If you own a public lodging establishment in Florida, you likely know volumes about the DBPR HR-7020 balcony inspections. But one question that owners like you constantly seek answers to is the balcony inspection cost. 

Being a Florida-based building inspector myself, this isn’t surprising for me. After all, a DBPR inspection is mandatory every three years, and owners have to factor in the overall inspection cost. 

However, when it comes to deciding the total DBPR inspection cost, let me tell you that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. That’s because the total amount you pay will depend on a host of factors, including your property and the number of balconies therein. 

So, what decides the cost of DBPR HR-7020 inspection and more importantly how much should you expect to pay. 

Well, read on, as I’ve detailed everything along with my own balcony inspector insights. 

Why does the cost of balcony inspection matter? 

Before we jump to the factors that decide the cost of balcony assessments, let’s first understand why this actually matters.  

You see, as a DBPR inspection expert, balcony assessment cost always tops the list of most asked questions from my prospective clients. 

And if the local search trends are any suggestion, it isn’t just me who is being asked this. In fact, nearly every hotel, motel, or AirBNB owner is looking up the cost. 

The reason for this is simple: As an owner, you’ve got to set aside a budget for balcony inspection. 

But budgeting for an inspection like this isn’t that straightforward either since you’ve got to adjust your overall operating expenses. Also, this can involve cutting back your own estimated profits. 

Worse, your business might be loss making and you’ll still have to arrange funds for the inspection. 

Unfortunately, a lot of online commentaries that provide an average estimate don’t factor in the unique elements that determine the overall cost. For instance, the common problems found during balcony inspections could be different for different buildings.

Meaning, you could have a false impression of the average inspection cost.

Balcony inspection cost: What are the factors that decide it?  

Now that you know why accurate cost estimates for balcony inspections are essential for property owners, let’s see what are the factors that decide how much you pay. 

1. Total number of balconies 

This is the most important factor that determines how much a balcony inspector like myself will quote you for the job. After all, it’s the number of balconies that decides how much time and personnel I’ve to set aside for your property. 

For instance, let’s say you have a small AirBNB or vacation rental on your own residential property with a small deck and balcony. 

2. Whether or not are the balconies accessible

Yet another important inspection cost determinant is the accessibility of your balcony and its various components. 

For instance, if you own a motel or vacation rental with an easily accessible balcony structure, commercial inspection companies will quote you the standard market average. 

However, you can’t expect a similar inspection quote if the critical balcony components are hard to access. That’s because inspectors will bring in special tools and safety equipment for their job, which will add to their expenses. 

3. Frequency of balcony inspections 

Building owners are required to get balcony inspections every three years for timely DBPR compliance. 

Nevertheless, a lot of owners walk the extra mile and schedule an inspection every six months, nine months, or one year as an additional precaution. 

Now, if you’re one such owner, you can expect to pay relatively lower for the inspection. More so, if you hire the same inspection company. 

That’s because inspectors know about the issues found in the previous inspections and the potential shortcomings that the present inspection can throw up. 

On the other hand, if there’s a large gap in the inspection timeline, inspectors have to work from the scratch. This adds to the time, efforts, and eventually overall cost. 

4. Total height of your building 

This is a very obvious balcony inspection cost determinant, i.e., the higher your building’s size the more you can expect to pay. 

You see, assessing balconies in tall buildings call for deploying specialized equipment, which isn’t the case with smaller properties. 

Take our recent balcony assessment at Marriott Crystal Shores, for instance, where our team utilized state-of-the-art equipment to examine balconies, railing systems, staircases, structural attachments and more. 

Now, this was surely a complex inspection process to say the least, and thus higher on the price side. 

5. Location of your building 

It might seem insignificant, but the location of your building actually impacts the cost of balcony inspection and subsequent DBPR inspection report. And this has more to do with logistics than with how expensive the place is. 

For instance, let’s say I’ve to inspect the balconies of a transient apartment in Daytona Beach. Now, this is a fifteen minute drive from my location in Port Orange and will thus take me less time and resources to get here. 

But the same can’t be said for a transient apartment in Miami which is a whopping four hour plus drive from our office in Port Orange. 

6. Inspection company you hire

The total cost of balcony inspection will also differ for different inspection companies. And rightly so, as companies with more expertise and accomplishments might charge you more. 

You see, it is commonplace for newer companies in the market to offer lucrative discounts in order to get business. But it’s the seasoned players who carry insider knowledge and offer you the minutest details with expert opinions. 

How much can you expect your balcony inspection cost to be? 

Having seen the factors that decide the cost of balcony inspection, you might be wondering how much you should expect to pay. 

Well, let me repeat what I said at the start: There is no fixed price range for DBPR HR-7020 balcony inspections. Meaning how much you’ll precisely pay will depend on the factors that I’ve discussed above. 

But that said, you can expect the balcony inspection cost to be in the range of a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. 

Herein, the lower end of the price range will apply to smaller establishments like vacation rentals, AirBNBs, and motels. The higher price range, at the same time, will apply to larger properties such as hotels, transient apartments, etc. 

What are the additional costs that you should consider? 

While the average cost of DBPR inspection remains pretty much the same, there are some add-on expenses that might shoot up your bills. 

And that includes the following: 

• Preparing the balcony: Inspectors need unimpeded access to all balcony components, which might necessitate delaying guest check ins. 
• Follow-up assessments:  If issues are found, you might need to pay for additional inspections after you’ve undertaken repairs.
• Inspector’s travel fees: If the balcony inspector has to travel a long distance to reach your property, they might charge an additional fee for the same. 

Frequently asked questions about balcony inspections 

What does a balcony inspection include?

A DBPR HR-7020 balcony inspection looks at crucial balcony components, including: 

• Decking: Checks for any signs of damage or weakness in the floor of the balcony.
• Attachments: Sees if the balcony is securely fastened to the building.
• Ledger Boards: Verifies the stability of the support structures.
• Railings: Inspects for any looseness, rust, or other safety concerns.
• Fasteners: Assess whether or not all bolts and screws are tight and rust-free.
• Stairwells: Examines any stairs leading to the balcony.

Curious about the details of DBPR inspection items and areas?

Read my blog on ‘Balcony Inspection Checklist‘ to get in-depth insights.

How can you prepare for a balcony inspection? 

You can prepare your property for an upcoming balcony inspection by: 

• Clearing the area: Remove furniture, plants, and other items from the balcony.
• Providing access: Ensure the inspector can easily reach all areas of the balcony.
• Gathering essential documents: Have any previous inspection reports or repair records on hand.
• Being present: If possible, be there during the inspection to ask questions and understand any issues firsthand.

Bonus: Do you own an old building?

Is yes, you might need more frequent balcony inspections.

After all, regular balcony inspections for older buildings are crucial to address issues like decaying, corroded reinforcements, and more. This, in turn, ensures year-round safety and helps prevent fatal accidents.

Conclusion 

As you can see, there’s no fixed range for balcony inspection cost and overall price depends on a host of factors including property type, date of last inspection, and more. 

However, with a clear know-how of what determines the cost of DBPR HR-7020 inspection you can figure out roughly how much you need to set aside for an assessment. 

Curious about the exact cost of balcony inspection for your building? 

You can get in touch with us and receive a free balcony inspection quote. 

At FCBI, we are seasoned balcony inspection experts with an expertise spanning over two decades. And we’ve got all your DBPR inspection needs covered notwithstanding the size of your property.