You’ve searched and sifted through the potential property pool, and finally found THE ONE. You can see yourself caring for this home, making memories within it for years to come. However, before going all in and signing the purchase agreement, ordering a home inspection in Minnesota will build a strong, vital foundation for your homeownership journey. By requiring a home inspection in Minnesota, you’ll find out about all your future home’s baggage, and if any red flags pop up, you’ll still be able to either negotiate fixes or walk away and avoid a very expensive mistake. With these points in mind, those looking to inspect should answer some key questions:

Who’s going to deliver a strong inspection?

Once you’ve decided to invest in a home inspection in Minnesota for your potential future property (seriously, we cannot recommend this enough), it’s time to take this relationship to the next level. It’s a good idea to start by asking everyone and anyone you know for recommendations and tips. Your agent will be familiar with a wide array of inspectors, and can help you determine which ones are winners and which ones belong on the bench. Friends, family and neighbors will also most likely have experience with at least one inspector, and there’s a lot to be said for a thorough online vetting using reviews to help you make your decision. Overall, go in with the mindset that a good inspector is hard to find, but a hard-working inspector is good to find. With this in mind, we recommend having a first choice inspector planned, but with a strong second option in the wings. This will benefit planners in the event that your chosen inspector can’t schedule a time within your inspection contingency once you’ve actually made an offer.

You will also want to hammer out the details of their Minnesota home inspection inclusions. It’s up to you to review their contract, and if you see that there’s an important factor missing, then you need to point it out and work out whether or not it will be remedied with the inspector.

What have the sellers already disclosed, and if it’s something big, how will you proceed?

Sellers must disclose details regarding their property upon accepting an offer to purchase, however, what has to be included can vary from state to state. Generally, the seller’s disclosures will include any repairs or issues the home has had in the past, as well as noting if unpermitted work has taken place throughout the property. When working with a home inspection in Minnesota, you should use this disclosed information as a jumping off point for your inspector. If the sellers do disclose unpermitted work on the home, it’s time to bring in a specialized inspector. They will not only make sure that your new house is safe to inhabit, but will also prevent any surprise future expenses because you were saddled with the task of bringing the property up to code.

Do you have a checklist ready?

Even when you’re looking at a potential home for the first time, you should keep an eye out and take note of any spots that you’d like your inspector to investigate. Again, this checklist is also a great way to confirm that the info that’s important to you is included on your MN home inspector’s final report. Some checklist ideas include:

• How does the lot look? Does groundwater flow away or towards the property?
• What sticks out before you even enter the home? Is everything in its place, such as downspouts, gutters and any exposed wiring? Does the foundation look crowded by foliage, especially trees? How does the roof look?
• Speaking of foundation, are there any noticeable shifts or cracks visible inside the home?
• When was the roof last replaced? How does it look, both outside and inside the home? (inside issues will be most apparent in the attic)
• Is everything in order with plumbing and water in general? When was the sewer last checked out, and does everything sound normal? Are there leaks anywhere, whether they’re in the ceiling, along walls or around windows?
• What’s that smell? Is it obvious, and if so, what can be done about it? Smells can be harmless, but they can also indicate issues ranging from a damp basement to major structural weak points.

These are just a few suggestions for your list, and when you’re drafting your own checklist for your home inspection in Minnesota, you’ll want to dive into other significant factors like the HVAC system, home appliances, electrical work, codes, basement vulnerabilities, etc. Your agent and inspector should both be strong assets here!

Did you set aside time to come along for the inspection?

Many buyers don’t realize that they are allowed to attend their own home inspections in Minnesota. Your agent should be by your side for this as well, and you should both have a good 4 hours or so set aside so the process doesn’t need to be rushed.

Buyers, especially those in Minnesota, also have a hard time wrapping their head around the idea that this isn’t the time to focus more on Minnesota nice than getting the information needed. Follow your inspector (reasonably) closely throughout the inspection, and be sure to ask any questions that come to mind. This is also an ideal time to hear explanations for your future home’s systems, minute details and even helpful maintenance tips from a professional whose job is to judge the quality of a home’s maintenance.

At the end of the day, and eventually the entire process, you will hopefully have a new house key to carry out closing, and, thanks to your inspection, you’ll be prepared to care for and grow with your home. For more tips and ideas for Minnesota home inspections, contact The Antonov Group.