Feel the Joy Magazine. Fall Issue - Flipbook - Page 31
Look Beyond the Roof
Pay similar attention to plumbing
near exterior walls, garages or
additions, where pipes may be
more vulnerable to freezing. Find
the main water shutoff and look
for signs of previous repairs.
Minnesota’s familiar ice dams
often begin inside the attic,
where escaping warm air melts
snow that later refreezes near the
roof edge.
Look for water stains, signs of
past leaks, disturbed insulation
and ventilation issues. Minnesota
guidance
points
to
attic
insulation around R-60 as a
strong barrier against heat loss.
And roof problems are not
inexpensive: 2026 Minneapolis
estimates average about $9,988
for replacement, with many
projects ranging from $6,316 to
$13,812.
A roof may look perfect from the
driveway. The attic can tell a very
different story.
Don’t Forget What You Can’t
See
Some
important
risks
are
invisible during a showing.
The Minnesota Department of
Health estimates that elevated
radon occurs in about 40% of
Minnesota homes. Because radon
has no color or smell, testing is
the only way to know the level.
If the house has a fireplace,
boiler, gas water heater or other
fuel-burning
equipment,
ask
when it was last serviced and
confirm that working carbonmonoxide alarms are installed.
Think About Spring — Even in
October
A dry basement during a fall
showing does not guarantee a dry No inspection can predict every
basement in April.
repair. The goal is simply to
Look for staining, musty odors, understand what you’re buying.
peeling finishes or evidence of Before closing, ask about HVAC
past moisture. Check the sump service, roof and ice-dam repairs,
pump, gutters, downspouts and plumbing, basement moisture,
whether the yard slopes away sump pumps, radon testing and
from the foundation.
previous winter utility bills.
Then ask one very Minnesota- A smart buyer doesn’t just inspect
specific question:
the home they see today. They
