A commercial property inspection with Golden Home Inspections starts from $599 in Toronto and across the GTA. The final price depends on the property: mainly its size, its use, its age, how many units and rooftop or mechanical systems it has, and whether you add services such as hazard testing. For that price you get a visual inspection of the building’s structure, envelope, roof, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, plus a written report with photos within 24 hours. Your inspector is Yama Nehan, a Certified and Registered Home Inspector with 15 years of inspection experience. For a quote on a specific building, call 647-704-7100 or book an inspection online.
Key takeaways
- Commercial inspections start from $599. The final price depends on the property.
- Size, use, age, number of units and the amount of mechanical equipment are what move the price most.
- A standard visit covers the structure, roof, exterior, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, interior finishes and visible fire and life-safety items such as exit signs and emergency lighting.
- It is a visual, non-invasive inspection. It is not an environmental site assessment, a zoning review, or a full engineering property condition assessment.
- Send the address, building size, use and any tenant information when you ask for a quote so the price is accurate from the start.
What is included in a commercial property inspection?
Whether you are buying a retail unit on Queen Street West, a small office in North York, an industrial condo in Vaughan or Mississauga, or a mixed-use building with apartments over a storefront in Scarborough or Etobicoke, the inspection follows the same structure. I walk the building, roof (where safely accessible), exterior and mechanical spaces, test what can be tested in normal operation, and document what I see with photos.
| Area | What we check | Why it matters to a buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Structure and foundation | Visible foundation walls, slab, columns and beams, cracks, movement and signs of water entry. | Structural repairs are among the most expensive surprises after closing. |
| Roof | Flat or sloped roof covering, flashing, drains and scuppers, ponding, parapets and rooftop penetrations. | Many GTA commercial buildings have flat roofs, and drainage problems show up as leaks inside. |
| Building exterior | Masonry, siding, storefront glazing, doors, sealants, grading, parking surfaces and walkways. | Envelope problems let water in and raise heating and cooling costs. |
| Heating, cooling and ventilation | Rooftop units, furnaces, boilers, unit heaters, ductwork and exhaust, including age and visible condition. | Mechanical equipment near the end of its life is a major budget item. |
| Electrical | Main service and panels (where safe to open), visible wiring, outlets and lighting in a sample of spaces. | Undersized or outdated service can limit what tenants can run. |
| Plumbing | Supply and drain piping where visible, water heaters, washrooms, fixtures and signs of leaks. | Old piping and hidden leaks cause damage and downtime. |
| Interior | Walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows and signs of past water damage in common and vacant areas. | Stained ceiling tiles and patched drywall often point to roof or plumbing issues. |
| Visible fire and life-safety items | Exit signs, emergency lighting, visible fire separations and obvious hazards we can see. | These items are noted so you can have the right specialist follow up. |
For more detail on the service itself, see our commercial property inspection page.
What changes the price of a commercial inspection?
We start from the $599 base and adjust for the time a building actually needs on site and in the report. These are the factors that move the price.
| Price factor | Why it affects the price | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Building size | More floor area means more rooms, systems and roof to walk and document. | A single retail unit in a Markham plaza versus a two-storey office building in Richmond Hill. |
| Type of use | Restaurants, light industrial and medical offices have more equipment and plumbing than a plain office. | A restaurant space with commercial exhaust in Toronto compared with an empty office suite. |
| Number of units | Each tenant space or apartment adds its own washrooms, panels and heating to check. | A mixed-use building in Etobicoke with three apartments over two shops. |
| Rooftop and mechanical equipment | Every rooftop unit, boiler or water heater takes time to inspect and describe. | A plaza with several rooftop HVAC units in Vaughan or Brampton. |
| Age and renovation history | Older buildings and buildings changed by several owners need a closer look at alterations and workmanship. | A pre-1980 storefront building on a main street in Scarborough or the Junction. |
| Access | Occupied tenant spaces, locked rooms and roof access affect scheduling and how much can be seen. | A fully leased building where tenants need notice before entry. |
| Add-on testing | Hazard testing such as asbestos, vermiculite, mould or radon is quoted separately on top of the inspection. | Sampling suspect pipe insulation or floor tiles in an older building. |
Because every commercial building is different, we quote after we know the address, approximate square footage, use, number of units and when we can get access. The final price depends on the property, and you get the number before the inspection is booked.
What a commercial inspection does not include
Knowing the limits up front helps you plan your due diligence and avoid paying twice for the same work.
- Environmental site assessment. A Phase I ESA looks at past land use and contamination risk. It is a separate service by environmental consultants, and lenders often ask for one on commercial deals.
- Engineering property condition assessment. Some lenders and larger buyers want a property condition assessment, often written to the ASTM E2018 standard, with cost tables prepared by an engineering firm. Our inspection is a practical visual inspection, not that report.
- Zoning, permits and legal use. Whether a use is allowed, or whether past work had permits, is checked with the city and your lawyer.
- Destructive testing. We do not open walls, lift roofing or dismantle equipment. Where something needs a closer look, the report recommends the right trade, such as a roofer, electrician or HVAC contractor.
How the commercial inspection works, from quote to report
- Send the details. Address, building size, use, number of units and your closing or condition deadline.
- Get the quote. We confirm the price, which depends on the property, and what is included.
- Arrange access. The listing agent or property manager arranges entry to tenant spaces, mechanical rooms and the roof.
- Inspection day. You are welcome to attend for the walk-through and ask questions as we go.
- Report within 24 hours. A written report with photos, sorted so you can see what needs attention now and what to budget for.
A situation we often see
A buyer looks at a plaza unit or a small mixed-use building and focuses on the lease and the price per square foot. On inspection day, the roof tells a different story: ponding water around a drain, older rooftop units, and patched ceiling tiles inside the space below. None of that is visible from the parking lot. Finding it before the condition date gives the buyer time to get a roofer’s or HVAC contractor’s opinion and decide how to proceed.
Cities we cover for commercial inspections
We inspect commercial properties across Toronto, including downtown, North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke, and across the west, north and east GTA: Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa. Earlier guides cover commercial inspections in Toronto, Vaughan and Markham, Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville and Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa. If the building is older, our hazard testing page explains asbestos, vermiculite, mould and radon testing you can add.
How to choose a commercial property inspector
Choose your inspector carefully. Ask about their certifications, how many years they have been inspecting, what kinds of commercial buildings they have done, and ask to see a sample report. A good report is clear, uses photos, and separates urgent issues from long-term maintenance. Golden Home Inspections is run by Yama Nehan, who also has a construction engineering degree from George Brown (Building Renovations), which helps when a building has a long history of alterations.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial property inspection cost in Toronto?
With Golden Home Inspections, commercial inspections start from $599. The final price depends on the property, including its size, use, age, number of units and mechanical equipment.
How long does a commercial inspection take?
A single small unit can take a few hours. Larger or multi-unit buildings take longer, and we tell you the expected time when we quote.
When will I get the report?
You receive a written report with photos within 24 hours of the inspection.
Is a commercial inspection the same as a Phase I environmental site assessment?
No. A Phase I ESA reviews contamination risk from past land use. A commercial inspection looks at the building’s physical condition. Many buyers need both.
Can you inspect a mixed-use building with apartments?
Yes. We inspect the commercial space, the residential units and the shared systems, and the number of units is factored into the quote.
Ready to book? Call 647-704-7100, email contact@goldenhomeinspections.ca, or book your commercial inspection online. Golden Home Inspections is based in Toronto, Ontario and serves the GTA, 9 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week.
Leave A Comment