Are You Getting The RIGHT Inspection For Your Condo?

Homes come in every size and shape conceivable, sometimes leading to questions about what type of home inspection is really needed. Condos, villas and townhomes are often confused when ordering home inspections, making it difficult for your home inspector to provide you with the right type of inspection to fit your needs.

While there are many types of homes that may be part of a condominium association, a true condo consists of several one-story living units in a building that may be several stories tall. These true condos resemble an apartment, will always have at least one door exposed to the weather, and only receive an interior-only inspection as the entire exterior is the responsibility of the condo association and not the owner. Interior-only inspections are offered at a reduced rate from our regular full inspection services.

Villas come in many forms, but will always be a one-story building. Some villas may stand alone, while others may be attached to several other units. These are often referred to as duplexes, triplexes and quadroplexes, depending on the number of units per building. For the purpose of a home inspection, any of these multi-family buildings would be considered a villa if the building is one story and part of a condo association. Some associations are responsible for the exterior of the home, meaning that the owner is only responsible for the interior of the unit and needs an interior-only inspection. Other associations require the owner to maintain the exterior, meaning that the owner would need to have a full inspection, which is priced the same as a single family home.  Sometimes the roof is the only item on the exterior of the home that the owner is responsible for. Other times, the roof is the only exterior item that the owner is not responsible for.

Townhomes are very similar to villas in many respects, but are always two or more stories. Many townhomes will have a garage on the ground floor, with one or two living floors above. If there are two living floors above the garage, it is considered a three story townhome. If a garage is present, we must inspect it since the electric panel, water heater, and sometimes HVAC equipment are typically found in this area. Even if none of the previously mentioned equipment is present in the garage area, it still must be inspected to ensure that the rest of the home would not face potential hazards from conditions existing in the garage.

Be sure to ask your agent and/or association manager to confirm exactly what you are responsible for. If you need help identifying what type of inspection you need, please call us at 941-749-1152. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are glad to help you find the right inspection to fit your needs. Please visit our website at www.manateehomeinspection.com for detailed pricing on all of the services mentioned above.