On-site kitchen inspection
Know what you're taking on, before you sign, buy, or insure.
An on-site visual inspection of the kitchen exhaust system: hood and canopy, ductwork, exhaust fans, filters and grease, documented in a branded PDF report. Run it before a lease, an acquisition, a renewal, or an insurance binding: anytime someone is about to take on a kitchen they didn't build.
Why this exists
What an on-site inspection catches before you commit
Most DMV restaurant spaces change hands as second-generation kitchens. The hood is already in place and there's a grease trap somewhere. On the surface it looks turnkey. Underneath, old fan bearings, a grease line never jetted, an exhaust duct that hasn't passed a fire-marshal walk-through in three years.
The moment you take the space on, sign the lease, close the purchase, renew the term, or bind the policy, every one of those problems becomes yours. Most leases carry an “as-is” clause on the kitchen exhaust system, and most landlord work letters carve out exhaust and grease equipment entirely.
An on-site inspection is how you learn this first, while you still have leverage to negotiate landlord remediation, adjust a purchase price, document condition for an insurer, or simply walk away.
The 7-point Qwick inspection
The kitchen exhaust system, on the same checklist
Each point gets a photographed walk-through, a written finding, and a remediation flag. The order is the order our crews check them on-site, built so nothing is forgotten when a kitchen has three or four issues stacking on each other.
- 01
Hood & exhaust system
Hood and canopy interior, baffle filters, plenum, ductwork, access panels and rooftop discharge. Grease load assessment to confirm an NFPA 96 cleaning cadence is realistic for the cooking style you plan to operate.
- 02
Grease management
Grease trap size, location, accessibility and pumping history. Drain line condition, jetting access, and the local water authority (DC Water / WSSC / Loudoun Water) FOG registration status.
- 03
Exhaust mechanical condition
Exhaust fan housing, bearings, belt tension, blade balance and rooftop grease containment unit. Mechanical exhaust failures shut kitchens down faster than any other system.
- 04
Applicable-code reference
NFPA 96, local building code, ventilation code (IMC) and IFC reference points. A documentation map of which codes apply to the exhaust system and where a fit-out is likely to need upgrades, not a code-compliance certification.
- 05
AHJ inspection status
Last fire marshal inspection date, open exhaust and cleaning violations on the address from the local AHJ (FCFRD, LCFR, ACFD, MCFRS, PGFD, HCDFRS, DC FEMS) and any active correction orders, pulled from public records and on-site documentation.
- 06
Insurance compliance picture
Documentation gaps that would jeopardize property and liability coverage, missing NFPA 96 cleaning records and the 2025 digital-documentation cycle.
- 07
Prior-tenant violations & deferred exhaust maintenance
What the previous operator left behind that a new operator inherits, grease accumulation, overdue cleaning records, deferred exhaust repairs, and any code citations not yet cleared.
Scope & limits
What the inspection is, and what it isn't
Our on-site inspection is a non-invasive visual survey and documentation review. We observe, photograph, and record the condition and paperwork status of each system, and we're deliberately clear about where our work stops.
What we do
- Visually inspect and photograph every item on the 7-point checklist
- Read and record cleaning stickers, dates, and documentation status
- Flag visible damage, missing components, and access problems
- Map which codes apply and where the paperwork has gaps
- Deliver a written, photographed PDF with severity flags and next steps
What we do not do
- We do not issue a pass / fail or "compliant" verdict. This is not a substitute for the AHJ fire-marshal or health inspection
What you receive
A branded PDF report you can hand to your landlord, broker, or insurer
The deliverable is a polished PDF, cover page, executive summary, system-by-system findings with photos, severity classification, recommended order of operations, and a closing remediation scope.
The report is built to circulate. Operators forward it to architects shaping the fit-out plan. Brokers use it during lease negotiation to support landlord credit asks. Insurers reference it when binding property coverage. It reads as a third-party condition read, not a sales pitch.
Inside the report
- Executive summary with go / no-go recommendation
- System-by-system findings, each with field photos
- Severity classification (critical / material / advisory)
- AHJ inspection history and active violation flags
- Documentation gaps that would block insurance binding
- Recommended remediation order of operations
- Scope language ready to drop into a landlord work letter
Who this is for
Built for everyone who has to live with the kitchen after they commit
Operators signing a lease
Independent operators evaluating a second-generation restaurant space who want a third-party read on what the prior operator left behind, before the as-is clause makes it theirs.
Buyers & new owners
Anyone acquiring an existing restaurant or its assets who needs documented system condition as part of acquisition due diligence.
Existing operators
Operators already running who want a periodic condition check, or a clean pre-sale documentation package before they list the business.
Franchisees & multi-location groups
Operators expanding into the DMV who need a consistent inspection baseline across every site before committing.
Property managers & brokers
Asset managers and tenant-rep brokers who want documented system condition before the deal closes, useful for both disclosure and negotiation.
Insurers & lenders
Underwriters and lenders who want an independent, photographed read on kitchen exhaust condition before binding a policy or funding a deal.
FAQ
Common questions about the on-site inspection
What does the on-site inspection include?
A 7-point walk-through of the kitchen exhaust system: hood and exhaust, grease management, mechanical exhaust condition, applicable-code reference, AHJ inspection history, insurance documentation status, and prior-tenant deferred exhaust maintenance. Each point is a visual inspection and documentation review, we observe, photograph, and record condition; we do not test or certify. You receive a branded PDF report with photos, system-by-system findings, severity flags, and a recommended order of operations.
Is this a code or fire-marshal inspection?
No. It is an independent visual inspection and documentation review, not the AHJ’s code inspection. We do not issue a compliance certification, and the report does not replace the fire-marshal or health-department inspection.
How long does the on-site inspection take?
Most inspections take 90 minutes to 3 hours on site depending on the size and complexity of the kitchen. Multi-stall food halls and large hotel kitchens take longer. The branded PDF report is delivered within 2 business days of the on-site visit.
Who is this service for?
Anyone about to take on or underwrite a commercial kitchen they did not build: restaurant operators evaluating a second-generation space, buyers and new owners running acquisition due diligence, existing operators wanting a periodic or pre-sale condition check, franchisees needing a consistent baseline across sites, property managers and brokers documenting tenant readiness, and insurers or lenders who want a third-party read before binding or funding. We work for whoever engages us, tenant, landlord, buyer, or broker.
Will the report identify exact remediation costs?
The report flags every item that needs attention and the scope of work required. Hard pricing needs a trade scope, and we quote the work we self-perform (hood cleaning, grease, exhaust mechanical, PCU) directly.
Can the inspection be done before a Letter of Intent is signed?
Yes. The earlier the inspection runs in the deal cycle, the more leverage you have to negotiate landlord work, base-building improvements, rent abatement, or a price adjustment. Many operators schedule us during the LOI exclusivity window so findings inform lease negotiation.
Start with the inspection, not the signature
Get the read before you commit
Schedule an on-site inspection before a lease, an acquisition, a renewal, or an insurance binding, while you still have leverage. Branded PDF in your hands within 2 business days.