I have heard it said that inspecting a condominium is an easy job. I don't know who said it, but I don't think they were inspecting condo's in Connecticut. The majority of condo's here seem to be built in the 80's. There are some from the 1970's all the way up to now, but the 80's seems to be the decade of the condo.
The last two units I inspected were both built in the early 70's, I know, it doesn't jibe with my observation. I have been in both complexes numerous times. As with any set of buildings, a company is in charge of the maintenance. One complex is obviously well maintained, the other not as well, but I have seen worse.
One part of any unit I make certain to look at is the roof. While I understand the exterior maintenance is under the responsibility of the maintenance company, a lot can be learned about on how well they are doing their job by examining the outside of the unit, especially the roof.
The unit I inspected most recently was in the complex with the okay maintenance company. Most of the buildings in this community have flat roofs, with the unit I was looking over being no exception. When inside I noted damage and repairs to the ceiling, this being a second floor unit. So as is my routine I got out the ladder and went up to the roof for a look. It had been pouring rain all morning, so this was an opportune time.
When I got up to the roof what I saw was no surprise. Pools of water right over the spots with the damage I saw inside. That's going to leak again. What I noticed next was a surprise. And quite concerning.
There was a wire, an electrical wire, running right through the pond on the roof. I followed it to a nearby security light attached to the roof edge. The other end went to another light. The wire was first off, not an outdoor grade, it once being mostly white. The white insulation however was mostly gone, a victim of the sun's UV light. The individual wires that had once been under the protective sheathing, were now getting some sunny rays of their own.
This installation is so wrong, so unprofessional that I would have a hard time even pinning it on old Uncle Bob. One would have to assume that since the work was done on the roof, the "installer" must have figured no one would see and be the wiser.
It is important to take a good look at the entire complex. Does it look nicely maintained or is it rough around the edges.
If you don't pay attention you could be in for a shock later on.
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