Home Inspection Tips for Buyers in Minneapolis

If you've ever purchased a home before, you know how important it is to have a home inspection performed by a professional home inspector prior to closing on the house. Any purchase agreement should include wording that the sale is subject to your approval of such an inspection.

It wouldn't be practical to have an inspector look at every property that you are considering, however, you can do some preliminary investigation on your own. You don't need to have all the qualifications of a professional inspector, but as you are looking at different properties, you may be able to spot typical signs of potential serious problems. Here are a few Minneapolis home inspection tips to guide you in your search to find a good property.

As you walk around the outside of the house and the inside of the basement. Look for signs of cracks in the foundation. A hairline crack may not be a serious matter, but it is something that you will want an expert to check out before you buy.

While you're in the basement, look for signs of water. It may be dry right now, but if there has been a problem with water, you may see a grayish, white, or brown line around the perimeter, a few inches or even a few feet above the floor. This is an indication that there has been standing water at that level, and warrants further investigation. If there is proof that there had been a broken water pipe in the past and it has been repaired, there may not be a problem. But, if the water came in from outside, you can expect more of the same.

Look for signs of termites while you are in the basement. Look at all of the wood, and especially close to where it rests on the foundation, for covered trails that are passageways for termites. There are other telltale signs as well, but these are the most prominent.

These few home inspection tips are some of the hundreds of items that would be checked by a professional home inspector, but they may alert you to some of the more serious problems that can be present. 

The knowledge, skill and experience required to follow these “tips” varies; if you are in doubt as to your ability to properly and safely implement these suggestions, call a qualified professional first. Every home appliance and system is different as are the problems that can affect them. Accordingly, the above-referenced tips are meant only as suggestions to be considered for the listed problems. AmeriSpec cannot be responsible for any damages arising from any actions taken pursuant to tips provided herein. This list is not exhaustive and other remedies may be needed in addition to those listed above.