While the core purpose remains the same -- documenting a property's existing condition -- residential and commercial dilapidation reports differ in several important ways. Residential reports typically focus on a single dwelling, covering internal rooms, external facades, roofing, fencing, driveways, and landscaping. The inspection usually takes one to three hours.
Commercial reports are more involved. They may cover multiple tenancies, car parks, loading docks, lift shafts, fire stairs, plant rooms, and common areas. Specialised equipment such as crack monitors, level surveys, and thermal imaging cameras may be deployed. The inspection can take a full day or more for large buildings.
Cost reflects this difference in scope. Where a residential report might cost $400 to $800 in Perth, a commercial report for a multi-level office building or shopping centre could run from $2,000 to $10,000 or more. The qualifications of the inspector also differ -- commercial reports are more likely to require a structural engineer rather than a building surveyor alone.