SuburbanHomeInspections
St Paul / Mpls
homeinvestigator.com
Text Us Now: 651-276-9918
Trusted, reliable home inspection services for over 20 years.
Serving Minnesota's entire Twin Cities Metro area.
-
Pre-purchase/Buyer Inspections
-
Truth-In-Housing Inspections
-
Radon Testing
-
Sewer Pipe Scoping
office based in Woodbury, MN
We have inspected thousands of homes
11-Month Warranty Inspection
New construction homes should be inspected before the one-year warranty expires. We can identify any errors made by the builder so that you can have the items remedied before you become responsible for the repair expense.
These inspections are particularly effective because you have had the advantage of living in the home for nearly one full year - and have possibly already identified some concerns. Using this data, combined with our observations and findings, you can be confident when you present our finished report to your builder, so that all remaining concerns can be properly addressed.
These inspections have prevented many small mistakes from becoming large liabilities. See below for samples found at actual inspections.
Sample defects from 11-month inspections
Defect #1
Missing kick-out flashing
The roofing contractor failed to install kick-out flashing at this location. While kick-out flashing issues are common at older homes, it is highly unusual to find this very important detail missing at new construction. The lack of flashing allows water to leak behind the wall claddings and into the wall structure.
See next image for more details.
Defect #1 Continued
Leakage from lack of kick-out flashing
Water stains existed above this window - and the homeowners had notified their builder of periodic leakage. The builder modified the flashings around the perimeter of the window, but completely missed the actual source of the problem, which was the lack of kick-out flashing. If not caught, major damage/decay would have occurred to the wall structure over time.
Defect #2
Improperly installed kick-out flashing
In this example, kick-out flashing was present but was improperly installed/positioned. This also allows leakage to occur behind the wall claddings and will significantly damage the wall structure over time. Unfortunately, this type of leakage usually goes undetected until the problem reaches an advanced stage.
Defect #3
Inadequate number of fasteners at porch connection to home
This builder used an inadequate number of bolts to anchor the porch ledger board to the home - and the existing bolts also were not staggered at the house connection. This results in a very weak connection - and creates a serious potential safety hazard.
Defect #4
Improperly installed roof underlayments
While most portions of roofing underlayments are not visible to home inspectors, several gaps and improper overlaps were identified at the edges of this roof. This often means that more (hidden) errors are also present. The end result of this discovery was a new roof for the homeowner.
Defect #5
Elevated carbon-monoxide levels in furnace exhaust
Elevated carbon monoxide levels inside the furnace exhaust pipe generally indicate the need for a tune-up, but they can also be an indication of a more serious problem. In either case, it is unusual for a new furnace to have elevated levels of carbon monoxide. This resulted in further evaluation/servicing by an HVAC specialist.
Defect #6
Improperly fastened siding
Loose vinyl siding indicates that it was not fastened properly. When some loose portions are discovered, it is common for other loose portions to be present. This is an installation issue - and if caught - can be remedied by your builder.
Defect #7
Roof design flaw
Some roof designs are more susceptible to ice buildup during winter months. This photo shows one example, where multiple slopes drain to one location. While this is not something your builder is responsible for changing, we can alert you to areas like this and provide suggestions to you so that you can make proactive improvements to help prevent these areas from causing problems.
Defect #8
Ice dam on roof
This newly constructed home experienced leakage into the garage during the first winter, due to ice dams. This was caused by a similar roof design flaw - where multiple slopes drained to one location. There are multiple reasons why the ice buildup occurred. For example, alternate termination points for the bathroom and dryer vents would have helped.
See next image for more details.
Defect #8 Continued
Leakage from ice dam
The leakage from the ice dam occurred down the back garage wall. Our inspection identified multiple options for a remedy, including the installation of a second-story gutter and heating cable at the problem zone of the roof. If this had been identified prior to winter, we could have helped the homeowner prevent this from occurring.
Defect #9
Insulation not installed above laundry room
Homes often have multiple attic spaces and in new construction, it is not uncommon for the insulation installer to overlook some of the smaller spaces. Infrared allows us to easily identify areas where insulation is missing. The ceiling above this laundry room was not insulated - resulting in a very cold room. See infrared image in next slide.
Defect #9 Continued
Missing insulation viewed with infrared
The darker areas of this infrared image indicate colder temperatures - due to the lack of insulation on the back side of the ceiling. If you look closely, you can also see the heat signature of the roof structure through the drywall.
Infrared can also be used to find plumbing leaks, overheating electrical, rodent tunnels, and more.
Defect #9 Continued
Missing insulation verified from garage attic space
The lack of insulation on the back side of the laundry room ceiling was visible from inside the garage attic space. In many cases, there is no access to these small spaces, making the infrared camera an invaluable tool during our inspections.
To view more infrared sample images, click here.
office based in Woodbury, MN
Inspection Services
Standard Buyers Inspection
Most common choice for:
Single Family Homes / Townhomes / Condos.
Highly recommended prior to every home purchase. If you skip this step, an inspection after purchasing is also a wise decision.
Amount of time on-site and fee is based on size of home.
Includes:
-
2 1/2 - 3 hour inspection of your home.
-
Infrared scanning at all areas of concern.
-
On-site walk-through/review of the inspection findings.
-
A very detailed report, loaded with images.
-
Responses to your follow-up questions via e-mail or phone.
Investors Inspection
A common choice for experienced investors or buyers of distressed homes. Starting at $315.
An abbreviated inspection that focuses on major items, including but not limited to:
-
Safety hazards and structural concerns.
-
Leaks and obvious plumbing issues.
-
Overall condition of roof, attic spaces, electrical system, HVAC system.
Since there is less report writing involved, we can offer this service for a reduced fee.
Radon Testing
Radon tests can be ordered with your home inspection or can be ordered separately. Fee is $185.
Approximately one out of three homes in Minnesota have elevated levels of radon gas. According to the EPA, long-term exposure to high levels of radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, next to smoking.
We recommend that radon levels be tested at all homes - unless a radon mitigation system has been installed, or if a test was recently performed by a licensed testing company.
The good news is that almost all homes can be mitigated - and can reduce radon levels to near zero. The average cost of mitigation is approximately $1700.
Sewer Pipe Scoping
Sewer pipe scoping can be ordered with your home inspection. We use our preferred subcontractor for this service and will schedule this for you if you want to add this service. In most cases, the sewer scope takes place at the same time as the inspection. Fee is $195.
Over time, sewer pipe joints can separate, cracks can develop, and tree roots can grow into the pipe - causing clogs or backups. Sewer pipe repairs can cost thousands of dollars, so we recommend this service for all homes (particularly 1980's and older homes).
Infrared Scanning
This service is free with every home inspection!
Thermal/infrared scanning has literally changed the way homes are inspected. We have been using this technology during our home inspections since 2004 - and we simply will not perform an inspection without infrared. This technology allows us to find plumbing leaks, roof leaks, missing insulation, and several other potential issues. There is absolutely no charge for this service. Click the button to see actual images from our inspections.
11 Month / Warranty Inspection
New construction homes should be inspected before the one-year warranty expires. We can identify any errors made by the builder so that you can have the items remedied before you become responsible for the repair expense. These inspections have prevented many small mistakes from becoming large liabilities. Fees vary by size of home and location. Average fee: $385
Includes:
-
2 1/2 - 3 hour inspection of your home.
-
Infrared scanning at all areas of concern.
-
A very detailed report, loaded with images.
-
Responses to your follow-up questions via e-mail or phone.