Chicago condo inspections · North Center & Avondale
North Center & Avondale condo inspections
Newer condo buildings sit next to century-old houses here. Condos are most of my work in the neighborhood, and the houses come with their own list.
From my North Center & Avondale reports
What I find, building by building
I’ve done hundreds of condo inspections across Chicago, a lot of them right here in North Center & Avondale.
Newer mid-rises
On the roof I regularly find exhaust flues too close to fresh-air intakes, damaged insulation on the AC refrigerant lines, and condensers set straight on the roofing. Inside, window frames with separating caulk and tub surrounds with mildew are common.
Older houses
The older homes often have exterior basement doors with no curb to stop water, and AC condensers sitting on dirt or blocks instead of a stable pad.
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: Ask who owns the rooftop equipment and how the roof is maintained.
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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