Affordable building inspections can help ensure a property meets national, state and local standards. It can also catch any problems that could otherwise become more serious.
For Section 8 housing choice voucher participants, inspections must be conducted to receive rental subsidies. These inspections are usually either in-person or done via a government tablet.
Drone Inspections
Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors provide an in-depth visual assessment of a building’s condition. They also capture historical data, allowing for a visual comparison and trend analysis.
Working at height is a risky part of any inspection, but drones eliminate the need for technicians to climb structures. It saves time and money and helps to reduce risk for workers.
During a recent roof and chimney inspection, a company used a drone to gather the necessary information without erecting scaffolding or hiring a cherry picker. It was significantly quicker and saved months of labour that would have been needed with traditional methods. The drone’s thermal imaging ability also meant that areas where insulation was thin, or heat was escaping were quickly identified – saving further costs and enabling repairs. Moreover, drones provide a digital paper trail for companies, giving them access to valuable inspection data that can be referenced.
Video Inspections
The cost of a video inspection can vary depending on the inspection type and the property size. For example, sewer camera scopes can range from $300 to $600 per block point inspected. The more expensive models feature high-resolution cameras, self-righting capabilities, and recording capacities.
Video platforms that use augmented reality (AR) and digital process automation can be useful for reducing costs. They provide remote inspectors with contextual data that helps them perform tasks more efficiently and accurately. For more affordable building inspections, check this out.
It is a precious tool for affordable housing and homeownership programs. The recent building fires at the Ghost Ship in Oakland and Grenfell Tower in London have highlighted the tension between providing affordable housing and ensuring that these structures meet safety requirements. The solution is a combination of policies that prioritise affordable housing and safety inspections that can be performed in communities with limited resources.
Onsite Inspections
The onsite inspection is when someone visits your building to see it in person. It is done when there is a complaint, to check that an area has been inspected, and for other reasons. Your local inspector often conducts these inspections, and you can find their locations by looking up your address on the City’s GIS Portal.
HUD’s physical inspection standards require that subsidised units are inspected before a family moves in and at each turnover. The Housing Preservation and Development Department (HPD) conducts these inspections, as well as Section 8 apartment inspections.
A timber inspection checks for damage to roof, wall and floor timbers. It includes checking for signs of termites or wood-destroying pests, which can have catastrophic consequences.
Virtual Inspections
During the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing virtual inspections was a practical and reliable way to complete property walkthroughs in multifamily and gated communities.
Virtual inspections require a stable internet connection with full-strength Wi-Fi and a high-quality camera that can capture a sweeping view of the space. For best results, choose a platform that offers a user-friendly interface for the person facilitating the inspection.
A typical building inspection consists of a visual examination, walking through the interior spaces and reviewing documentation associated with the property. It can include inspection reports from previous renovations, maintenance logs and insurance policies.