General Home Inspections

read moreBuying a home is a big decision in life, and one that will affect you for years to come. So choosing the right home inspector is critical, and the responsibility of that home inspector is very large. I make sure that I inspect your home like I would want someone to inspect mine. We inspect every inch of your home possible, explain things as we do, and help you understand your home. So if you are looking for a dedicated, experienced, and professional home inspector, you have come to the right place.

read moreNo one wants to see bubbles coming up out of the toilet, but there are certain situations that could cause this phenomenon. It will usually be related to a blockage in your pipes. So if you are running water down a sink or shower and notice this happening, you will need to do some detective work, that is, if you don't just call a plumber right away. Vent pipes are needed to let gasses that are displaced inside of your sewage pipes exit the system somewhere. If the pipe is blocked, these gasses will find the easiest way out, which often will prove to be your toilet.

read moreHere is a problem that many homeowners struggle with: when turning on the cold water on their faucet, only warm water comes out instead. This can be very frustrating, especially if you are trying to get refreshed by drinking a cold glass of water. There are many different reasons that can cause this issue, and we're going to cover a few of them, but hopefully, it will be helpful for you in identifying what the reason is in your case. One very common reason is the proximity between your pipes. If they are too close to each other, the hot water pipe could be heating up the water in the cold water pipe.

read moreYou probably have been taught that Carbon Monoxide gas (CO) is dangerous, but do you know why? This gas will kill you in as little as 5 minutes, and some time before that you will be so dizzy and nauseous that you might be unable to make it out to safety. While it isn't the most deadly gas out there, it is definitely one that you are the most likely to get exposed to. CO gas is generated whenever fuel is burned without sufficient supply of oxygen, and most homes have some type of appliance that generates this gas.

read moreOne of the major problems with having a finished basement is lighting. Natural light is so much better than anything artificial that you can find, but is that even an option? For some it might seem like it isn't, but there is a possible solution. It is not easy or cheap, but digging out window wells will allow for some natural light to enter your basement even though it is below ground level. Window wells are reinforced holes near the foundation that allow for light to reach the windows leading into your basement.

read moreWe are here to assist you in making an informed decision about your home purchase, or this listing of your home. We are dedicated, and focused on delivering a high level of expertise to our customers. We have extensive knowledge, experience, and dedication. Since 1996, General Home Inspections has performed thousands of home inspections in Rochester, MN and the surrounding area. Inspector Mike Stahler is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Platteville and has worked for nearly 15 years as a Professional Engineer providing project management, design and inspection services.

read moreOur home inspections are designed to be thorough - extremely thorough. In fact, there are over 500 hundred componants that are inspected on every home inspection. On top of this, we take into consideration thousands of possible defects and different scenerious. Rest assured, we leave "no stone unturned". We pride ourselves on going above an beyond the average home inspector. We work hard to get into areas and explore parts of your home that other inspectors may skip. On top of this, we have more training and experience than many home inspectors, which makes us better equipped to find defects in your home, and then help you to understand them.

read moreYou might have seen radon testing being offered as a part of a home inspection, but do you know why it is important? The reason is that Radon gas is very dangerous. In fact, Radon gas has been estimated to be the second greatest cause of lung cancer. Things aren't made any easier by the fact that Radon gas can't be seen or smelled, so you could be having it in your home right now and you wouldn't even know about it. The best way to find out if you should be concerned about radon gas is to have it tested.