Inspecting a Hotel (Hampton Inn)

[SunReal]

I am an experienced inspector in Arizona. I have had my own company for over 2 years and generally have done residential inspections, although have done about 20 commercial buildings (medical, warehouses, retail).

I am meeting with a realtor who specializes in Hotel/Motel sales, and wants me to review a fairly new (5 year old) Hampton Inn.

Any input from experienced inspectors on specific issues that we need to look for above and beyond the standards we always use.

Im just looking for any "land mines" in this process that I may not have anticipated.

We have done our due diligence on commerical inspections specific to hotels , but would apprecitate any ideas.

Also, its about a 400 unit complex, and looking for a good guideline for a fee.

Thanks. I am just in the process of joining NACHI.

[Gary T. Heller]

I have never inspected a hotel but I imagine that some of the rooms have kitchenettes. Is each room cooled by a separate dx unit or is there a central chilled water plant? Will you be inspecting Life Safety issues like sprinklers, fire alarms and detection? Are the stairways enclosed or open? How about elevators?

I would take this on with a team that had members specializing in specific areas. I am a new NACHI member but so far quite impressed with this organization. I will be interested to see what response you get.

Good Luck!

[wsiegel]

"I would take this on with a team that had members specializing in specific areas".

Ditto.

On something that large, I would definetly take an electrician, an air conditioning company, and a roofer. There are too many details that can be over looked by not having these contrctors there. You will need to get some quotes from them before you can give your price. There will be some varying opinions on price here, but I would charge about 12 to 18 cents per square foot (that should cover the other contractors).

On something that large, you may want to include a structural engineer (that will drive your price up). I give my clients the option of that one, and I disclaim that I am not a structural engineer.

Sprinklers and fire alarms usually require a specialist, so you may also want to include them. Sometimes the agent / buyer will hire his own person for that.

There will be a restaruant / bar in the hotel most likely. You should disclaim those areas, or hire someone to inspect the equipment - refirgerators, freezers, hood systems, etc. Also, dont forget about the grease traps.

If you are able to do ADA you can include that, or also sub that out.

Most inspectors will disclaim enviornmental (a phase 1 usually costs around $4000.00). Great money if you know how to do one. If not, be sure to recommend that they have one done.

These are great inspections, if you can land them. Most of what you are doing is being done by other contractors. You become the forman on the job, and get paid well to do it. Good Luck.

[SunReal]

Thanks Bill. Ill keep you posted on how it goes.

[dharris]

I would get in touch with Dale Duffy and pay him a consulting fee.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

I suggest that you check out this thread.
It is from an “inspector” who is going to attempt to conduct an inspection of a Church. He wasn’t even sure if this was considered a “Commercial Inspection”.
I would be shocked if after this inspection he did not wind up in a courtroom.
http://www.nachi.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12286

Here is my response to him.

Re: inspecting churches

Quote:
Originally Posted by ccbrands1
what would others charge for this???

Sir,
With all due respect just by reading your questions it is obvious that you are in way over your head.

This is indeed a "Commercial Inspection" and should be inspected according to ASTM 2018-01.
I suggest that you "Do the right thing" and pass on this inspection.

• You would be doing a great disservice to your client by proceeding with this matter.
• I STRONGLY suggest that you attend a Commercial Inspection course and become trained and certified before you attempt something like this.

NACHI is offering a FREE Commercial Certification course in Colorado with one in New York coming up soon. I am sure that there will be other dates and times and I am sure that you will be given the opportunity to inspect other commercial buildings.

I am a recognized “Expert Witness” in the judicial systems of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. I am called in to testify against untrained and non certified / licensed people who during the course of their “Inspection” either missed a defective “high dollar” item or who just botched the majority of the so called inspection.

This is a common occurrence. Sadly too many people just see the $$ and ignore the fact that they are not trained to conduct a commercial inspection.
Commercial Inspections call for a higher degree of Technical Expertise and Experience.

• I suggest that you attend a “Commercial Inspection Course” and become trained and Certified before you attempt this type of inspection.

www.nachi.org/comden.htm


Whatever your decision is, I wish you all of the best.

[wsiegel]

For 45.00, you can download a copy of the ASTM standards from their site.

[ccbrands1]

Originally Posted by fcarrio

I suggest that you check out this thread.
It is from an “inspector” who is going to attempt to conduct an inspection of a Church. He wasn’t even sure if this was considered a “Commercial Inspection”.
I would be shocked if after this inspection he did not wind up in a courtroom.
http://www.nachi.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12286

Here is my response to him.

Re: inspecting churches

Quote:
Originally Posted by ccbrands1
what would others charge for this???

Sir,
With all due respect just by reading your questions it is obvious that you are in way over your head.

This is indeed a "Commercial Inspection" and should be inspected according to ASTM 2018-01.
I suggest that you "Do the right thing" and pass on this inspection.

• You would be doing a great disservice to your client by proceeding with this matter.
• I STRONGLY suggest that you attend a Commercial Inspection course and become trained and certified before you attempt something like this.

NACHI is offering a FREE Commercial Certification course in Colorado with one in New York coming up soon. I am sure that there will be other dates and times and I am sure that you will be given the opportunity to inspect other commercial buildings.

I am a recognized “Expert Witness” in the judicial systems of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. I am called in to testify against untrained and non certified / licensed people who during the course of their “Inspection” either missed a defective “high dollar” item or who just botched the majority of the so called inspection.

This is a common occurrence. Sadly too many people just see the $$ and ignore the fact that they are not trained to conduct a commercial inspection.
Commercial Inspections call for a higher degree of Technical Expertise and Experience.

• I suggest that you attend a “Commercial Inspection Course” and become trained and Certified before you attempt this type of inspection.

www.nachi.org/comden.htm



Whatever your decision is, I wish you all of the best.

I'm an inspector, not an "inspector"
Not saying I have boat loads of experience, or CMI, or whatever.
But I am an inspector.
I do appreciate the concerns you've posted and have not yet committed to the job.
I have not had formal training for commercial inspections.

Is there anyone else that would be willing to admit that they have performed commercial inspections without being specifically trained first?

Or has no one taken the risk?

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by ccbrands1

I'm an inspector, not an "inspector"
Not saying I have boat loads of experience, or CMI, or whatever.
But I am an inspector.
I do appreciate the concerns you've posted and have not yet committed to the job.
I have not had formal training for commercial inspections.

Is there anyone else that would be willing to admit that they have performed commercial inspections without being specifically trained first?

Or has no one taken the risk?

With all due respect. I see that you have less than three years in the inspection industry, and that you are not certified through NACHI. I take that to mean that maybe you are not certified by anyone. Your questions as to whether this Church is considered a Commercial Inspection set off alarm bells. My concern is not whether or not you are going to miss something. My concern is that whatever you miss is going to be enough for you to be sued.

Many have taken the risk without being trained. I saw one inspector sued for
over $400,000.00 dollars. Most inspectors are sued for $50,000.00 to $250,000.00
>As a recognized Expert Witness I have never been on the losing end of a court case.<

Quote:
I am a recognized “Expert Witness” in the judicial systems of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. I am called in to testify against untrained and non certified / licensed people who during the course of their “Inspection” either missed a defective “high dollar” item or who just botched the majority of the so called inspection.

This is a common occurrence. Sadly too many people just see the $$ and ignore the fact that they are not trained to conduct a commercial inspection.
Commercial Inspections call for a higher degree of Technical Expertise and Experience.
End Quote:

As some have mentioned "They want to hire a team of experts" to conduct the inspection and then they want to collect their reports and the "Big Payday".

My questions is this ... What happens when one of your "Experts" misses something? He is the expert, not you. How are you going to know if one or more of your "Experts" missed something.?

I repeat ...
Commercial Inspections call for a higher degree of Technical Expertise and Experience.

[wforsyth]

Good news is we get to go get trained for it. It's a start at least. I've been waiting all year to sink my teeth into something like this, and free is just icing on the cake!

[rwand1]

Windy

There is a rumour circulating you have false teeth. One day in a moment of confusion you put your teeth in backwards which resulted in you eating out half your head!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I repeat ...
Commercial Inspections call for a higher degree of Technical Expertise and Experience.

Try building these babies !!

Marcel

[jrivera]

Originally Posted by rwand1

Windy

There is a rumour circulating you have false teeth. One day in a moment of confusion you put your teeth in backwards which resulted in you eating out half your head!

Sorry Wendy, but that was pretty funny, that is of course........unless you put on a hat and it sits on your shoulders !


Mic

[jmichalski]

Try to ignore Frank, or accept that he is better than you (since he says so.)

I am personally amused by the idea that if NACHI didn't "certify" you (by paying the $ and taking the easy on line test) than you must not be credible.

If you feel confident in your abilities to inspect the systems present, or can hire qualified professionals to accept responsibility for the sections you are not proficient in, then you should accept the job. The formal training classes are more about ASDM standards, marketing and job management - oh, and don't forget to buy the vendor's commercial inspection software!!

[jmichalski]

Originally Posted by ccbrands1

I'm an inspector, not an "inspector"
Not saying I have boat loads of experience, or CMI, or whatever.
But I am an inspector.

If you choose, you can be a CMI with no actual experience. All it takes is a check and a"lifetime" credit for 1000 hours of "inspection related" education (no verification necessary).