Hopkins Truth in Housing -- Call Apple
If your home is in Hopkins, you'll need a Truth in Housing evaluation to sell:
If your home is in Hopkins, you'll need a Truth in Housing evaluation to sell:
- All single family homes, duplexes, condominiums, and townhouses are included
- The report is good for one year or one sale
- Any items marked "Required Repair" on the report must be corrected. Other
deficiencies may be noted but will not require repairs
- A City inspector will inspect the repairs when they're done, not Apple
Selling your home
Before any residential property in Hopkins is put up for sale, it must have a "Truth-In-Housing"
evaluation. These evaluations provide prospective buyers with information about the condition of the
house and garage, as well as help to eliminate any health and safety concerns in Hopkins
neighborhoods.
Having your property evaluated
You will need to contact a licensed independent evaluator to evaluate your property. Evaluators are
private inspectors who have passed a certification test with the Cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, or
Bloomington. Fees for the evaluation are set by the individual evaluator, and currently range from
$150-$250.
The evaluator will conduct a visual inspection of all aspects of the house and garage and rate them,
based on current codes, as:
After the evaluation has been completed, the evaluator will file your Truth-in-Housing Disclosure
Report (download page A of the report) with the City of Hopkins, as well as provide you with a copy.
You must make this report available to potential buyers at the time of a showing and share it with
every prospective buyer.
Your report is valid for one year from date of issue and only for the owner named on the report. Any
questions concerning the content of the report should be directed to the Truth-in-Housing evaluator
whose name and phone number appears at the bottom of the report.
Closing the sale
In order to close on the sale of your house, you must provide the buyer with a Certificate of Approval.
This is issued after all repair/replace items on your Truth-in-Housing Disclosure Report have been
corrected or arrangements have been made for their future correction. Learn more about receiving
your Certificate of Approval.
Common Repair/Replace Orders
Items marked repair/replace on your Truth-In-Housing Disclosure Report must be fixed before you
can close on the sale of your property. Some of the most common items in this category are listed
below.
Smoke Detectors
Problem: Missing
Smoke detectors are required on each level of the home, including the basement, and outside each
sleeping area.
Problem: Inoperable
Problem: Improperly located
Smoke detectors are not allowed in kitchens, garages, or other spaces where the temperature can
fall below 32°F or exceed 100°F. In basements they should be located near the stairway leading to
the floor above. See Smoke Alarms for correct placement.
Electrical System
Problem: Extension cords in lieu of permanent wiring
Installing an outlet requires an electrical permit.
Problem: Open junction box
Problem: Missing knockouts
Problem: Uncapped wiring
Problem: Missing or broken switch or outlet cover plates
Heating System
Problem: Certification required
You will need to contact a licensed contractor to test the heating system. The furnace may show signs
of leakage or cracks in the combustion chamber. The contractor is required to obtain a permit if there
is a new furnace installation.
Problem: Improper venting
Problem: Not enough clearance to combustibles
A one-inch air gap is required between vents and studs. Use either copper pipe or electrical conduit
to separate the stud and sheet metal across the studs.
Water Heater
Problem: Missing or inoperable temperature and pressure relief valve
Problem: Undersized or improper height of relief drain piping
Relief valve piping is required to extend no less than 6 and no more than 18 inches from the floor. No
permit required.
Problem: Improper venting
Vents must be continuously venting upward.
Problem: Back spillage at draft hood
A licensed contractor must test the water heater and verify that it is no longer backdrafting. The
contractor is required to obtain a permit if there is a new water heater installation.
Plumbing System
Problem: Open drain (missing trap)
Problem: Leaky toilet
Problem: Open sewer line (broken or missing cover)
Problem: Missing floor drain cleanout plug
Problem: Missing backflow preventer/anti-siphon device
This is required on lawn irrigation systems and boilers.
Gas Lines
Problem: Uncapped gas line
Capping a gas line does not require a permit. To install gas piping requires a permit.
Problem: Flexible gas line to appliance
This is not allowed unless AGA approved. There will be an AGA tag on it.
Before any residential property in Hopkins is put up for sale, it must have a "Truth-In-Housing"
evaluation. These evaluations provide prospective buyers with information about the condition of the
house and garage, as well as help to eliminate any health and safety concerns in Hopkins
neighborhoods.
Having your property evaluated
You will need to contact a licensed independent evaluator to evaluate your property. Evaluators are
private inspectors who have passed a certification test with the Cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, or
Bloomington. Fees for the evaluation are set by the individual evaluator, and currently range from
$150-$250.
The evaluator will conduct a visual inspection of all aspects of the house and garage and rate them,
based on current codes, as:
- Meets minimum requirements
- Below minimum requirements
- Repair/Replace (These items must be corrected before you can close on the sale of your
property. View list of common items.)
After the evaluation has been completed, the evaluator will file your Truth-in-Housing Disclosure
Report (download page A of the report) with the City of Hopkins, as well as provide you with a copy.
You must make this report available to potential buyers at the time of a showing and share it with
every prospective buyer.
Your report is valid for one year from date of issue and only for the owner named on the report. Any
questions concerning the content of the report should be directed to the Truth-in-Housing evaluator
whose name and phone number appears at the bottom of the report.
Closing the sale
In order to close on the sale of your house, you must provide the buyer with a Certificate of Approval.
This is issued after all repair/replace items on your Truth-in-Housing Disclosure Report have been
corrected or arrangements have been made for their future correction. Learn more about receiving
your Certificate of Approval.
Common Repair/Replace Orders
Items marked repair/replace on your Truth-In-Housing Disclosure Report must be fixed before you
can close on the sale of your property. Some of the most common items in this category are listed
below.
Smoke Detectors
Problem: Missing
Smoke detectors are required on each level of the home, including the basement, and outside each
sleeping area.
Problem: Inoperable
Problem: Improperly located
Smoke detectors are not allowed in kitchens, garages, or other spaces where the temperature can
fall below 32°F or exceed 100°F. In basements they should be located near the stairway leading to
the floor above. See Smoke Alarms for correct placement.
Electrical System
Problem: Extension cords in lieu of permanent wiring
Installing an outlet requires an electrical permit.
Problem: Open junction box
Problem: Missing knockouts
Problem: Uncapped wiring
Problem: Missing or broken switch or outlet cover plates
Heating System
Problem: Certification required
You will need to contact a licensed contractor to test the heating system. The furnace may show signs
of leakage or cracks in the combustion chamber. The contractor is required to obtain a permit if there
is a new furnace installation.
Problem: Improper venting
Problem: Not enough clearance to combustibles
A one-inch air gap is required between vents and studs. Use either copper pipe or electrical conduit
to separate the stud and sheet metal across the studs.
Water Heater
Problem: Missing or inoperable temperature and pressure relief valve
Problem: Undersized or improper height of relief drain piping
Relief valve piping is required to extend no less than 6 and no more than 18 inches from the floor. No
permit required.
Problem: Improper venting
Vents must be continuously venting upward.
Problem: Back spillage at draft hood
A licensed contractor must test the water heater and verify that it is no longer backdrafting. The
contractor is required to obtain a permit if there is a new water heater installation.
Plumbing System
Problem: Open drain (missing trap)
Problem: Leaky toilet
Problem: Open sewer line (broken or missing cover)
Problem: Missing floor drain cleanout plug
Problem: Missing backflow preventer/anti-siphon device
This is required on lawn irrigation systems and boilers.
Gas Lines
Problem: Uncapped gas line
Capping a gas line does not require a permit. To install gas piping requires a permit.
Problem: Flexible gas line to appliance
This is not allowed unless AGA approved. There will be an AGA tag on it.
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| We provide Minneapolis Truth in Housing inspections, St. Paul Truth in Housing inspections, Maplewood Truth in Housing, Bloomington Time of Sale, South St. Paul Time of Sale, Robbinsdale Point of Sale, and Hopkins Truth-in-Housing inspections and reports. We also provide pre-purchase home inspections for buyers, West St. Paul rental inspections, South St. Paul rental inspections, and Little Canada rental inspections. © Copyright 2012 Apple Home Inspections Inc. All rights reserved. |
