What a PCA costs, and how long it takes

Cost

For a small, simple commercial building, a baseline E2018 PCA commonly runs around $1,500 to $2,500. Mid-sized properties tend to land in the $4,000 to $10,000 range, and large or complex assets go well beyond that. The drivers:

• Size and building count: more square footage and more structures mean more walk-through time and more systems to document.
• Property type: a warehouse is quick; a hospital, a high-rise, or a full-amenity multifamily complex is not.
• Lender scope: agency programs (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD) specify enhanced scopes, larger sampling of units, and their own report forms, all of which add hours.
• Add-ons: seismic PML, accessibility surveys, asbestos or mold screens, and specialist evaluations (structural, roofing, elevator, facade) are priced separately.
• Travel and access: remote sites and tenant coordination add cost the same way they do on a Phase I.

Timeline

Two to three weeks from authorization to report is typical: scheduling access and document collection up front, a site day (or several for large properties), then drafting. Rush turnarounds are widely available. The long poles are the same as every diligence product: getting on site, and getting documents (drawings, maintenance records, capital histories) out of the seller.

The budgeting note

If the deal depends on agency financing, order the PCA to that lender's scope the first time. A baseline ASTM report that has to be upgraded to a Freddie or HUD format mid-deal costs more than starting with the right scope, and the re-work sits on the closing critical path.