Inspection Strategies for this Extreme Sellers’ Market
There is a growing trend in the marketplace for buyers who waived their home inspection. Smart buyers opt for an informational inspection. This can happen either during escrow or after the buyer takes possession. Understanding issues before you spend all [...]
How to Prevent Frost Heave
We are in the coldest stretch of MN winter but spring is on the horizon! Soon our temps will begin to creep above freezing more regularly during the day. At night, we will enter a period of repeated freeze-thaw cycles [...]
Should I Replace My Furnace With a More Efficient One?
This time of year in Minnesota we don’t take our furnaces for granted! But even the highest quality heating systems don't last forever. The U.S. Department of Energy claims a furnace should last 15-30 years before needing replacement. (Of course, [...]
Is Radon Testing Necessary for Slab On Grade Houses?
In Minnesota, there are three main foundation types: basement, crawl space, or concrete slab-on-grade. Slab-on-grade houses do not have a basement or crawl space beneath them, but rather, they were built on top of a concrete slab. Is it possible [...]
What to Look Out for When Buying a Flip
In our booming Twin Cities housing market, flips are becoming increasingly common. A flipped house is a renovated and aesthetically-improved version of an older property. Flips are not intrinsically bad--in fact there are some pretty impressive ones! But as inspectors, [...]
Your Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
Come springtime in Minnesota, most of us are eager to open windows, clean out closets, and uncover patio furniture! But home ownership requires going the extra mile, at least if you want to maintain your property value and avoid costly [...]
Smart Sellers Opt for a Pre-Listing Inspection
Many buyers are opting to forego an inspection in this highly competitive market! So, how do sellers protect themselves from claims made after the buyer moves in, suggesting the seller hid something? A pre-listing inspection offers great protection for the [...]
Why You Need a Home Inspection Even With a Non-Contingent Offer
In this highly competitive Twin Cities market, some buyers have been house-hunting for several months to no avail. They’ve repeatedly lost out in multiple-offer situations and are growing weary of the process! In order to make their offer more competitive, [...]
How to Prevent Window Condensation
It’s early February and we’re in the dead of MN winter! A little moisture on the inside of your windows may seem harmless at first. However, that moisture could very well be a sign of poor ventilation or a precursor [...]
How Does Radon Mitigation Work?
Branch Property Investigations has performed nearly 1,000 radon tests over the past five years in the Twin Cities Metro area. Roughly 30-35% of the homes we’ve tested have had dangerously high radon levels. If you learn your home’s radon levels [...]
Should I Test My Home for Radon this Winter?
This year more than ever, Minnesotans are hunkering down for winter. People are spending far more time at home, but how can you be sure the air you’re breathing in your home is safe? In many homes, radon levels tend [...]
Should I Cover My AC Unit for Fall & Winter?
There are a lot of extra chores to prepare our homes for the upcoming colder weather in Minnesota. Homeowners typically cover their grills and patio furniture for the winter, but what about covering your AC (air conditioning) unit? I start [...]