The inspection typically covers four main areas. The first is the roof structure and rainwater drainage: cracked tiles, blocked gutters, the state of flat roof waterproofing. Spotted in time these mean a modest repair; neglected they can cause water damage worth millions.
The second is the facade and the openings: cracks, rendering coming loose, the sealing of windows and entrance doors, which directly affects heating costs too.
The third area is building services: the technical condition of lifts and the due dates of inspections, the state of the heating system and boilers before the heating season, the expiry dates of fire hydrants and extinguishers. The fourth is safety technology: results of electrical protection measurements, working stairwell and emergency lighting, the state of the doorbell and access control system.
The benefit is only fully realised if the inspection is documented: with photos, dates, and a prioritised list of what needs immediate, short-term and long-term intervention. A verbal everything is fine is worth nothing if a dispute arises six months later about when the problem was first noticed.
It is worth doing the inspection before the heating season in autumn and after the spring thaw: these two dates best capture the faults that appear under the strain of changing seasons.
At least one member of the building committee should join the walkthrough rather than leaving it to the manager alone. This strengthens trust and, thanks to local knowledge, often produces a more accurate, more complete list.
Merbo carries out an itemised, photo-documented inspection twice a year in every managed building and presents the results to the committee within the maintenance plan, with a concrete order of priority.