Is Knob and Tube Wiring Safe?
Knob and tube (K&T) wiring is a system of electrical wiring common in homes built from 1880’s – 1930’s. I came across it while inspecting a Minneapolis home last week [...]
Get a Sewer Inspection Before Buying an Older Home
Most first-time homebuyers know they should get a home inspection but sewer inspections are generally an after-thought. I try to educate my clients that this is one of the most [...]
How to Keep Pipes from Freezing
One of the joys of homeownership in Minnesota is learning how to keep your pipes from freezing. Why? Because when water freezes, it expands and can cause your home’s pipes [...]
Non-Reversing Garage Door Hazards
When we inspect a home, we test all aspects of a garage door’s functionality. We routinely see door defects pertaining to the manual quick-release or a missing safety wire. However, [...]
How to Avoid Overloaded Circuits with Christmas Lights
If your goal is to take your holiday lights display to the next level, you might want to consider the risks involved with an overloaded circuit. It’s unlikely you’ll cause [...]
Water and Your Masonry Chimney
The chimney is one of the most taken-for-granted parts of a home. We don’t pay it much attention but masonry chimney defects are frequently flagged in my inspections. Regular chimney [...]
Is My Attic Properly Insulated?
I inspect a great deal of older Twin Cities’ homes built between 1920-1960 that are insulated improperly. Many of them have added attic insulation in the wrong places, so I [...]
House Hunting? Check Out These 7 Areas Before You Make an Offer
I don’t like to see clients spend money on a home inspection and quickly realize they should never have made an offer in the first place. Find the right house, [...]
Does My Home Have Moisture Intrusion?
We in Minnesota are bracing for the transition from one wet season to the next, praying our homes aren’t impacted by “moisture intrusion”. I’ve had two requests for these specific [...]
Why Your Home Needs Egress Windows
In recent weeks I’ve inspected several homes with egress window deficiencies. This is fairly common in older Twin Cities’ homes. They were built long before there were any egress window [...]