Before the Site Visit
Before the Site Visit
An Access Plan That Strengthens Commercial Due Diligence
Commercial due diligence site access plan
Prepare tenant spaces, roof access, equipment rooms, and records before a commercial property assessment to reduce gaps and follow-up delays.
A commercial property assessment starts before the assessor arrives. Locked equipment rooms, unavailable tenant spaces, and missing keys can leave important questions unresolved at the very moment a buyer needs answers.
For acquisitions moving toward a year-end closing, an organized access plan helps the assessment team document the property more effectively and gives buyers time to respond to findings. The goal is simple: make the agreed inspection scope achievable during the scheduled visit.
Confirm the inspection scope first
Start by identifying which buildings, tenant spaces, dwelling units, common areas, and systems are included in the assignment. For an occupied property, confirm whether the agreed scope requires every interior or a representative sample.
A sampling plan and a full-access assignment create different expectations. Make sure the buyer, property manager, seller, and assessor understand the same scope before tenant notices are issued.
Assign one person to coordinate access
A designated site contact should know the property, hold the necessary keys, and be available throughout the visit. That person should coordinate tenant permissions, escorts, equipment-room access, and any roof-access arrangements.
Before the visit, confirm:
- Which areas require advance notice or special permission.
- Whether the roof has an accessible hatch, stairway, or another agreed access method.
- Who can open electrical, mechanical, sprinkler, and utility rooms.
- Whether operational restrictions will affect observations.
- How restricted or unavailable spaces will be recorded.
Roof access and equipment observations must remain within safe conditions and the agreed scope. Providing a key does not make every location safe to enter or every system suitable to operate.
Prepare records alongside the building
Maintenance histories, equipment replacement dates, roof warranties, inspection records, and available drawings can help explain what the assessor observes. Share these documents early enough for meaningful review.
For example, visible ceiling staining raises different follow-up questions when records show a recent roof repair than when the property has no documented repair history. Neither situation automatically resolves the concern, but the records help direct the next step.
Treat inaccessible areas as open questions
If a space cannot be inspected, the report should identify the limitation. An inaccessible area should not be interpreted as an area with no deficiencies.
The buyer can then discuss whether a return visit, specialist review, additional documentation, or another agreed step is appropriate. Resolve that decision while there is still time in the due diligence period.
A well-prepared site visit improves the quality of the information available for acquisition decisions. It also reduces avoidable coordination problems when transaction schedules are already tight.
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