Your condominium just went through an entire Florida summer of heat, humidity, and storms without you. Before you settle in for the season, take twenty minutes and walk the unit with your phone camera. A short version of this checklist appeared in the October 2026 issue of the Florida Community Association Journal (read it here (opens in a new tab)). This is the longer version.
Ceilings and walls
Look up. Water staining, bubbling paint, or soft drywall on a ceiling or around a window or sliding door usually means water got in somewhere above or beside it. Check the closet that houses the air handler. Condensate lines clog over a long, humid summer, and the overflow often shows up as a stain on the ceiling or the floor below.
Windows and sliding glass doors
Look at the sills and the bottom track for water spots, rust, or debris. Look at the baseboard under each window. Swollen baseboards, or baseboards pulling away from the wall, are a common sign of past water intrusion. Gaps or cracks in the sealant around a frame are worth a photograph even if the wall looks dry.
Floors
Warped or cupped wood and laminate, loose tile, and dark grout lines near exterior walls point to moisture. Open the cabinet under each sink and look at the base of the water heater.
Drains and odors
Flush every toilet and run every sink, tub, and shower for a minute. The water seal in each drain trap evaporates over a long absence, and a sewer smell on arrival is usually an empty trap, not a leak. If the smell remains after running water, report it. A musty odor that does not go away is different. It often means moisture somewhere you cannot see.
The balcony
Look for cracking, flaking, or hollow-sounding concrete, rust staining on the concrete surface, and standing water that does not drain. Rust staining can mean the reinforcing steel inside the concrete is corroding. Grip the railing and check whether it moves. If a railing or post feels loose, do not lean on it, and report it the same day.
Document it and report it in writing
Photograph anything that changed, keep the date on the photos, and send it to your manager or board in writing. Do not attempt repairs to balconies, exterior walls, windows, or anything structural yourself. Your declaration determines who maintains what, and the association needs to know about conditions affecting the building either way.
Why it matters
Milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies happen on schedules measured in years. Owners see their units every day. Small observations reported early are how associations catch small problems while they are still small. Your building’s maintenance plan works best when the people who live in it are part of it.
If your board has questions about conditions owners are reporting, CSI evaluates condominium buildings across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Read more about our building envelope and water intrusion work.
Have Questions About Your Building?
Our team has evaluated concrete and coastal structures across Florida since 1995. If your board or property has questions about cracking, corrosion, or the condition of a concrete building, we can help you assess it and plan ahead.
Schedule a ConsultationThis checklist is general information for unit owners. It is not an engineering assessment of any specific building. Conditions affecting structure, balconies, or the building envelope should be reported to the association and evaluated by a qualified professional.