What is an inspection?

The home buying process can be confusing and stressful. Not only do you need to consider things such as price and location, you also have to worry about whether the house itself has any hidden problems that could become costly surprises down the road.

As professional Home Inspectors, its our job to look for those hidden problems for you. The Home Inspection is an unbiased, professional assessment of the condition of the house. It provides you an expert opinion and professional report on the condition of the physical structure and various systems within a house. Giving you peace of mind on what is likely the largest purchase youll ever make.

In order to prepare the report, an inspector must conduct a visual inspection of the house. The inspection process typically takes about 3 hours to complete. This of course may vary, according to the size and condition of the home. We strongly encourage you to accompany the inspector during the inspection. This will give you a chance to ask questions and become familiar with the systems of the home.

We will inspect all the structural elements and systems of the home. Items that will typically be included in an inspection are:

Framing (structure)

Roof and attic

Foundation

Walls

Electrical system

Plumbing system

Heating and air conditioning systems

Kitchen

Bathrooms

Additional items and systems unique to a particular home can also be inspected.

When the inspection is complete, well tell you of any problems that were discovered and discuss them with you. We will also tell you about any routine maintenance that should be performed, as well as answer any questions you may have. You will also receive a full written report of the inspection.

Our goal is to discover and inform you of anything we find that might affect your purchase decision. Well tell you about any problems we find, and make repair recommendations. Well also inform you of what maintenance tasks are required to keep the home and its systems in top condition.

What is typically found during an inspection?

No house is perfect. Even the best built and best maintained homes will always have a few items in less than perfect condition. Below are some of the items we most commonly find when inspecting a home:

Roofing Problems with roofing material are the single most common defect we find. Usually it doesn’t mean the roof needs replaced, simply that it is in need of maintenance or repair.

Ceiling stains Caused by past or present leaks, ceiling stains are very common. It can be difficult to tell whether the stains are from leaks still present, or were caused by leaks which have since been repaired.

Electrical hazards More common in older homes, but often found in newer homes as well. Electrical hazards come in many forms, from ungrounded outlets to wiring done incorrectly by the homeowner.

Rotted wood Caused by being wet for extended periods of time, most commonly found around tubs, showers and toilets inside, or roof eaves and trim outside.

Water heater installations Many water heaters are not installed in full compliance with local plumbing code.

Gas furnace Most gas furnaces seem to be in need of routine maintenance such as new filters or gas company certification at the least. Many have other issues such as faulty operation or inadequate fire clearance as well.

Plumbing defects Plumbing issues commonly found include dripping faucets, leaking fixtures, slow drains etc... Even in brand new homes, it is common to identify minor plumbing defects.

Do I need an Engineer or a Home Inspector?

You need a home inspector. When you hire a home inspector, you are hiring an experienced professional who has training and experience in the building industry. It is the job of the home inspector to not only evaluate the condition of the house's major systems and structural integrity, but also to evaluate how these systems are working together and identify areas that need to be watched, repaired or replaced.

Hiring a Professional Engineer on your own can be a disappointing experience. The term Professional Engineer does not mean that the individual has training or experience conducting home inspections. Additionally, a home inspection does not involve engineering analysis. Therefore, hiring a Professional Engineer to complete a home inspection undoubtedly costs more, but it may not give you the results you desire and deserve.

How long does the inspection take?

The time will vary depending on the size and condition of the house. Three hours is the average time for the average size home but may take longer depending on the condition of the home.

Do I need to be present at the inspection?

While it’s not required it’s highly recommended that you be present throughout the inspection process. Our inspection not only includes identifying issues that are found in the inspection but is also an education of how your home operates. By taking a proactive approach you will save money in the long run by knowing how to properly run and maintain your new home. Why spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars later when most of the time spending a small amount of money now will take care of most issues? Throughout the inspection process we show you how to maintain your home and offer solutions to minor problems that will most likely turn into big problems down the road.

Inspection vs. Appraisal

Do I need a house inspection when my bank is having the house appraised?

Yes! A house appraisal is an independent evaluation of the current market value of a house or property. In general, the purpose of an appraisal is to set the current value of a house so that a lender may determine how much it can loan to the buyer. The appraiser looks at similar properties in the area and the prices at which they were sold to set the value of the house.

A house inspector conducts a thorough evaluation of the houses major systems and structural integrity. Whereas the appraiser is typically working for the bank, the house inspector is working for you. The house inspector identifies items that need replacement or repair prior to closing, which can save you thousands of dollars.

U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development (HUD) requires buyers sign a Consumer Notice advising them to get a house inspection in addition to a house appraisal before purchasing a house with a FHA mortgage. Additionally, HUD now allows homebuyers to include the costs of appraisal and inspection in their FHA mortgage.

Why should I have my newly constructed home inspected?

There are good reasons to have a professional inspection performed on the brand new home you are buying.

Buying a new house is likely one of, if not the largest purchase decision you will ever make. The whole process is fraught with emotion and stress. A professional home inspection will substantially reduce the risk for your large investment in a new home. It just makes sense to learn as much as you can about the quality of your new home, before signing off on everything.

Building a new home is a tremendously complex endeavor. It involves many people, usually split up into sub-contractor groups, each working on different parts and systems of the house. Even for the best builders, its nearly impossible to complete this process without missing something. Maybe its a plumbing fixture that didn’t get tested for leaks, maybe its an electrical box that isn’t working, or any one of dozens of minor problems that can easily be overlooked in such a major undertaking. We will find such problems while it is still early enough for you to bring them up with the builder and have them corrected before you sign-off and start moving in.

For the relatively small cost, a professional inspection of your new dream home can pay big dividends in peace of mind and getting any problems identified and corrected before they can become an unpleasant surprise.

Questions about Radon

Radon in Minnesota Homes

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) publishes guidelines for radon testing, and how to interpret the results. These guidelines can help you to estimate your radon level and whether you should act quickly to eliminate the possible health affects associated with it.

Radon levels may vary, and are affected by things such as seasonality, climate, and geographic location. Because of these nuances and how they may determine your radon reading, you'll typically see a small different in advice given for the state of Minnesota versus those given by the EPA.

What is radon and why should I worry about it?

Radon is a naturally occurring gas produced in the soil around your home, but has no odor, taste or color. Unfortunately, despite the ghostlike nature of its presence, it is radioactive. Therefore, it is able to produce cancer in humans, being the leading cause of lung cancer in the US, following closely by smoking.

The problem isn't the radon itself, it's the radon decay product, also called RDPs. Alpha radiation, like radon, gives off alpha particles as it decays and these can be delivered directly to the DNA, causing lung tissue damage. RDPs have a very fast half life of 30 minutes, which means that there will be a constant fluctuation of radon levels in your home if it's decaying.

Do I really need to bother with testing for radon?

Yes! There is no way to know if it's in your home without testing, thanks to its invisible and odorless nature. The Minnesota Department of Health estimates that one in three Minnesota homes has radon levels above the EPA's recommended action level.

What's a “recommended action level”?

The EPA set a recommended action level to help the public interpret when their radon levels are too high. The limit of 4 picoCuries/liter (pCi/L) should be compared to yearly average of radon measured in a home. If the annual average level of radon in a home is above this action level, both the EPA and MDH recommend that steps be taken to lower it, and further recommended doing so even if it's as low at 2 pCi/L.

Is there a radon level that's safe?

Any amount of radon carries some risk, though things like lung cancer increase with higher long-term average radon levels. You can't ever reduce radon to zero, but you can take steps to lower it as much as possible. In Minnesota there are no regulations for radon, so it's up to homeowners to decide what they're comfortable with.

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