Chicago condo inspections · River North
River North condo inspections
River North condos are mostly 2000s high-rises and converted loft buildings. Newer doesn’t mean problem-free.
From my River North reports
What I find, building by building
I’ve done hundreds of condo inspections across Chicago, a lot of them right here in River North.
Newer high-rises
I regularly find HVAC units with no electrical shut-off, balcony GFCI outlets that don’t trip when tested, and laundry-closet outlets with no GFCI protection at all. Most bathrooms have no heat source of their own, and the HVAC filter is tucked inside the unit where it gets forgotten.
Loft and mid-rise conversions
Conversions show their history in the details: vanities missing an outlet, furnace return air pulled from right next to the furnace, and laundry closets with no ventilation.
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 whether the HVAC units are owner or association equipment, and how old they are.
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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