Minnesota Radon Map Minnesota Home Inspectors LLC

Radon in homes has been at the forefront of real estate news lately.  Word has it that the State of Minnesota is paving the way to require testing of homes at the time of sale.  Minnesota has already made the requirement that all newly constructed homes have a radon mitigation system installed.

We at Minnesota Home Inspectors LLC thought it would be a cool idea to plot our findings to a map.  So we dug out our testing results since 2011 and loaded them into the map below.  Green icons indicate readings below the EPA action level of 4.0 pc/l.  Yellow icons indicate radon levels 4.0 to 10.0.  Red icons indicate radon levels over 10.0 pc/l.  Both yellow and red icons indicate radon levels which should be mitigated.

Examining the map indicates a couple things to us.  One is there seems to be a correlation between radon levels and bodies of water.  Secondly, there's no way to know whether levels will be high or low without testing.

 

 Click to see the full sized map.

The Truth About Truth in Housing Inspections

Several cities in the Twin Cities area require a Truth in Housing or Time of Sale inspection.  These cities include:

Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Crystal, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Maplewood, New Hope, Osseo, Richfield, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park, South St. Paul

These inspections are basically worthless to buyers.  Especially first time home buyers.  The reports are designed to ensure basic property standards of the individual cities.  But, very seldom even accomplish this.  They are not designed to be a "Buyer's Inspection" and should not be relied upon in lieu of Buyer's Inspection.

Take a look at the reports below.  On the left is a Minneapolis Truth in Sale of Housing Disclosure Report.  On the right is a Buyer's Inspection report completed on the very same house, only a few days apart.  The Truth in Sale of Housing Report was completed by an "Evaluator" licensed by the City of Minneapolis.  The Buyer's Inspection report was completed by Ken Rowe, an ASHI Certified Home Inspector.

Click to Download

Click to Download

 

 

 If you've downloaded both you'll see the difference immediately.  The TISH report is 11 pages, the home inspection report is over 80 pages.  There are no pictures in the TISH report.  There are over 40 in the home inspection report.   

But look closer.  There are no electrical or plumbing problems listed at all on the TISH report.  In fact, according the the "Evaluator" this house meets all requirements for a Certificate of Occupancy in the City of Minneapolis.  However, the Buyer's Inspection Report list 14 electrical and plumbing problems which need to be corrected, all of which are documented with pictures.

The differences don't stop there.  According to the "Evaluator" the garage structure, attic venting and pretty much everything else in the home "Meets Minimum Requirements".  On the other hand,  the Buyer''s Home Inspection Report lists 31 pages of deficient items which will need to be addressed at some point.

Do yourself a favor.  When you're buying a house don't rely on the report required by your local government.  Find your own ASHI Certified Inspector.

Tracy Severson - Finding A Qualified Home Inspector May Be Harder Than You Think

http://www.tracyseverson.com/finding-a-qualified-home-inspector-may-be-harder-than-you-think/

There is currently no state regulation of home inspectors in the state of Minnesota, which means pretty much anyone can print business cards and sell home inspection services. While you may save a hundred bucks on the inspection, working with a less than qualified inspector can end up costing you thousands in the long run, as illustrated in Monday night’s KARE 11 news story.
So what can you do to make sure your inspector is a qualified professional?
1. Make sure your inspector is ASHI Certified. While our state has no licensing requirements, the American Society of Home Inspectors does offer certification, which establishes educational, experience, and ethical standards for inspectors. Many inspectors will tell you they are members of ASHI; however, that’s not the same as being certified. Inspectors can become members of ASHI just like you can join many other professional organizations. In order to become certified an inspector must pass the National Home Inspector’s Exam, which is the test 33 U.S. states use for licensing. There are fewer than 30 ASHI certified home inspectors in the state of Minnesota. Make sure your inspector is one of them.

2. Make sure your inspector is insured. According to Ken Rowe of Minnesota Home Inspectors, ninety percent of inspectors carry no liability insurance. The only way an inspector can stand behind their work is to carry insurance to cover themselves—and you—should they miss a significant defect in a home they inspect for you. Without errors and omissions liability insurance, your odds of recovering any losses are very slim, even if you do go to court and get a judgment.
3. Interview Potential Inspectors. Ask questions about the inspector’s experience, the scope of the inspection, and what kind of report or information you will receive about the subject property. Incorporate these questions into your discussion. Keep in mind that the number of inspections performed is a better measure of experience than how long an inspector has been in business. There are some excellent inspectors who have only been in business a couple of years who have much more experience than a part-timer who does 20 inspections per year.
Many Realtors will recommend inspectors if you ask, but you shouldn’t take their recommendations without asking some questions.  A home inspection’s purpose is to protect the buyer, and it’s in your best interest to make sure the inspector you hire is properly trained, experienced, and competent. At some point state lawmakers may require licensing of home inspectors, but in the meantime, I protect my clients by only recommending inspectors who meet the criteria above.

20% Discount On Violet Glass Purchase

For a limited time receive a 20% off discount code for stained glass purchased from Violet Glass on Etsy.com. 

All you have to do is have your home inspection performed by Minnesota Home Inspectors and we'll send you a 20% discount code good for any purchase from Violet Glass.  It's that simple.

Http://www.etsy.com/shop/violetglass123

MinnesotaHomeInspectors.com

Your Home Inspection is Confidential Or Is It?

With the downturn in the economy many home inspection companies have found it necessary to generate additional revenue on top of what they're charging clients for the actual inspection.  One of the methods that seems to be snowballing in the inspection industry is selling the client's information.

There are alarm companies paying inspectors $10 for every client's name and telephone number they submit.  For me that would be an extra $3,000 a year.  It doesn't stop with alarm companies either...home warranty companies and recall notification companies are doing it also...all at the tune of $10 per clients.  That's an extra $9,000 a year to me.

Let me just say, I'm all for making an extra $9,000 a year but not by violating the trust of my clients.  The American Society of Home Inspectors have ruled that selling your client's information if a violation of their Code of Ethics.  The problem is they allow it if the client is notified first.  So home inspectors hide this notification in the small print of their inspection agreements.

At Minnesota Home Inspectors we will never sell or give away our client's personal information, ever.  This is one of the reasons why we've performed inspections for professional sports figures, high profile government officials and even members of the Secret Service.  Their secrets are safe with us.

Minnesota Home Inspectors
Scheduling:  651-489-4633

Thermal Imaging; a new tool for MHI

At Minnesota Home Inspectors LLC we believe in giving our clients the best inspection possible. In order to do that we've purchased a handheld thermal imaging device to assist us in locating hot electrical connections and water leaks.

At Minnesota Home Inspectors LLC we believe in adding value to our service. Therefore, if we suspect a problem area we're going to use thermal imaging to help define the problem...at no additional cost to our clients.

To schedule your next inspection please call MHI at 651-489-4633
www.minnesotahomeinspectors.com

Now Accepting Credit Cards

Minnesota Home Inspectors
is now excepting credit cards!

Minnesota Home Inspectors have moved into the 21st century! We've purchased Android phones and with a little App called Square we can swipe your card at the time of the inspection.

We still accept cash or personal checks but now there's no need to run to the cash machine or get a money order.

To order your next home inspection call 651-489-4633

Minnesotahomeinspectors.com