Buying a home in Moorhead is exciting, and a home inspection is one of the most important steps between your accepted offer and closing day. Here is what to expect, what we look for in Moorhead homes, and a few Minnesota-specific things every buyer should know.
Before the Inspection
Your purchase agreement will usually give you a set number of days to complete your inspection, your real estate agent can help you understand your inspection deadline, so schedule it as soon as your offer is accepted.
When you book, think about whether you want add-on services, such as radon testing or a sewer line camera inspection. Radon testing and sewer scope are the most common, however you can choose others such as, thermal imaging, foundation elevation survey, or mold air sampling. You can even add all five services to your inspection.
How Long Does It Take?
Most home inspections take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, depending on the size and age of the home. Add-on services may add more time to an inspection, too. We encourage you to attend. It is the best chance to see the home through an inspector’s eyes, ask questions and learn how the home’s systems work before you move in.
What We Inspect
A home inspection is a visual, non-invasive evaluation of the home’s major systems and components, from the foundation to the roof, including:
- Foundation, grading and drainage
- Roof, gutters and downspouts
- Exterior siding, windows and doors
- Attic insulation and ventilation
- Crawlspaces
- Plumbing, water heater and visible piping
- Electrical panel, outlets and wiring
- Furnace, air conditioning and ventilation
- Interior walls, ceilings, floors and stairs
Our inspectors are not afraid to go up into the attic or down into the crawlspace, no matter how small the hatch. These are the areas where hidden problems are most often found.
Common Issues in Moorhead Homes
Moorhead sits on the same Red River Valley clay as Fargo, and our climate is hard on homes. Here are some of the things we see most often:
- Foundation movement. Our clay soil swells when wet and shrinks when dry, which can cause cracks, bowing walls and soil pulling away from the foundation. Read 10 signs you may have foundation issues.
- Poor grading and drainage. Water that drains toward the house instead of away from it is a leading cause of wet basements.
- Moisture and mold. Look for signs in basements, attics and around windows.
- Older sewer lines. Many older Moorhead neighborhoods have clay or cast iron sewer lines that can crack or fill with tree roots. A sewer line camera inspection is a smart add-on for older homes.
- Attic insulation and ventilation. Problems here can lead to ice dams and frost in the attic during our long winters.
Minnesota-Specific Things to Know
Radon disclosure. Minnesota law requires sellers to give buyers a written radon disclosure before signing a purchase agreement. It covers whether the home has been tested, any results and whether a mitigation system is installed. Sellers are not required to test, though, and the Minnesota Department of Health strongly recommends that all buyers test before buying. Adding a radon test to your inspection gives you current results you can count on.
Minnesota does not license home inspectors. That means it is up to you to check an inspector’s experience, training and certifications. Ask how long they have been inspecting, what their report looks like and whether they are comfortable inspecting attics and crawlspaces.
Your Inspection Report
On the day of your inspection, you will receive a detailed computer-generated report with photos and explanations of what we found and what can or should be done about it. We also give ballpark estimates for the most important repairs, which can be very helpful when you sit down with your agent to decide on next steps.
After the Inspection
No home is perfect, and even new construction will have findings. Focus on safety issues and major systems like the foundation, roof, electrical and HVAC. Talk with your agent about whether to ask for repairs, a credit or a price reduction. If you need a contractor, Nordic Inspections has a wide network across the construction trades and is happy to point you in the right direction.
Buying in Moorhead, Dilworth or anywhere in the Fargo-Moorhead area? Schedule your home inspection with Nordic Inspections today.