The 5 Most Common Home Inspection Issues in Twin Cities Homes (and What They Mean for Buyers)

If you get a home inspection in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, or the surrounding areas, you’ll probably have at least one of these items show up on your report. Don’t be surprised by this; it’s all common and fixable.

Water Management Problems

Wet and moldy basements are usually caused by poor water management at the exterior of the home. Not only should most homes have a full set of gutters, but they should also have long downspout extensions to carry water away from the house. Additionally, the ground should slope away from the house to ensure surface water doesn’t drain down next to the foundation.

Water management is also crucial in preventing water intrusion around siding and windows. When a house has huge roof overhangs and a full set of gutters, the chances for water intrusion at the walls and windows are dramatically reduced. And conversely, when water is concentrated into small areas and dumped against the house, the chances for water intrusion skyrocket.

Unprotected Overhead Electric Wires

Most older homes have overhead electric wires, also known as the Service Drop. When you have exposed clamps overhead, this poses a shock and electrocution hazard, and it’s a defect that we encounter almost every day.

The good news is that this is a simple fix, because the utility company owns these clamps. They typically argue about this and say it’s not their responsibility… but it is. My advice for those situations is to ask for a supervisor or call back and talk to someone else.

Masonry Chimney Problems

Old homes have masonry chimneys, and a large portion of them require service or repair. These repairs are often more expensive than you might expect, which is why it often makes more sense to have the chimney removed below the roof line.

And while I’m talking about chimneys, I should also mention wood-burning fireplaces. We do a ton of specialized camera inspections on these chimneys, and the vast majority of them have problems. If you’re buying a home with a wood-burning fireplace, I strongly recommend getting a Level 2 chimney inspection along with the home inspection.

Gas Leaks

We find natural gas leaks almost every day. Most of them are very small leaks that have been going on for years, but it’s hard to convince anyone that there’s such a thing as a “minor” gas leak. For this reason, we always notify the sellers of these gas leaks and recommend repair.

Sewer Problems

I’m rounding out this list with sewer problems. Approximately 50% of our home inspection clients wisely opt for a sewer camera inspection, and we find a lot of problems. While older homes are more likely to have issues, we still find our share of problems with relatively new homes. Knowing what I know today, I wouldn’t consider buying any age of home without a sewer inspection.

Conclusion

If any of these issues come up during your home inspection, it means you have a pretty typical home. All of these issues can be addressed, and it’s helpful to be aware of them before making a purchase.