The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) is an international community of real estate managers dedicated to ethical business practices, maximizing the value of investment real estate, and promoting superior management through education and information sharing.

1. An IREM Skill Builder.
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now
Maintenance on major building
systems comprises a significant
portion of the property’s
operating budget. These
systems also have the greatest
potential for risk in terms of
malfunction, loss, and expense.
Routine inspections and proper,
quality maintenance can help
reduce this risk.

2. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
10. Landscaping
Be on the lookout for
poor curb appeal, tree
limbs near windows,
plants overlapping
pedestrian walkways,
and improper snow
removal.

3. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
9. Pools, Fountains
Common issues
include missing
signage around the
pool, no screen or filter
around the pool, pond,
or fountain, and broken
rails on swimming pool
ladders.

4. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
8. Escalators
Inspect for stopped
escalators, gaps on the
sides of escalator
stairs, and loose/broken
belts.

5. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
7. Elevators
Inspect for a dirty elevator
room, trash in elevator pits,
missing signage (load,
permit, contact information),
a missing or non-working
emergency communication
system inside the elevator,
uneven leveling of the
elevator floor, doors not
closing completely, the
electronic eyes in elevator
doors not working properly,
and dirty elevator tracks.

6. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Look for disconnected
fire alarm systems,
leaking or missing
eschelons, locked
out/tagged out
equipment, lack of
signage on mechanical
or laundry rooms, and
improperly installed
smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors.
6. Fire and Life Safety

7. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Common issues include
trash or storage in an
electrical closet, an
extension cord plugged into
another extension cord, burn
marks on the wall above the
baseboard or heater, no
GFCI by sink, uncovered
junction and/or circuit
breaker boxes, and an
overloaded duplex outlet.
5. Electrical

8. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Inspect for leaks, rusted
pipes, stains or calcium
deposits, running
urinals or toilets, dirty or
overflowing grease
traps, retention ponds
that are overgrown or
filled with debris, and
electrolysis, or copper
connected to lead.
4. Plumbing

9. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Common issues
include pot holes,
expansion joints,
alligatoring, clogged
drainage catch basins,
and cracked/uneven
sidewalks.
3. Paved Surfaces

10. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Check for dirty filters,
dirty coils, dirty vents,
loose belts, and
residents or tenants
covering vents to limit
the amount of heat or
air conditioning coming
through.
2. HVAC

11. Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Be on the lookout for
ponding water, flashing
failure, clogged scuppers
or downspouts, conduit
not elevated on blocks,
separation of single-ply
roofing, bubbles on built-
up roofs, exposed felts,
and pitch pan issues
especially around HVAC
units.
1. Roofs

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Learn more in the IREM® Course
Managing The Physical Asset, and visit
www.irem.org.