Due diligence
7 Things to Check Before Buying an Old Building
A short field list for the walk-through you take before the offer, not after.
Educational
1. Roof — assembly type, age, drainage and evidence of past leaks at the top floor.
2. Structure — floor framing, column connections, visible deflection, cracking patterns in masonry.
3. Electrical service — capacity at the meter versus the capacity your intended use requires.
4. Mechanical — equipment age, ventilation for the planned occupancy, and where new equipment would physically go.
5. Plumbing — supply material, drain condition, and whether stacks can be reused where your layout wants them.
6. Code exposure — what changes when the occupancy classification changes: egress, separations, accessibility, sprinklers.
7. Access and logistics — how material gets in, where equipment sits, and what the site allows during construction.
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