Since the tragedy this summer in Surfside, Florida, building managers and condo boards have been reviewing the cost of deferred repairs and their fiduciary responsibilities when it comes to facility safety and maintenance with greater scrutiny than ever before. But where to look first? There are many types of condos from high-rises to townhouses to….
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Commercial Real Estate – Accelerated Depreciation
What property types benefit most from accelerated depreciation with a Cost Segregation Study? Many of the costs embedded in a new or existing building can be segregated into categories that also allow for more rapid — or accelerated — depreciation. Many items inside the building – furnishings, fixtures, flooring and the like – can be depreciated….
A Pre-Lease Property Condition Report Pays For Itself!
Criterium Engineers provides the straightforward evaluation required for an extensive Pre-Lease Property Condition Report (also referred to as a property condition assessment) for clients looking to lease buildings of all sizes. They are especially useful for Triple-Net Lease negotiations. Be Informed! Investing in due diligence and being an informed lessee provides greater confidence in the….
The Challenge of Aging Buildings
The Surfside collapse and the resulting loss of life is tragic. In addition to dealing with the far-reaching impact of that collapse, many occupants, owners, and managers of most buildings are now asking whether something similar could happen to their building. The answer is that the structural health and future of any building depends on many variables….
HOA Client Services Introduces New Planning Tool
A differentiating factor when working with Criterium Engineers on a reserve study or other homeowner association (HOA) project is that our licensed, Professional Engineers conduct the work and are always available to answer questions—long after the work is completed. Now, an additional differentiator is being introduced that will have long-term impacts for HOA boards and property managers…..
Innovations Transform the Building Inspection Process
Emerging technology and innovation are continually transforming the building construction inspection process. Criterium Engineers evaluates and adopts appropriate new technologies to provide additional knowledge and information for our clients. Two inspection innovations in particular—the use of drones and thermal imaging—have been change drivers for Criterium Engineers in recent years, reaching areas that were previously unattainable by our….
Stairways and Decks Aren’t Safe Unless their Railings Are Secure
Your Home | Volume 35, Number 1 You’re standing in the basement waiting for a friend, who is following you down the stairs. Missing a step, your friend reaches for the railing, which breaks away from the wall. This will not end well for your friend, who may be seriously injured or worse; and it….
Hidden Dangers of Dryer Vents
Who would think venting a unit’s clothes dryer was so complicated? When was the last time the cleanliness of dryer vents was on your Board’s meeting agenda? Yet, clothes dryers may be one of the most dangerous appliances in the home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there are more than 15,000 home fires….