Article Written By Helmut Schmidt – February 16th 2016

From: INFORUM

FARGO – When it comes to home inspections, it doesn’t hurt to look at the subject from a lot of angles, says Lars Knobloch, owner of Nordic Home Inspection.

That’s why Knobloch and other home area home inspectors will look at homes up close, then from farther back. Walk around them clockwise, then take another walk counterclockwise.

It’s those different perspectives that reveal problems even a trained professional can miss the first time around, Knobloch said.

“Almost every time, you catch something,” Knobloch said as he and one of his employees recently inspected a south Fargo twin home.

Knobloch’s practiced eye quickly spots potential issues: a crack in the foundation by the front step and drainage that slopes gently toward the house.

As he walks the roof, he points out a popped nail and a broken shingle.

With a tour of the backyard finished, he meets Realtor Diane Nordhougen and her clients, and the whole crew goes into the home to continue the inspection.

“If I see anything that I think is urgent, I’ll let you know,” Knobloch promises the couple, then he gives them the results of his radon testing.

As Knobloch inspects the appliances and plumbing in the kitchen, his partner goes through the dining and living rooms, working the windows and doors, looking for cracks, mold, moisture and hints of frost where the walls meet the ceiling and in the corners.

“Sometimes, we’re looking at the same room twice, and that doesn’t really hurt,” Knobloch said.

In the attic, Knobloch plays his flashlight over the rafters, checking for condensation and water or fire damage, insulation depth and signs of bats, birds or rodents.

In the basement, Knobloch opens up the main electrical panel and the furnace, while answering the prospective homeowners’ questions.

Nordhougen said home inspections are important, not just for buyers, but for potential sellers, too.

“You don’t know what you don’t know about the house,” she said of someone seeing a home for the first time. And people who live in their homes “don’t notice things because you’re living there.”

“I’ve learned so much from these guys. I can’t go by a house without looking at shingles,” she said. “I rely so much on inspectors. They do such a good job and inform homeowners.”

Dean Foell of Tri-State Home Inspection said inspectors must be licensed in North Dakota, but not in Minnesota,

Still, “you want to get a licensed home inspector,” said Tim Noteboom of 20/20 Inspections. “It’s going to get you a qualified person.”

Inspectors should also carry proper liability insurance, Noteboom said.

Foell, Noteboom and Knobloch said a reputable inspector will be happy to have the homebuyer in the home during the inspection to pass on his or her findings and answer questions.

“There is no stupid question. You’ve got to know what’s going on in your house,” Foell said.

Noteboom said inspectors look at a home’s components, rather than at the cosmetics of paint or fixtures, or the number of bedrooms or bathrooms.

And an inspection isn’t just about finding faults in a home. It’s also lets a potential buyer know what they can do to improve the home and do proper maintenance, Knobloch said.

Summary: A Thorough Home Inspection Is The Only Way

Lars knows the best way to complete a home inspection. He has been doing it for many years, and his routine has been efficient. When you need a home inspection, it is a must to find a home inspector who will make sure the house is looked over again and again. It cannot be rushed because even the smallest issue can cause big problems in the future and cost you more money.

For a professional home inspection, contact Nordic Home Inspection at 701-566-1446!