Investment Property Inspections
Single-family rentals, duplexes, triplexes and four-unit properties across Cleveland and Akron. For buildings with five or more units, see apartment / multi-unit building inspections. With several full-time inspectors, we can cover multiple units in a single day.
How it works
- We coordinate access with your agent for the property you want inspected.
- You get an email confirmation, an inspection agreement to sign online and an invoice to pay online.
- A licensed inspector goes through the property. Timing depends on getting tenant approval for access.
- Your report is published the same day. Text us with any questions after you read it.
Who inspects your investment property
Your investment property is inspected by one of our Ohio-licensed home inspectors, following the Ohio home inspection standards of practice. Each inspector’s Ohio license number is listed on Meet the team.
Because we’re a multi-inspector team, we can split up multi-unit and multi-property jobs. For one investor, we inspected 17 tenant-occupied properties, from single-family to five-family homes, plus a 30+ unit apartment building, in 2.5 days. Read about that portfolio.
Your report is an online, narrative-style report with high-resolution photos, published the same day as the inspection. See sample inspection reports.
What we often find in older Cleveland rentals
Built about 1890 to WWII
- Clay tile block foundations
- No subflooring
- Furnaces or boilers 40–50 years old
- Knob-and-tube wiring, Federal Pacific panels
- Possible lead paint, asbestos siding
- Galvanized or lead supply piping
- Damp basements, mold, wood-destroying insects
Built about WWII to the 1960s
- Concrete block foundations
- Plank subflooring
- Only 1–3 inches of attic insulation
- Ungrounded wiring, Federal Pacific panels
- Possible sanitary line breaches
- Damaged brick siding
Examples of these conditions
Real photos from our inspections of conditions listed above. The photos show the conditions, not necessarily homes from that era.
Built about 1890 to WWII
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FoundationCrumbling, broken blocks in a foundation wall. -
WiringA knob and tube wire, marked with an arrow, beneath loose-fill attic insulation. -
HeatingAn older gravity furnace with no blower fan.
Built about WWII to the 1960s
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FoundationA crack in a concrete block foundation wall. -
PanelAn older electrical panel with its cover open. -
Drain lineA heavily corroded drain pipe with an opening in the fitting.
Photos taken by our inspectors during real inspections. Each shows one example; conditions vary from home to home.
Recommended add-ons for investors
Section 8 checklist add-on:
- Single-family: $100
- Duplex: $150
- Triplex: $175
- Four-unit: $175
Pricing
Get your exact price online by entering the address and property type, or text 440-724-3198 for buildings with five or more units.
Investing from outside the US? Message us on WhatsApp at +1 440-724-3198.
Investment property inspection questions
Can you inspect a rental while tenants live there?
Yes. Tenant-occupied rentals can be inspected as long as lawful access has been arranged. The property owner, landlord or their agent is responsible for coordinating access with the tenant. Under Ohio law, 24 hours is presumed to be reasonable notice for landlord entry unless circumstances provide otherwise.
Ohio Revised Code 5321.04(A)(8) · Getting access to tenant-occupied rentals
Do I need to attend if I’m investing from out of state?
No. Your report is published the same day, and you can text us at 440-724-3198 with questions. If you’re outside the US, you can message us on WhatsApp at +1 440-724-3198.
Can you inspect several units or properties in one day?
Yes. With several Ohio-licensed inspectors on one team, we can cover multiple units or properties in a single day.
Does a five-unit building count as an investment property inspection?
No. Buildings with five or more units are handled as apartment / multi-unit building inspections. This investment-property page covers one- to four-unit properties.
What do you often find in older Cleveland rentals?
In homes built before WWII, we often find clay tile block foundations, knob-and-tube wiring, Federal Pacific panels, 40–50-year-old furnaces or boilers, and galvanized or lead supply piping. In homes built from WWII to the 1960s, we often find concrete block foundations, ungrounded wiring and only 1–3 inches of attic insulation.
Which add-ons do you recommend for investors?
We recommend two add-ons for investors: a sewer camera inspection, which costs $265 added to your inspection, and the Section 8 checklist, which costs $100 for a single-family, $150 for a duplex, $175 for a triplex or $175 for a four-unit inspection.