Chicago condo inspections · Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park condo inspections
Lincoln Park is a mix: vintage condo buildings, townhomes with roof decks, and new construction on the side streets. Each brings its own list.
From my Lincoln Park reports
What I find, building by building
I’ve done hundreds of condo inspections across Chicago, a lot of them right here in Lincoln Park.
Vintage condo buildings
Many of the condo buildings here are a century old with modern units inside. The finishes are new; the wiring behind them often isn’t. I regularly find outlets with an open ground, unlabeled breakers, and plumbing connections behind built-ins that nobody can reach without taking something apart.
Townhomes and roof decks
The roof deck door is the weak point. I often find it without a proper curb or sill pan flashing, which is how water gets into the top floor. Stairs and guardrails frequently don’t meet current safe building standards, and storage under the stairs is often left without the drywall that protects the stair from a fire below.
New construction
New doesn’t mean finished. On recent builds I find overhead electrical lines too close to the rear deck, bathroom sinks with no accessible shut-offs, and carpet laid in below-grade rooms where moisture collects.
Some findings show up in almost every Chicago condo, whatever the building: outlets that aren’t tamper-resistant, ranges without an anti-tip bracket, compression-style shut-offs under the sinks, and furnace condensate lines missing a trap. They’re cheap to fix, and I list every one so nothing surprises you after closing.
Your unit, and the building around it
What a condo inspection covers
Everything in and serving your unit: plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, appliances, and every room’s surfaces and fixtures. On a low-rise building I also walk the accessible exterior. The roof, structure and shared mechanicals belong to the association and fall outside a unit inspection. Where I can’t reach something, the report says so and tells you what to ask for.
Worth asking the association: For a townhome or roof-deck unit, ask who maintains the roof and deck, and when either was last replaced.
Who you’re hiring
One inspector, start to finish
I spent 15 years renovating houses, then 13 inspecting them. I do every inspection myself and write every report, the same day. Buyers rate me 4.9 out of 5 across more than 150 Redfin reviews. Condos from $325, with an exact price once you send me the address.
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