Should You Get a Home Inspection For a Condominium?
A condo inspection is a crucial step to protect your investment. The Homeowners Association (HOA) is responsible for the common elements (like the roof, foundation, hallways, and amenities), but you are solely responsible for everything inside your unit—often called the "walls-in."
A condo inspection focuses on the health and safety of your individual unit and can save you thousands of dollars in unexpected repairs.
Prudent inspectors will also check accessible common elements (roof, siding, etc.) that are managed by the HOA, to identify any issues that could adversely impact the buyer - e.g. components that are in need of maintenance, or beyond their useful life.
Here are the primary reasons why a condo inspection is essential.
1. You Are Responsible for Everything "Walls-In"
The inspection will assess all the major systems that are your personal financial responsibility. If they fail, you pay to fix them, not the HOA. This includes:
Plumbing System: The inspector checks for active leaks under sinks, around toilets, and at the water heater. They'll test water pressure, ventilation, check for clogged drains, and look for signs of previous water damage (stains, mold, rot) on walls, ceilings, floors and inside cabinets.
Electrical System: This is a major safety check. The inspector will remove the electrical panel cover to check for hazards (like faulty wiring or overheating breakers), and test outlets/switches, and ensure safety devices like GFCI outlets (in kitchens/baths/balconies) working and smoke detectors are present.
Heating & Cooling (HVAC): The inspector will run your furnace and air conditioner to ensure they are functioning properly. Replacing an HVAC unit is a major expense ($7,000 - $12,000+) that would fall entirely on you.
Appliances: All included appliances (stove, dishwasher, microwave, washer/dryer, disposal, refrigerator) are tested to see if they are in working order.
Windows and Doors: The inspector checks for broken seals (foggy windows), drafts, and improper operation/maintenance, which can lead to higher energy bills and/or water intrusion.
2. Issues from Common Components Can Damage Your Unit
Even if the HOA is responsible for the roof, a roof leak becomes your problem the moment it stains your ceiling and warps your hardwood floors.
Water Intrusion: An inspector is trained to spot the subtle signs of a leak coming from outside your unit—whether from the roof, an exterior wall, or the unit above you. Catching this early is critical.
Structural Clues: While the inspector isn't inspecting the entire building, they can see red flags from within and adjacent to the unit. Large cracks in your walls or sloping floors could indicate a more significant (and very expensive) problem with the building's foundation - an issue that could lead to a "special assessment."
3. Special Assessments
A "special assessment" is a one-time fee the HOA charges to all owners to cover a major repair that the regular budget or reserve fund can't handle (e.g., a new $1 million roof).
An inspector can spot signs that the building's common elements are being neglected, including deferred maintenance, visible exterior damage, or signs of water penetration; these are red-flags that the HOA may be poorly managed and under-funded.
4. Negotiating Power
This is one of the biggest financial benefits. If the inspection report reveals that the water heater is failing, the AC isn't cooling well enough or a toilet is leaking, you have a professional, 3rd-party report. You can use this to:
Ask the seller to perform the repairs before closing.
Negotiate a price reduction to cover the cost of the future repairs.
Without an inspection, you would inherit these problems and pay for them 100% out of your own pocket after closing on the property.
What a Condo Inspection Doesn't Include
A condo inspection is not the same as a single-family home inspection. Some inspectors may not assess the roof & siding, and generally, inspectors will not evaluate specialty items such as boiler-rooms, elevators, or pools.
The physical inspection is only be part of the due diligence, a documents review should also be performed:
Review the HOA Documents: While it's prudent to review the HOA's financial statements and minutes from recent board-of-directors meetings, the most important document relative to the common property is the Reserve Study.
Reserve Study: This document tells you the financial health of the HOA. It lists all major common elements (roof, siding, elevator, etc.), their expected lifespans and maintenance-schedules, and whether the HOA is financially prepared for their eventual replacement or maintenance.
The Inspection + Reserve Study
The Inspection - the physical condition of the private condo, and some common components.
The Reserve Study - indicates the HOA's financial preparedness for maintaining the common property.
Together, they provide a clearer picture of the physical condition of the condo unit and the common property, allowing you to make an informed decision.
