One of the most expensive problems a homeowner can encounter may be buried underground. Your home's sewer lateral is the underground pipe that carries wastewater from the house to the municipal sewer system or private septic system. Unfortunately, its condition cannot be determined during a standard home inspection. At Coleman Home Inspections, we offer sewer scope inspections using a specialized camera to examine the interior of accessible sewer piping. These inspections can

As colder weather approaches northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, homeowners are once again preparing for the challenges of winter. One of the most effective ways to improve a home's energy efficiency is often overlooked: the attic. Heat naturally moves from warmer areas toward colder areas, and an inadequately insulated attic can allow significant heat loss during our long heating season. Even something as simple as an uninsulated or poorly sealed attic access hatch can contrib

By Coleman Home Inspections | Duluth, Cloquet, Superior & Surrounding Communities When purchasing a home, most buyers focus on the roof, foundation, electrical system, and heating equipment. However, one of the home’s most expensive potential repairs may be buried underground and completely out of sight. The sewer lateral is an important part of the home’s plumbing system, and its condition is not typically evaluated during a standard home inspection. Sewer lateral What Is a

By Coleman Home Inspections | Serving Duluth, Cloquet, Superior & Surrounding Communities Radon is one of the most common environmental concerns affecting homes throughout Minnesota, yet many homeowners know very little about it. According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), more than two out of every five Minnesota homes have radon levels that pose a significant health risk. Unlike many household hazards, radon cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. Testing is the only

By Coleman Home Inspections | Duluth, Cloquet, Superior & Surrounding Communities Minnesota winters put our homes to the test, so cold for so long. With freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and long heating seasons, few areas of a home are as important to energy efficiency and winter performance as the attic. After more than 15 years of inspecting homes throughout Northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin, we’ve noticed two particularly common conditions: inadequate attic

Buying a home is exciting, but receiving a detailed home inspection report can sometimes feel overwhelming. Pages of photographs, observations, and recommendations may leave buyers wondering whether they’ve found the right house. At Coleman Home Inspections, our goal is simple: Help you understand the home you’re buying, not make the decision for you. Every Home Has a Story After more than 15 years and 4,000 home inspections throughout the Duluth, Cloquet, and Superior areas,

By Travis Coleman | Serving Duluth, Cloquet, Superior, and Surrounding Communities Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions most people will ever make. Whether you’re purchasing your first house or your fifth, understanding the condition of the property before closing is an important part of making an informed decision. That’s where a professional home inspection comes in. But what exactly does a home inspector do? What are they looking for? And perhaps just as

A brand-new Roof can be worse than a 20-year-old roof. That can be a big surprise when a home has a newer roof covering installed and due to installation errors likely will not stand the test of time. Recently I had a home with a brand-new roof the homeowner installed themselves. For the record I have no problem with this and think that DIY is the way and that our society has gotten away from it driving costs, anyways. As an inspector I cannot see all stages of installation,

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Today, we'll talk about preparing your home for a home inspection. You've received an offer on your house, and a home inspection is part of the purchase agreement. Here are some straightforward improvements to make before the inspector arrives. People frequently ask me about the most common defect I encounter. I don't have a specific metric to measure that, but I can say there are often a dozen small things you can address before my visit that will help "clean up" the inspect

Black CSST Yellow CSST Gas Appliance Connector What's the difference between the 3 images? Two are versions of the same thing, and the other is different. Let's discuss that. Yellow and black flexible tubing called corrugated stainless steel (CSST) pictured above are products that have been around for many years. This flexible gas line is easier and more flexible to work with and I would say preferred by installers for that reason. There are nuances with this type of piping t

Polybutylene, commonly called Poly-B or PB piping, is a flexible plastic water-supply piping that was widely installed in homes from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. It was popular because it was inexpensive, easy to install and resistant to corrosion compared with traditional metal piping. Millions of homes received polybutylene plumbing during this period. However, the material developed a reputation for premature failures and hasn't been produced for North American re

Mini-split heat pumps have become increasingly common in Minnesota homes, garages, cabins and additions. Once thought of primarily as an alternative to a window air conditioner, modern mini-splits can provide extremely efficient air conditioning and, with the right equipment, a surprising amount of heat during a Minnesota winter. They aren't necessarily a replacement for every furnace or boiler, and not every mini-split is designed for severe cold. However, when properly sele

Radon gas testing is a service we provide and think is very important to ensure that you have a healthy house. Radon gas is a radioactive gas that naturally occurs and gets sucked into your house through cracks in the foundation. It is colorless and odorless, so testing is the only way to know if your home is safe. This does not just affect basements or houses with basements. Houses with crawlspaces or built on slabs can also be affected. The concern here is lung cancer. So f

Asphalt shingles are by far the most dominant roof covering material used in the United States. They account for approximately 75-80% of all roofs on residential houses. There are many other types of roofs, but for this article, I just want to focus on asphalt shingles and their components. Architectural asphalt shingles As a home inspector, I have walked on thousands of roofs in my career and seen many failed roofs, both due to age and installation errors. I would say that m

The home inspector is not an expert but a generalist. The home inspector can inspect a home and report upon the home’s condition as it...

Every homeowner has similar concerns and questions related to maintaining their home. The following questions are those that all...

Just for a moment, let’s assume that you’re a real estate agent. The seller has accepted your clients' offer and now, with your help,...