Login
Roof Rules & Safety
Why don’t some home inspectors go on the roof? There are no requirements in the standards of practice of the national associations for a home inspector to go up on to the roof. Those inspectors who do walk the roof do so to be competitive and to be able to...
RADON – Myth or Menace!
Governor Mark Dayton has approved a bill that includes the Minnesota Radon Awareness Act dated May 7, 2013. This act which becomes effective on January 1, 2014 covers all residential home sales (including: existing homes, new construction and high-rise buildings)....
MN Inspector or MN Realtor’s Role!
How much is this home worth? …is a question often asked, by buyers, of their home inspector! Value is in the eye of the beholder and what the buyer thinks is value may be very different to the home inspector’s opinion. The role of the home inspector in helping the...
Good Home Inspectors Listen to the House
Is a home inspection necessary? This question is asked often because many homeowners and realtors do not realize just what an inspector does. A home inspector’s task is to represent the voice of the house. A good inspection report will tell you precisely the condition...
Not So Common Sense…Look Before You Sit!!
Old houses have many quirks and memories. Growing up, I’m sure you can remember many stories about some old dirty, damp, and dingy basement. A vacation home, a farmhouse you visited, maybe your grandparents house, or even where you grew up. Can you still feel the...
Safety Alert!!! Frozen Gas Meters
This week I was reminded of how dangerous this time of year can be in the northern states. With snow and ice thaw and then re-freeze, gas meters become a very BIG safety concern. Who looks at their gas meter? The answer is nobody…unless there’s a problem. Every...
Moisture Problems – Sumps to Big Bumps (Part 13)
Basements and crawl spaces with sump baskets may or may not be drain tiled. And drain tiles can be located on either the interior or the exterior of the foundation footing. Contractors will give varying opinions on which method is best, but it really doesn’t matter....
Moisture Problems – Is Your Drain Tile Dependable (Part 12)
Too many homebuyers have hired MN home inspectors that found the sellers disclosure regarding basement moisture to be incorrect and sometimes blatantly false. Unfortunately, too often, unsuspecting real estate agents are pulled into this scheme. The biggest culprits...
Moisture Problems – Sump Pumps and Drain Tile (Part 11)
Many homebuyers and real estate agents have the perception that a sump pump and drain tile indicate a problematic house, something they should walk away from…nothing could be further from the truth. When this system is installed properly it will really work....