Buyers Inspections ~~~ City Evaluations

Buyers Inspections

The private home inspection will include a visible analysis of the following components:

The inspection is performed according to the standards of practice of the Minnesota Society of Housing inspectors (MSHI.org).

You will receive a pdf of your report. Use the MSHI, and MN Energy info links for more information on all components of your home.

With over 45 years as a State Licensed Building Contractor and over 38 years doing and teaching inspections throughout the metropolitan area, rest assured we have the experience to address all of your concerns. With a thorough background in construction, reasonable life expectancy and/or cost of correction / replacement is possible.

Making sure of the condition of the property prior to purchase is one of the best ways to protect your investment. All homes may need replacement or maintenance of some components. Having this information before finalizing the purchase keeps you in control of the transaction.

Every home buyer and realtor has concerns. M J Moser will make sure that all items are identified and at the same time, kept in the proper perspective. The intent of the report is to inform, and not to scare nor invent concerns.

City Evaluations

Truth in Sale of Housing, Time of Sale, Rental

The following cities require a Truth in Housing or Time of Sale evaluation any time a property is marketed or offered for sale.

City of St. Paul

City of Maplewood

The Cities of St. Paul and Maplewood require a Truth in Housing evaluation prior to marketing any property. This report is required on all single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses and condominiums. The report must be on site and available for all potential buyers to view. Additionally a copy must be provided to the buyer at the time of signing a purchase agreement. The evaluation is a statement of the condition of the property based on the city guidelines. It is meant to inform, but there are no required corrections. The only exception to this is a requirement in St. Paul only for one hardwired smoke detector located near the sleeping areas. It is important have a correct and accurate report in order to ensure a smooth real estate transaction and protect both the buyer and seller.

City of Minneapolis

The City of Minneapolis requires a Truth in Housing evaluation prior to marketing any property. This report is required on all single-family, duplex, townhouse or 1st time conversions of condominiums. The report must be on site and available for all potential buyers to view. Additionally a copy must be provided to the buyer at the time of signing a purchase agreement. The evaluation is a statement of the condition of the property based on the city guidelines. Items rated as “RR” (repair/replace) are required to be corrected by either the seller or the buyer. It is important have a correct and accurate report in order to ensure a smooth real estate transaction and protect both the buyer and seller.

City of Bloomington

City of South St. Paul

Both of the cities require a Time of Sale Evaluation prior to marketing or showing the property. The report is required of all single-family, duplex, townhouse, condominiums in both cities. Additionally South St. Paul requires the evaluation on apartment buildings. The report must be on site and available for all potential buyers to view. Additionally a copy must be provided to the buyer at the time of signing a purchase agreement. The evaluation is a statement of the condition of the property based on the city guidelines. It is important have a correct and accurate report in order to ensure a smooth real estate transaction and protect both the buyer and seller.

Pre-Inspections

Note: A pre-inspection may be performed in all of the cities with the exception of Bloomington. This will allow you to correct any “Hazardous” or “Repair/Replace” items prior to marketing. This will allow the seller to have a corrected accurate report, as all of the deficiencies will be corrected prior to releasing of the Truth in Housing or Time of Sale. Please contact me for more information.

Cities of: South St. Paul West St. Paul Little Canada

The Cities of South St. Paul, West St. Paul, and Little Canada require an inspection on all rental units. This is true for one-unit as well as all multi-unit buildings.

Contact the cities of West St. Paul or Little Canada for more information on the requirements in those cities.

In South St. Paul, any items found to be “Hazardous” must be corrected and a final inspection done verifying completion. Upon correction we will then issue a certificate of completion. This certificate must be presented to the city at the time of rental license renewal. Please contact me for more details.

Eagan

The City of Eagan has implemented a mandatory Inflow and Infiltration inspection program. Properties subject to the program are located in three districts that were identified as the major Inflow and Infiltration problem areas. Roughly 2,600 properties will be subject to these inspections which the City expects will be completed within one year.

The sewer service inspection itself will not have a cost to the property owner. However, if the inspection identifies any issues, a follow up “Corrective Work Order” will be sent to the property owner requiring repair to be completed within 60 days. If the property owner does not schedule an inspection upon receiving a letter from the city to do so, or if the property owner does not complete the necessary repairs within 60 days of receiving the Corrective Work Order, the property owner’s Utility Bill will have a $150 surcharge per month of non-compliance until a Certificate of Compliance is issued by the City.

In the case of non-compliance, the property owner will be responsible for paying for 50% of the corrective work in addition to the City Permit fee of $50.50. The City of Eagan will pay for the remaining 50% of the cost of repair. For property owners who need financing, the City will spread the cost of repair as a special assessment on the property tax for up to five years at 4% interest.

For more information visit the city of Eagan’s website at: City of Eagan

Other City Requirements

The following cities have a requirement for a pre-sale inspection that is done by city employees. Most of these require some correction prior to closing on the sale.