Top 10 Home Inspectors in Cottage Grove, MN
Frequently asked questions about home inspectors
Buying a home is the biggest purchase you’ll make in your lifetime. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or looking to buy your next place, there are many benefits of hiring a professional home inspector.
Walking through a home, you may notice a few things you want to fix or rooms you want to paint. The home inspector will assess important HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Inspectors notice structural or insulation problems that you and your real estate agent probably missed. The inspector outlines all their findings in a report and walks you through the property to explain major issues.
If you decide to go through with the purchase, the home inspection report offers a roadmap for repairs you may need. The inspection report is also great leverage for contract negotiations with the seller. If there’s a major repair on the report, you can ask the seller to cover it or come down on the sale price.
Of course, the main benefit of hiring a home inspector is that they’ll help you avoid buying a home that needs more work than you’re willing to pay. As long as your offer is contingent on the home inspection, you’ll be able to walk away with your down payment and find the property that works best for your family and your budget.
Before you hire a home inspector, make sure they’re certified. Not all home inspectors are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors, so check that yours is. Members of AHSI adhere to a standard of ethics, continue their education, and have access to more resources.
Check to make sure your home inspector is insured. Home inspectors usually carry professional liability (aka errors and omissions) insurance and general liability to cover things like property damage claims.
As part of the home buying process, your local home inspector will have a certain number of days to examine the property. Then, you’ll walk through the house together so the inspector can point out any problems they may have found. In the end, the inspector will give you a report detailing everything you need to know.
When choosing an inspector, ask for previous inspection reports to see how thorough they are. Good reports are thorough and include photos. Reading reviews gives you a better idea of what to expect from the home inspector. If you’re choosing between a full-time inspector and a part-time one, hire the full-time inspector – they’ll have booked more hours and experience.
Of course, if you already have a good rapport with your real estate agent, ask who they would recommend. Real estate agents often deal with home inspectors, so they’ll know the best option for you in your area.
You’ve bought your dream home and noticed some water damage in the basement a month later. You hire a contractor to assess it, and they say this isn’t the first time the basement has seen water damage – the foundation wall is bowing from it. This issue should have been on the inspection report. Is the inspector liable?
They can be. That question is why it’s best to hire an inspector who carries errors and omissions insurance, as well as general liability insurance. The inspector will have to file a claim to cover the repairs, but they will be more likely to cover those costs.
As with any legal action, there’s no guarantee you’ll get your money back. Pursuing legal action against an uninsured home inspector will become an even bigger headache, and they may not have the funds available to cover the repairs you need.
You also have to prove that nothing happened to alter the home's condition after you completed the inspection report. For instance, if there aren’t any issues with the roof at the time of inspection, and you notice leaks a few months after a big storm, the home inspector would not be liable.
The cost of a home inspection depends on a few factors, including the location and size of the property. Generally, you should expect to pay a couple hundred dollars for one home inspection. A few things about local home inspectors could increase that price:
- Experience - When hiring a more experienced home inspector, they tend to charge more.
- Age and condition of the property - Older homes may cost more to inspect.
- Travel time - The inspector may charge for commuting if you buy a country home off the beaten path.
- Additional inspections - Depending on where you buy your home, you may want to invest in specialty inspections. Radon tests, pest inspections, and well inspections will run up the bill. Ask your real estate agents which inspections they would recommend, and plan for them when finalizing your budget.
In some real estate markets, the seller may pay for an inspection ahead of time. Ask your real estate agent if they trust the company that performed the pre-inspection. This awareness can help you decide whether or not to invest in another inspection.
If you’re selling a home in a competitive market, investing in a pre-sale home inspection may be a good idea. As a seller, some pros include the following:
- The inspection report will paint a realistic view of the property, helping you and your real estate agent set a competitive listing price.
- A pre-sale inspection allows you to make any necessary repairs or updates to get a greater return on investment when the time comes to sell.
- You won’t be surprised by the buyer’s home inspection report. If you’re selling your first home to upgrade to a second, the pre-sale inspection will help you avoid any costly negotiations that the buyer’s report might unearth.
- If you are selling a relative’s property that you inherited, the pre-sale inspection will give you all the details you need about the property's condition.
While it may seem beneficial to have a pre-sale inspection before you put your home on the market, there can also be downsides. Here are a few cons that impact homebuyers and sellers alike:
- The seller is legally obligated to reveal any problems with the house to potential buyers. If the pre-sale inspection uncovers some major problems, your plans may need to change.
- As a homebuyer, remember that the pre-sale home inspection usually benefits the seller. The home inspector likely had the seller’s best interests at heart and not yours. It’s always a good idea to invest in your home inspection.
- Finally, a pre-sale home inspection doesn’t guarantee the buyer’s inspector won’t find anything wrong with the property.
Recent reviews for Cottage Grove Home Inspectors
Andy from Everest did an amazing job. He was very thorough and went over all the findings. He paid close attention to detail and explained everything clearly. I appreciated his time, effort, quick response, and professionalism in his job. I would recommen...
Wow.. if you value your future and money, STAY AWAY!! Like I’m not kidding. This guy needs a new line of business - he ruined our lives! I really don’t like to hurt peoples businesses, but he does not belong in this service, so I’m doing you and the univ...
We hired Everest home inspectors to conduct a professional home inspection prior the purchase of the home - contingent on inspection. The Everest home inspector/report touched on what the inspector called “settling”. He showed pictures of cracks in shee...
NORTHSTAR Home Inspections was great they provided very valuable feedback and we were happy with their service.
Brandon was great. He was very knowledgeable and very friendly.
Brandon provided great detail and happy with the inspection!
Inspection went great. They did a thorough job I would definetly use their services again and recommend them to any one considering buying a home!
Brandon was great. I liked how he was very attentive to my questions and how he took his time to make sure he looked at everything.
Brandon has a great personality. He was friendly and kind. Most of all very informative.
Everything You Need to Know About Cottage Grove Home Inspectors
How do I know I am getting a fair price for Home Inspection Agencies work in Cottage Grove?
Every Home Inspection Agencies job has different requirements. Remember that the price will differ depending on the scope of your project. However, that doesn't mean you have to go in blind. Check out our tips for getting a fair price for Cottage Grove work from Home Inspectorsbelow:
- Talk to a few different Home Inspectors and ask for quotes to compare. We have around 50 professionals and companies in Cottage Grove for you to compare.
- Before contacting a company, check out the ratings and reviews from previous customers to learn what others have paid, how long the Home Inspectors took on the job, and how satisfied they were.
How many home inspectors does Cottage Grove have?
There are around 50 companies throughout Cottage Grove to help you with your next home inspection agencies job.
- 10 of them have an A or A+ rating from Better Business Bureau.
What should I check for once my Home Inspector in Cottage Grove has finished working?
Every home inspection agencies project is going to have different results, but here are a few things to check for once any home inspection agencies company has told you they've finished the job:
- Obviously you want to do a visual inspection. Even if you're unfamiliar with home inspection agencies work, this gives you the opportunity to ask questions (even basic ones like, what did you do?).
- Ask the home inspector to describe what they did. Whether your home inspection agencies project was a repair job or a building job, have them run you through what was done.
- Compare the description provided on your home inspection agencies project estimate to the work completed. Did the professional do what was promised?
- Request that the home inspector do a follow-up visit to check on the work. Most professionals are willing to do this, especially if you ask them.
All Home Inspectors in Cottage Grove, MN
Latest projects near Cottage Grove
Within a month
House demo, need to inspect for Hazardous material prior
Whole home
Single family residence
2,001-2,500 sq ft
51+ years
Basement
Owner
Yes
Yes
Lead paint test
Within 48 hours
Sloped or pitched
Asphalt or composite shingle
To check for damage from recent bad weather
No
One floor
Chimney Inspection
Within a week
Within 48 hours
Sloped or pitched
I'm not sure
For an insurance claim
I'm not sure
Two floors