The first thing I do on commercial building inspections is look at the windows. What could possibly be wrong with those big, strong, thick, heavy windows?
How they were installed. Oh, and the caulking. Not to mention what surrounds them. Etc. Just about everything!
On this 24 year old building the caulking was separating and the mortar joints were cracking. The water getting in to the metal lintel over the window was causing rust. This is the weather side of the building, so installation is very relevant!
This is over each corner of the same window. Cracking caulk, mortar joint deterioration and rusting lintel. Representative. Does this cause problems inside?
Gee, you tell me! Methinks this has been like this for a while. What you see outside above each side of this window is contributing to what you see in each side of this window! Someone was using this office, many hours a day! Someone new WILL be using this office, many hours a day. Yummie...
My recommendation: don't think that an inspection on a commercial building, even if you are renting the space, isn't worth the effort! Things crop up, and building maintenance should be informed!
And in this area you might just meet a fellow AR member! It was great to finally meet and interact with commercial realtor Michael Setunsky!
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
How lovely. So glad you got to meet another local Active Rainer. That is really cool.
It is yummie Debbie. I hear it tastes like chicken. I was the first AR guy Michael had ever met! He referred me to this organization, but I had actually done an inspetion for them before!
Long term leases with leaky...windows, basements, roofs, can be more than a little irritating....
Hi Jay - Very true. The cost of not having a commercial inspection can be very expensive.
This is going to be a long-term lease S&D! So you are right there. They wanted to know what to expect, and to have a record of what was going on when they moved in!
Marc - I don't do that many of them every year, but when I do they turn out to be valuable for the clients. More people should consider them.
Does this mean the owner will be getting some fixes done before your client moves in? Just hope the owner isn't going to try to do the work themselves.
Steven - I don't know how it works. The clients sent me a little note saying how pleased they were with the inspection, so maybe they can get some things done.