Christmas Eve on South Beach: How One Last-Minute Inspection Saved a Historic Art Deco Investment

On Christmas Eve, while most people were wrapping gifts and heading to holiday dinners, Roger Morales, MSEng — Professional Building Inspector and Director of Engineering at Florida Builders Engineers & Inspections — was responding to an urgent call from across the country.

A real estate investor and architectural designer from California, Marina Rossi of Avi Ross Group, was under contract on a rare 4-unit historic Art Deco building in the heart of South Beach, Miami Beach — a true architectural gem dating back to the 1920s. With tight timelines, holiday closures, and a rapidly approaching decision deadline, Marina needed one thing fast:

A clear, honest, technically sound answer to a critical question:
Is this building a smart investment — or a hidden liability?

With very little notice and during one of the busiest weeks of the year, Roger and his team mobilized immediately to perform a last-minute comprehensive structural inspection — ensuring the investor had the facts needed before moving forward.

🏛 A Beautiful Building — With Serious Hidden Risks

At first glance, the building looked like a dream acquisition:
a charming 1920s Art Deco structure with irreplaceable architectural character, prime location, and incredible redevelopment potential.

But as Roger and his team began their inspection, it became clear that beneath the beauty were significant structural and material concerns that could severely impact safety, cost, and long-term viability.

🔎 The inspection uncovered:

• Significant water intrusion damage affecting the structure

• Deterioration of foundation elements consistent with long-term moisture exposure

• Rotted and compromised wood floor joists

• Sagging floors indicating loss of structural capacity and long-term deflection

• Active plumbing/water leaks still ongoing at the time of inspection

• Extensive termite damage, including:

  • Subterranean termite activity

  • Drywood termite damage to framing members

• Hidden structural repairs that were either incomplete or improperly executed

Each of these issues alone can be costly — but together they represent major risk factors that could quickly turn a promising investment into a financial and legal nightmare if not properly addressed.

🦸‍♂️ A Christmas Eve Rescue

Thanks to the timing and urgency of this inspection, Marina and her team were able to:

• Fully understand the true condition of the building

• Accurately assess repair scope, feasibility, and cost

• Make an informed, confident decision before proceeding

• Avoid surprises after closing that could have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexpected repairs

Instead of emotion, guesswork, or assumptions, the investor was empowered with facts, documentation, and engineering-based insight.

🤝 The Beginning of a Long-Term Partnership

For Marina Rossi and the Avi Ross Group, this wasn’t just about one building — it was about finding a trusted technical partner in South Florida.

“It was such a pleasure to work with Roger and his team on this inspection. We will make Florida Builders Engineers & Inspections an instrumental part of our inspection and design team moving forward as we expand our growth into South Florida.”
— Marina Rossi, Avi Ross Group

The inspection has now led to an ongoing professional relationship that will include:

• Structural engineering design and repair plans

• Load calculations and permitting support

• Land surveying services

• Architectural coordination

• Long-term inspection and compliance support

🎄 A Different Kind of Holiday Gift

This Christmas Eve, the gift wasn’t wrapped — it was clarity.

Clarity that protected an investor.
Clarity that preserved a historic structure.
Clarity that turned a risky purchase into an informed strategic decision.

And most importantly, clarity that helped forge a new partnership built on trust, transparency, and technical excellence.

At Florida Builders Engineers & Inspections, we’re proud to show up when it matters most — even on Christmas Eve.

Thinking about buying, restoring, or investing in a historic or complex property in South Florida?

Before you sign, make sure you know.

📞 Call Florida Builders Engineers & Inspections — where engineering meets real-world protection.