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Inspection Information
Buyers Inspections vs. City Evaluations
Buyers Inspections
The private home inspection will include a visible analysis of the following components:
Structural & Basement
Heating & Cooling
Plumbing & Bathrooms
Electrical & Kitchen
Interior & Attic
Roofing & Exterior
Grounds & Garages
Making sure of the condition of the property prior to purchase is one of the best ways to protect your investment. All homes may need replacement or maintenance of some components. Having this information before finalizing the purchase keeps you in control of the transaction. A buyers inspection is very thorough and more in-depth compared to a city required time of sale report. You’ll be walked through the computer generated report on site and any questions will be answered.
Every home buyer and realtor has concerns. We will make sure that all items are identified and at the same time, kept in the proper perspective. The intent of the report is to inform, and not to scare nor invent concerns.
The inspection is performed according to the standards of practice. All inspections and reports are computer-generated, and a PDF format report is emailed to our client.
Use the MN Energy info links for more information on all components of your home.
City Evaluations:
Truth in Sale of Housing, Time of Sales, Rentals
The following cities require a Truth in Housing or Time of Sale evaluation any time a property is marketed or offered for sale.
City of St. Paul
City of Maplewood
The Cities of St. Paul and Maplewood require a Truth in Housing evaluation prior to marketing any property. This report is required on all single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses and condominiums. The report must be on site and available for all potential buyers to view. Additionally a copy must be provided to the buyer at the time of signing a purchase agreement. The evaluation is a statement of the condition of the property based on the city guidelines. It is meant to inform, but there are no required corrections. The only exception to this is a requirement in St. Paul only for one hardwired smoke detector located near the sleeping areas. It is important have a correct and accurate report in order to ensure a smooth real estate transaction and protect both the buyer and seller.
City of Minneapolis
Minneapolis requires a Truth in Housing evaluation prior to marketing any property. This report is required on all single-family, duplex, townhouse or 1st time conversions of condominiums. The report must be on site and available for all potential buyers to view. Additionally a copy must be provided to the buyer at the time of signing a purchase agreement. The evaluation is a statement of the condition of the property based on the city guidelines. Items rated as “RR” (repair/replace) are required to be corrected by either the seller or the buyer. It is important have a correct and accurate report in order to ensure a smooth real estate transaction and protect both the buyer and seller. (Note that as of January 15, 2020, Minneapolis TISH reports include information on the energy efficiency of a home. Read more about these updates.)
City of Bloomington
City of South St. Paul
Both of the cities require a Time of Sale Evaluation prior to marketing or showing the property. The report is required of all single-family, duplex, townhouse, condominiums in both cities. Items rated as “Hazardous” must be corrected and a re-inspection must be performed to verify completion. Additionally South St. Paul requires the evaluation on apartment buildings. The report must be on site and available for all potential buyers to view. A copy must be provided to the buyer at the time of signing a purchase agreement. The evaluation is a statement of the condition of the property based on the city guidelines.
(South St. Paul requires an inspection on all rental units. This is true for one-unit as well as all multi-unit buildings. In South St. Paul, any items found to be “Hazardous” must be corrected and a final inspection done verifying completion. Upon correction we will then issue a certificate of completion. This certificate must be presented to the city at the time of rental license renewal. Please contact me for more details)
City of Robbinsdale
The City requires a Truth in Housing evaluation prior to marketing any property. This report is required on all single-family, duplex, 3 family, townhouse or condominium. The report must be on site and available for all potential buyers to view. Additionally a copy must be provided to the buyer at the time of signing a purchase agreement. The evaluation is a statement of the condition of the property based on the city guidelines. The owner shall be informed that city permits may be required for items marked as “Repair/Replace” and all questions in that regard should be addressed to the City of Robbinsdale Inspections Division at 763-537-4534. Items rated as “RR” (repair/replace) are required to be corrected. It is important have a correct and accurate report in order to ensure a smooth real estate transaction and protect both the buyer and seller.
Pre-Inspections
Note: A pre-inspection may be performed in all of the cities with the exception of Bloomington. This will allow you to correct any “Hazardous” or “Repair/Replace” items prior to marketing. This will allow the seller to have a corrected accurate report, as all of the deficiencies will be corrected prior to releasing of the Truth in Housing or Time of Sale. Please contact me for more information.
Other City Requirements
The following cities have a requirement for a pre-sale inspection that is done by city employees. Most of these require some correction prior to closing on the sale.
New Hope 763-531-5100
(The following cities have a requirement for a point of sale Sanitary Sewer System Inspection prior to any offer of sale)
Mounds View 763-717-4051
Orono 952-249-4604
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