cost of structural integrity testing?
anyone have an idea of the cost to test the structural integrity of a building?  i'm looking at a warehouse that needs work, but i want to ensure that it's not something that will be a complete waste a building...

how do i find a person that is capable of doing this?  also, if they are incorrect, do i have any rights to go after them if they are wrong in their assessment.

thanks very much
[{"id": "cnajxud", "text": "If this is part of a loan/sale/government requirement.  You might want to ask whomever is prompting this who they think is reputable to offer an opinion in your area.  \n\nI know on the loan side of things, we have a specific list of people we like, and won't really question the results from, then there are others who we might not take their word for it, and ask that the applicant go back and get another assessment done by someone else (in extreme cases).\n\nJust make sure that YOU are the client to the firm not the loan company/government agency, although you will probably need to ask for a reliance letter if it is for those purposes.  Sorry I can't offer anyone specific, it really depends on who is good in  your area for the type of building being looked at.", "replies": [{"id": "cnaksca", "text": "thanks.\nit's not part of the loan/sale/government requirement, it's something i want to assure before going ahead with potentially buying it.  i'd want to make sure what i am buying is safe and can be occupied.  i don't want a structure that i'd have to turn into a pile of rubble.\n\nsounds like i need to start looking for a high quality structural engineer who has a lot of experience in the field.  \n\nappreciate the response.", "replies": [{"id": "cnamdoi", "text": "Ah, make sure to ask about liability insurance, sometimes you need to negotiate liability higher than the fee you pay for the service (negligible relative to a building usually).  Whether it would hold up in court I don't know, but nice to have at least a million in the contract in case you get into crazy repairs.\n\nIf you are planning on financing the property at some point, you might want to as a potential financer, as they will eventually be looking at the reports as well.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cnakesp", "text": "It's going to depend heavily on the size, age, and condition of the building, as well as how intrusive of testing that you want.    I'm sure you can have someone make a minimal assessment based on visual inspection, etc, with all sorts of caveats for less than $5,000, or have intrusive physical testing done that will provide you more assurance but cost $10,000-$20,000 or more.  \n\nAs far as their liability, yes they have some, in theory.   The more thorough the testing, the more you pay them, the more liability they'll have, again, in theory.   Engineering firms that do this sort of thing carry insurance for this purpose.   I say \"in theory,\" because no offense, but chances are that you're asking this question on reddit, and they give you a bad assessment which you make decisions based upon, you're going to be broke long before you can take anyone to court for it.   And it will be hard to prove that they were negligent.   So bottom line on that aspect, is that in practical aspects, the risk that they are wrong is essentially yours.\n\nAs far as finding a company to do something like this, a Google search for structural engineers in your area should provide some results.   Call them up and tell them what you need.   The type of guys that do this work will be happy to chat about your needs and options, and probably give you some free advice along with a bid for services.\n\nGood luck!", "replies": [{"id": "cnakq8a", "text": "thank you very much.  \nit's a very large building that is ~80 years old.  and yes, my risk is dumping in any kind of money and having something that needs to be torn down.  \n\nin reality i don't have anywhere near the cash needed to renovate the building, but in its existing condition i think i can get some cash flow out of it starting a small business from it...  as long as it's structurally sound and is a safe place to occupy... \n\nappreciate the response.  i'll start calling some structural engineers.", "replies": [{"id": "cnap4zc", "text": "&gt;  i'll start calling some structural engineers.\n\nI think that's a good first step.  See what they say but most likely do a preliminary analysis.  Based on those findings, you can figure out if the deal is worth pursuing.  If it is you can have more indepth analysis done on the concerns the preliminary turned up.  \n\n", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "cnas3go", "text": "This raises major red flags. If anything find a tenant before buying the place, but to have no budget for renovations sounds like you're squeezing it too thin. ", "replies": [{"id": "cnc4iwz", "text": "&gt; cash flow out of it starting a small business from it.  \n \nSounds like he's considering using it as owner-occupied.\n\n", "replies": [], "depth": 4}, {"id": "cnc80sc", "text": "hi.  thanks.  it would be owner occupied, as the post below noted.  \n\ni have a budget, but no where near what's needed for this building.  it's over 100k sq feet and would probably take ~30mm+ to convert it to residential. \n\nit's more of a longer term play on the revitalization of a certain area, along with the fact that i think i can get the building quite cheap and i have uses for it that should generate some cash flow from the start (which could actually equate to a significant yield on the purchase price).  ", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]