Due Diligence CRE Free Download

The Elevator Due Diligence Checklist Commercial Real Estate Buyers and Attorneys Actually Need

By Elevator Industry Professionals  |  1,000+ elevator contracts reviewed

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Built from the field, not from a code book. This checklist was built by elevator industry professionals with 1,000+ elevator contracts reviewed — not a consultant who reads code books. The items here come from what we see get missed in transactions: expired certifications, non-compliant hydraulic systems, and overdue tests that transfer to the buyer at closing.

If you are advising a client on a commercial acquisition that includes an elevator, this is the document your current due diligence package is missing.

01 The Problem

Standard Due Diligence Treats Elevators as a Checkbox. That Is a Mistake.

Standard commercial due diligence packages treat elevators as a checkbox item. That approach is adequate for a building's HVAC or roof — it is not adequate for vertical transportation, which is governed by a layered system of state law, national codes, and mandatory testing schedules.

A single missed item — a lapsed Certificate of Operation, a pre-1990 hydraulic cylinder, or an overdue Category 5 test — can mean a buyer inherits a repair and compliance obligation of $15,000 to $60,000 on day one of ownership. That exposure does not appear on a standard inspection report.

These are not hypothetical risks. They are the items we see surface repeatedly in buildings that have changed hands without proper elevator review.

02 Checklist Preview

A Sample from the 20-Item Checklist

The full checklist covers 20 items. Three representative items are shown below.

CRE Attorney's Elevator Risk Checklist — Sample Items
Request the current Certificate of Operation from the seller — confirm it is active and not expired.
CGS §29-196  •  Required for legal elevator operation in CT
Confirm whether the building has a below-ground hydraulic cylinder installed pre-1990. ASME A17.1-2013 (effective CT 2018) mandated replacement of unlined single-bottom cylinders.
ASME A17.1-2013  •  Effective CT 2018  •  Highest capital exposure item
$15K–$60K
Verify Category 3 and Category 5 test records are current. Overdue tests transfer as an inherited buyer expense.
Cat. 3: every 36 months  •  Cat. 5: every 60 months  •  $2K–$8K per overdue test
17 more items in the full checklist — download free below
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03 Need More Than a Checklist?

Get a Written Elevator Condition Assessment for a Specific Property

If you need more than a checklist — if you need a written Elevator Condition Assessment for a specific property before your client closes — schedule a free 30-minute consultation. We'll review the property details and scope a full due diligence report covering compliance status, open exposure, and transaction-ready documentation.

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