See why I have been recommending Structure Tech Home Inspections for more than 20 years! – Sharlene Hensrud
Here at Structure Tech, we do things a bit differently from other Minnesota home inspectors. When you get a home inspection with us, you’re not getting a commodity: you’re getting the best inspection money can buy.
The Basics
The basic stuff that’s included in a home inspection from anybody, anywhere, includes the following:
Exterior: Roof, siding, windows, doors, decks, drainage and grading, chimneys, and the garage.
Interior: Walls, floors, ceilings, stairways, and permanent kitchen appliances.
Plumbing: All of the plumbing “stuff” that brings water to and away from fixtures, as well as the fixtures and the water heater.
Electrical: Lights, outlets, switches, wires, panels, and life safety devices like smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
HVAC: The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems.
Attic and Crawlspace: Insulation, ventilation, and signs of water.
Structure: The foundation walls, framing, and everything visible that relates to the “bones” of a house.
I’ve paraphrased this list extensively; for the exact details of the minimum standard we follow at Structure Tech, see the ASHI SOP.
But let me repeat, this is the basic stuff. If you asked a home builder what they include in their house, they won’t list off doors, walls, windows, a roof, a kitchen, a heat source… everybody does this. What sets us apart at Structure Tech is the additional services we include in our home inspections.
The Structure Tech Difference
The list below provides a clear comparison of our work against national home inspection standards.
| The Question | Home Inspection Standards | Structure Tech Standards | The Difference | ||
| Townhouse common areas inspected? | đźš« | âś… | We inspect common areas the same way we do for single-family homes. | ||
| Roof walked? | 🚫 | ✅ | We walk roofs when safe to do so, come equipped with 28′ extension ladders, and offer free drone inspections. | ||
| Sinks and bathtubs filled? | 🚫 | ✅ | Filling these fixtures can reveal plumbing problems that a basic test won’t. | ||
| Water softeners inspected? | đźš« | âś… | We use hard water test strips to help verify the proper operation of water softeners. | ||
| Exhaust fans tested and verified? | đźš« | âś… | We test all exhaust fans and verify airflow at the exterior. | ||
| Test all outlets, switches, and lights? | đźš« | âś… | We test all readily accessible outlets and switches. Standards only require testing one per room(!) | ||
| Report on expired smoke and caron monoxide alarms? | đźš« | âś… | All smoke and CO alarms expire after 10 years. | ||
| Test for carbon monoxide? | đźš« | âś… | We use combustion analyzers to test furnaces, boilers, and gas fireplaces for proper operation. | ||
| Detailed testing of furnace? | đźš« | âś… | We ensure furnaces produce the right amount of heat; not too hot, not too cold. | ||
| Detailed testing of AC? | đźš« | âś… | We ensure air conditioners remove the appropriate amount of heat. | ||
| Whole-house ventilation systems inspected? | đźš« | âś… | Air exchangers are excluded by home inspection standards. We inspect them. | ||
| Inspect all doors and windows? | đźš« | âś… | We inspect all readily accessible windows and doors. Standards only require inspecting one per room(!). | ||
| Inspect and test laundry appliances? | đźš« | âś… | Laundry appliances are excluded by home inspection standards. We test them. | ||
| Walk/crawl through attics? | đźš« | âś… | Most home inspectors do not walk through attics. We do it whenever possible. | ||
| Report on known environmental hazards? | đźš« | âś… | While we do not test for these during a home inspection, if we see something we say something. | ||
| Infrared inspection? | đźš« | âś… | We use infrared cameras during every home inspection. | ||
| Test with a moisture meter? | đźš« | âś… | Moisture meters help us detect hidden water problems. |
More Service
In addition to the examples listed above, we create a better experience for our clients. Our home inspectors contact our clients before the inspection to discuss any potential concerns, which helps us prioritize the most important stuff to our clients. We go out of our way to communicate extensively with the selling side to ensure the entire home can be inspected. After the inspection, our inspectors also offer lifetime consulting services. If you have questions about your home, we want to be the first place you turn.
When you add up all of these things, it’s easy to see why we’re the most highly rated home inspection company in Minnesota.
