The 1,700-Item Breakdown What does a home inspector check? A standard home inspection covers more than 1,700 individual items across every major system in the home. Most buyers picture an inspector walking through rooms with a clipboard, jotting down notes. In reality, it’s a structured, system-by-system evaluation that takes two to four hours and produces a detailed written report with annotated photos, severity ratings, and specific recommendations. Companies like West Egg

Most homeowners never think about the air inside their house—at least not until something goes wrong. We worry about insulation, energy efficiency, windows, and heating systems, but we rarely stop to ask a simple question: If air is leaving the house, where is the replacement air coming from?

Today's Homebuyers Want More Than a Home Inspection—They Want a Home Consultant Over the past several years, I've noticed a significant shift in what many homebuyers expect from a professional home inspection. Years ago, most clients hired an inspector to identify material defects—issues involving safety, structural integrity, or major systems like the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Today, however, many buyers expect their inspector to comment on almost eve

Honoring the Past While Embracing the Future Every brand has a story, and often that story can be told simply by looking at its logo. As West Egg Inspections has grown from an idea inspired by The Great Gatsby into a family of businesses dedicated to helping people create their best lives, its visual identity has evolved as well. The progression of our logos reflects not only a change in design but also a change in vision, audience, and purpose. Like life itself, growth req

🏠 What It Is, Who Pays It, and How to Get Rid of It For many Americans, buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions they'll ever make. Yet one cost that often surprises homebuyers is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). Understanding PMI can help you make smarter decisions when purchasing a home and potentially save thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage. 📖 What Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)? Private Mortgage Insurance, commonly called PMI, is a

When people think about home inspections, they usually picture a single-family house with a basement, attic, roof, and yard. Condominiums are different. Because condo owners share ownership of many building components through a homeowners association, some buyers wonder if a home inspection is really necessary. As a home inspector, my answer is simple: absolutely. Of course, you might expect me to say that. But the better question is this: what can actually go wrong in a c

When buying a home, hiring the right home inspector can make all the difference. One question we hear often at West Egg Inspections is this: Should my home inspector belong to a professional organization like ASHI or InterNACHI? It’s a fair question, especially when you’re trusting someone to evaluate one of the biggest investments of your life. But the answer is a little more nuanced than simply picking one logo over another. There are two major national organizations for

🌿 Spring 2026 Home Reset: Protect, Refresh, and Reinvest in What Matters Most The snow has finally melted (for good, we hope), the days are longer, and there’s a fresh energy in the air across the Twin Cities. Spring isn’t just about cleaning—it’s about resetting your environment and protecting your biggest investment. At West Egg Living, we believe your home should support your wellness, your finances, and your peace of mind—and that starts with proactive care. Think of spr

After a few tough years in real estate, I’m starting to see something shift—and not just in the data, but out in the field. As a home inspector with West Egg Inspections and Home Services, I get a front-row seat to what’s really happening in the housing market. And this spring, there are some clear signs that things are beginning to move again. 🏡 1. Home Values Are Stabilizing—and Gaining Confidence For a while, the market felt like it was stuck in neutral. Buyers were hesit

Homeowners and real estate professionals often assume that because a home is newly-built, it is "healthier" than an older property. But that’s not always the case with radon, a leading cause of lung cancer. Newly-constructed homes may include radon-resistant features, but radon levels still depend on site-specific geology, pressure differences, and soil gas pathways unique to each home. Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, and odorless radioactive gas produced by the de

🏡 Radon Testing in Minnesota: Why Every Homeowner Should Care When we think about protecting our families at home, we often imagine securing our doors, maintaining smoke alarms, or installing a security system. But there’s another invisible threat that deserves your attention — and it’s something every Minnesotan should be aware of: radon gas . In Minnesota, radon isn’t just a possibility — it’s a proven risk. Understanding radon and why testing matters isn’t just good pract

What a Home Inspection Doesn’t Cover — A Home Inspector’s Perspective As a certified home inspector at West Egg Inspections, I often get calls from homebuyers asking one simple question: “What does a home inspection include — and what doesn’t it include?” A home inspection is one of the most valuable parts of the home-buying process, but it’s easy to misunderstand its scope. Knowing what’s not included helps you set realistic expectations and plan for any additional inspec

A House Inspector’s Guide By West Egg Inspections and Home Services Buying a home is one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions most people make in a lifetime. As a home inspector who has walked through hundreds of houses in every season, from sun-soaked summers to subzero Minnesota winters, I can tell you that the questions you ask before you buy are just as important as the price you offer. When you’re looking at properties — whether it’s your first home, your fo

2026 Spring Forecast & What Home Buyers and Sellers Should Know Insights from a Local Home Inspector at West Egg Inspections and Home Services As spring approaches here in the Twin Cities — from Minneapolis and St. Paul to Apple Valley, Rosemount, Burnsville and beyond — the real estate market continues shifting in ways that both excite and caution buyers, sellers, and certainly anyone stepping foot inside a home to inspect its condition. After helping dozens of buyers and se

Your Roof Replacement To-Do List A step-by-step homeowner guide to replacing your roof without breaking the bank Replacing a roof isn’t something most homeowners do often—and that’s exactly why it can feel overwhelming. A roof is one of the most essential parts of your home, protecting everything and everyone underneath it. It’s also one of the most expensive exterior projects you’ll ever tackle. The good news? With the right preparation and a clear checklist, you can avoid o

🏡 2026 Housing Market Reset What It Means for Buyers, Sellers & Renters After years of whiplash in the housing market—soaring prices, bidding wars, and scarce inventory—2026 is shaping up to be something different. Not a crash. Not a boom. But a reset . Think of it less as a dramatic shift and more as the market taking a deep breath and returning to balance. That’s good news for households who want clarity instead of chaos. 💰 Affordability Is Slowly Improving Mortgage rates

From Preparation to Closing: A Clear, Confident Path to Buying a Home Buying a home can feel overwhelming—especially if it’s your first time, or if it’s been years since your last purchase. There are unfamiliar terms, legal documents, financial decisions, and emotional highs and lows along the way. At West Egg Inspections & Home Services , we believe clarity reduces stress. When you understand the process, you make better decisions—and protect one of the biggest investments o

A Fresh Chapter Rooted in Classic Inspiration A logo is more than a graphic—it’s a symbol of identity, intention, and the story we want to share with the world. Today, we’re excited to introduce the updated logo for West Egg Inspections and Home Services , a design that honors the spirit of our name while embracing a more vibrant and meaningful visual presence. The name West Egg carries literary weight. It originates from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby,

I recently received a common question from a homeowner: “Where exactly do smoke alarms need to be installed? Inside the bedrooms? Outside? Every level? What’s required?” It’s a great question — and one that deserves a clear answer. When it comes to smoke alarms, there are two ways to approach the topic: 1. What meets code 2. What keeps people safe As a home inspector, I don’t get into the weeds of determining what version of a building code applies to what year, what pr

Each year, I go through the process of renewing my Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) radon license. It’s not just a formality—it’s a critical part of ensuring every radon test I conduct meets the highest standard of accuracy and professionalism. I’m happy to share that I have completed my 8 CEUs and filed the necessary paperwork along with my payment. My license has officially been renewed today for another year, which means West Egg Inspections & Home Services remains f