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Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
The report lenders require before financing commercial property, and the step buyers take to qualify for CERCLA landowner liability protections. Flat-priced, inspected locally, delivered in about 10 days.
What's included
- Federal, state, tribal and local regulatory database search with ASTM-required search distances
- Historical use review: Sanborn fire insurance maps, aerial photographs, city directories and topographic maps
- In-person site reconnaissance and photo log by a local field professional
- Review of adjoining and nearby properties for off-site migration risk
- Interviews with the owner, occupants and local government officials
- User-provided information, environmental lien and activity-and-use limitation (AUL) review
- Evaluation of RECs, CRECs, HRECs, de minimis conditions and data gaps
- Findings, opinions and conclusions signed by an Environmental Professional
- PDF report suitable for lender review; reliance letter to your lender on request
Pricing
| Option | Delivery | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Phase I ESA | About 10 days | $2,450 |
| Rush Phase I ESA | About 5 days | $3,200 |
| Phase I update (our report, under 1 year old) | About 5–7 days | Call for price |
| Volume clients (repeat or portfolio orders) | Scheduled to your closings | Special pricing, ask us |
One price covers every property type up to 640 acres (one square mile), including sites made up of more than one parcel: retail, office, multifamily, industrial, gas stations, hotels, mixed-use and vacant land. No surcharges for building size, use or extra lots.
Who needs a Phase I?
Commercial lenders, including SBA 7(a) and 504 lenders, typically require a Phase I before closing on commercial real estate. Buyers order one to qualify for the bona fide prospective purchaser, contiguous property owner or innocent landowner defenses under CERCLA. Developers use it to price risk before they commit to a site.
When a Phase I finds something
If the report identifies a recognized environmental condition, the Environmental Professional explains why and recommends next steps. Often that is a limited Phase II ESA to sample soil, groundwater or soil vapor. We can quote and schedule it right away so your closing date stays realistic.
Phase I questions
How much does a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment cost?
A Breeze Phase I ESA costs $2,450 flat anywhere in the United States. That price covers every property type (retail, office, multifamily, industrial, gas stations, hotels, mixed-use and vacant land) up to 640 acres, or one square mile, including sites made up of more than one parcel. It includes the local site visit, all database and historical records, and the signed report. Rush delivery (about 5 days) adds $750. Clients ordering several Phase Is can ask about volume pricing.
How long does a Phase I ESA take?
Standard delivery is about 10 days from order. Rush delivery is about 5 days. Timing depends on site access and on how quickly municipal records are returned; your project manager gives you a firm date at kickoff.
Do you really visit the property?
Yes. Every Phase I includes an in-person site reconnaissance by a field professional who works near your property. We cover all 50 states and D.C., including rural counties.
Is my property type or size included in the flat price?
Almost certainly. The $2,450 price applies to every property type up to 640 acres (one square mile), even when the site includes more than one parcel. There are no surcharges for industrial use, gas stations, building size or extra lots.
Will my lender accept your report?
Yes. Breeze Phase I reports are accepted by all banks and lending institutions, including SBA, conventional, CMBS and private lenders. Every report conforms to ASTM E1527-21 and the EPA All Appropriate Inquiries rule (40 CFR Part 312). If your lender has its own scope or format, send it with your order and we follow it. If a report does not meet ASTM, we fix it or refund you.
What is ASTM E1527-21?
ASTM E1527-21 is the current industry standard practice for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. EPA recognizes it as satisfying All Appropriate Inquiries, which helps buyers qualify for liability protections under CERCLA, such as the bona fide prospective purchaser defense.
What happens if the Phase I finds a REC?
The report explains the recognized environmental condition and whether further investigation is recommended. If a Phase II is needed, we can quote and run it ourselves so your timeline doesn't restart with a new firm.
How long is a Phase I report valid?
Under ASTM E1527-21 and AAI, key components of a Phase I must be completed within 180 days before the acquisition date to be relied on for liability protection. Older reports can often be updated rather than redone.
Can I talk to someone before ordering?
Of course. Call (877) 7-PHASE-1 or use the 'Contact me first' option on the order form. You can place your order and ask us to confirm details by phone before any work begins.
$2,450 covers your property. Really.
Every property type up to 640 acres, one full square mile, is included in the flat price. That holds even when your site is more than one parcel. No surcharges for building size, use or extra lots, and no surprise change orders after you order.
Breeze reports are accepted by all banks and lending institutions.
- Retail
- Office
- Multifamily
- Industrial & warehouse
- Gas stations & auto
- Hotels
- Mixed-use
- Vacant land
- Multi-parcel sites

Read a real Breeze Phase I
A recent ASTM E1527-21 report for two mixed-use buildings in Brooklyn, with client and property details redacted. See exactly what your lender will receive: the records review, site reconnaissance, findings and recommendations.
- Full 44-page narrative, plus site photos
- A real finding: a possible buried oil tank, and what we recommended
- Read the highlights online or download the PDF
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If your report doesn't meet ASTM, you don't pay for it.
Every Phase I we deliver conforms to ASTM E1527-21 and EPA All Appropriate Inquiries (40 CFR Part 312). If a lender or reviewer shows that our report falls short of the standard, we correct it at no cost. If we can't, we refund your fee in full.
Ready when your deal is.
Order online now, or talk to an environmental professional first. Either way, we start within one business day.
