Published August 29, 2026
Inspection scores are won in the 60 days before the inspector arrives, not on the day. This is the sequence that works on Minnesota properties, where the exterior deteriorates on a freeze-thaw schedule and interior findings cluster in a handful of categories.
Start with the grounds
Inspectors form an impression in the parking lot and it colors the whole visit.
- Walkways and stoops: no trip hazards over the threshold, no spalling, no heaved slabs
- Handrails and guardrails: tight, correct height, correct spacing
- Site lighting: everything works, including the fixture nobody can reach
- Trash enclosure: intact gate, no overflow, no scattered debris
- Trees: no dead limbs over walks, parking, or play areas
- Drainage: no standing water, downspouts extended away from the building
- Signage and unit numbering: legible, present
Building exterior
- Roof: no missing shingles, no lifted flashing, gutters attached and clear
- Siding: no holes, no missing pieces, no exposed sheathing
- Foundation: no open penetrations, no significant cracking, no efflorescence
- Windows: sound glazing, no broken sash, screens intact where required
- Exterior doors: latch and lock properly, weatherstripping intact, no daylight
Common areas
- Stairs, treads, nosings, and rails
- Emergency lighting and exit signage
- Laundry room: dryer vents clean and vented outside, no lint accumulation
- Mechanical rooms: clear working space, no storage against equipment
- Fire extinguishers tagged and current
Units
Walk more units than they will sample. Focus on:
- Smoke and CO alarms — placement and function, with dated verification
- GFCI protection near water, tested
- Bedroom window operation and egress
- Bath and kitchen exhaust airflow
- Under-sink leaks and cabinet floor damage
- Ceiling and wall stains — find the source, do not paint
- Tub surround caulk and grout
- Range anti-tip brackets
- Door hardware and latching
The documentation binder
- Dated before-and-after photos of every correction
- Alarm test log by unit
- Vendor invoices tied to corrections
- Preventive maintenance schedule
- Pest control records
- Prior inspection findings with proof of correction
Documentation does more than satisfy the inspector — it establishes a maintained-property record that protects you in insurance and liability disputes too.
Sequence corrections by severity
Life-threatening first, always. Then severe, then moderate. Cosmetic work last, and only after the safety list is closed. Owners routinely burn the budget on paint and lose the score on rails and alarms.
Minnesota timing
Schedule exterior corrections between April and October. Concrete, roofing, siding, and grading work all get harder, slower, and more expensive once the ground freezes, and some of it cannot be done properly at all.
We handle the correction list
Exterior and interior corrections across the Twin Cities metro, documented with dated photos so your binder is built as the work is done.
Licensed MN remodeler QC807391, insured, COI and W-9 on request. Call 612-400-8036.
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Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should we prepare for a housing inspection?
Sixty days. That leaves time to walk the property, order materials, correct life-threatening and severe items first, re-walk, and assemble dated documentation.
What should be corrected first before an inspection?
Life-threatening items — alarms, egress, exposed electrical, gas safety, and rails — before any cosmetic work. Scores are lost on safety items, not paint.
When should exterior corrections be scheduled in Minnesota?
Between April and October. Concrete, roofing, siding, and grading work is slower, costlier, and sometimes impossible once the ground freezes.