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Home Inspections - Residential Structure Inspection
It is important to have any home inspected before you buy. It's especially important if you are considering buying one of the many foreclosed homes for sale in MN, but even a home you think is sound might have hidden, and costly, problems. An inspection by an accredited person can alert you to problems in the home that you might not know about, such as house drain-pipe leaks, water damage, structural problems, or even toxins in the air such as formaldehyde or radon. Our radon testing tools are state of the art; please read on for more about our indoor air quality testing service and discover some important facts about radon.) Try me for your next home inspection!
Home Buyer's Inspection List
In general, these are the important things to make sure your home inspector looks for when conducting your residential structure inspection. A helpful home inspector will go through this list with you, taking the time to explain anything you find unclear.
Look for:
- Structural elements. Are walls, ceilings, floors, and the foundation in good condition? What about cracks or discoloration in the foundation or retaining walls?
- Exterior. Doors, windows, driveways, should be in working order.
- Roof and attic. What type of roof construction is it? Are flashing and gutters clean and in good condition?
- Plumbing. Any pressure problems? Drainage problems? Even if there is no visible water damage, there still may be a liquid leak. Water can seep deep into the walls and cause damage to your home's supporting foundation. A moisture inspection is always a good idea.
- Electrical. Wiring should be in good condition and not overloaded.
- Attic. A proper level of insulation should be present and there should be no air leaks.
Did you know? Appraisal versus Home Inspection
An appraisal is not the same as a home inspection, though buyers often confuse the terms. An appraisal takes about half an hour onsite; a home inspection takes three to four hours. During an appraisal, a representative of the lender (not the buyer) estimates the value of the house and makes sure the house is marketable. On the other hand, a qualified home inspector evaluates the condition of your house, estimates the remaining life of any major appliances, and points out areas that may need repair.
Should You And Your Home Inspector Sign A Pre-Inspection Agreement?
Home inspector agreements are common in the industry. They are for your protection as well as the inspector's. All the agreement says is that you agree to pay the inspector a certain amount and that he or she agrees to perform the inspection services.
An important note about Home Forecloser Inspections
We recommend always having an accredited person conduct a home inspection of a foreclosed home. These homes are by nature more likely to have problems. You may feel pressure from an agent to buy now before you lose out on the offer-but remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Facts about Radon
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas formed by uranium breaking down. Uranium is naturally present in soil, rock, and water and its breakdown is natural; however, excessive levels of radon in your home can cause cancer, especially in smokers. Radon gas can enter your home through even a small foundation crack - leak after leak, no matter how tiny, may eventually build up to toxic levels. The EPA has studied the effects of radon on smokers and non-smokers, and found:
- With exposure to 10 pCi/L (picocuries per litre), about 71 out of 1,000 smokers would get cancer, equal to 100 times the risk of dying in a home fire.
- With exposure to 4 pCi/L, about 29 would get cancer, equal to 100 times the risk of dying in a plane crash.
- With exposure to 8 pCi/L, about 3 non-smokers would get cancer, equal to 10 times the risk of dying in a plane crash.
- With exposure to 4 pCi/L, about 2 would get cancer, equal to the risk of drowning.
A qualified radon service professional can help you reduce the levels of radon in your home if it has been determined to be excessive. Our Indoor Air Quality Service includes radon testing tools that can quickly and easily determine the level of radon present.
Your Home Inspector Bio
We are Private Eye, Inc., built on the strength of several top home inspectors. No matter what type of inspection service you require - Home Buyers, Sellers, Truth-in-Housing, Moisture Testing, or Radon Testing - and no matter when you need it, one call to Private Eye Home Inspections at 651-639-0184 is all you need to make.
Private Eye Home Inspections serves the Minneapolis - St Paul metro area of Minnesota.
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Home Inspections & Interior Moisture
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