues before the property is listed. This enables the seller to make repairs, so the buyer (and the buyer’s inspector) do not encounter any problems when they examine the home. This creates a much more positive impression – and generally a quicker sale at a higher price for the seller.
AIS enjoys a reputation as one of the the most experienced Dallas condo inspection companies. Our ability to schedule and perform inspections promptly and thoroughly enables AIS clients to make timely purchase offers and closing dates. Most importantly, our inspections give our clients the information they need to assess the value of the home. This helps you get what you pay for and saves you money.
Call AIS today to schedule your Dallas condo inspection. (972) 342-9183