Structure Tech Home Inspections
Delivering The Unbiased Truth®
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Latest posts
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PODCAST: Home Inspection Software to blow your mind (with HomeTrace)
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/0nv6QgYTy50 In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, Reuben Saltzman and Eric Houseman welcome Nick Roberts and Sam Despres, the team behind HomeTrace, to discuss how AI is changing home inspection…
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Animals, skeletons, and creepy home inspection stuff 2026
As home inspectors, we come across many photos with a high creep factor, and we save most of them for this time of year. Enjoy! Snakes in the crawlspace. Dead squirrel. High-stakes chimney Jenga gone wrong. Mouse remains after it got into a wall outlet. This is why we need…
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PODCAST: Fire Safety Insights (with Jamie Smith and AJ Neis)
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/acuCH3qjeEc In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, Reuben Saltzman joined by co-host Eric Houseman, talks with Jamie Smith, Deputy Chief of the St. Paul Fire Department, and AJ Neis, St. Paul’s Fire…
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Can a home fail a home inspection?
Technically, you can’t pass or fail a home inspection. A home inspector will point out the good, the bad, and the ugly… but they’ll never pass or fail a home. What you do with the home inspection report is up to you. But if a home could fail a home inspection, here are some…
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Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for Minnesota Homeowners
Fall is officially here, so it’s time to get your house ready for winter. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of fall home maintenance tasks to help you remember everything you need to do as a Minnesota homeowner. I’m also including a podcast episode where we discuss most of the…
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PODCAST: How RESNET could be better (with Trent Fuller)
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/QptKPRH_2h4 In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, Reuben Saltzman and Eric Houseman welcome Trent Fuller to discuss construction-phase inspections, RESNET, and residential energy ratings. They…
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Furnace Inspection Checklist
A real estate agent recently asked us, “What’s the difference between what a licensed heating contractor does and what you do for a furnace inspection?” This is a great question. This is what prompted a blog post from earlier this year, where I explained that Minnesota doesn’t…
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PODCAST: Recent Inspection Findings
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/DIzBbXZGbWo In this episode of the Structure Talk podcast, Reuben Saltzman is joined by Eric Houseman, filling in as co-host while Tessa Murry is on maternity leave. Reuben and Eric dive into a collection of…
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How to determine the age of appliances
While home inspection standards of practice don’t require it, here at Structure Tech, we report the age of major appliances. This includes water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, and boilers. Once you know where to look, this information is usually easy to find. Today, I’ll…
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PODCAST: Leadership Lessons with Eric Houseman
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/bMFQ70dvop0 In this episode, Reuben Saltzman welcomes longtime guest Eric Houseman as a co-host and takes a closer look at Eric’s career journey and leadership experience. Eric shares lessons from his time at…
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PODCAST: Problems with galvanized pipes and don’t always trust your AI
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/sbkwkInH1xg In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss the problems that come with aging galvanized steel drain pipes. Reuben shares a story about a severely clogged kitchen drain at his rental…
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Galvanized steel drains: don’t forget about these when remodeling your kitchen!
If your home was built before the mid-1970s, you probably have galvanized steel drains. This was the standard branch drain line and vent material for kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, showers, and laundry sinks because it’s what we had. Sure, some homes used copper, but…
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PODCAST: A case for more detailed new-construction inspections (w/ Dillon Winiecki)
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/WxpLRqe6LDk In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry are joined by Dillon Winiecki of Protect Property Inspections in Arizona to discuss the growing demand for more detailed new-construction…
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How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost in Minnesota?
The average home inspection in Minnesota costs $438. That figure comes from our own survey of 83 Minnesota home inspection companies, conducted in the fall of 2024 — not a national average borrowed from somewhere else. Most buyers pay somewhere between $400 and $800, depending…
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Why does my fireplace stink in the summer?
I recently had a friend ask me why his fireplace is stinky in the summer. If it smells like a dead carcass, you’re dealing with a dead carcass. You’re welcome. But let’s assume it smells like soot. That’s the more common cause of a stinky fireplace. Winter = no odors During…
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Will your home inspector report on mold?
Short answer: A home inspector may identify something that appears to be mold, but determining the presence of mold isn’t required by home inspection standards. At Structure Tech, if we see any suspicious growth, we’ll let you know. If you want a dedicated mold investigation…
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PODCAST: Builder Workmanship Inspections (with Andrew Harshman)
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/1qYegm0FXug In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry are joined by Andrew Harshman of AJF Inspections in Arizona to discuss builder workmanship inspections and the growing demand for detailed…
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What’s the largest kitchen hood fan I can install without makeup air?
When it comes to kitchen hood fans, more properly known as a ducted kitchen range hood, bigger is better. At least that’s what most people think. I won’t discuss this here, but you can listen to me and Tessa discuss it on our podcast: Kitchen Hood Fans: Design, CFMs, Makeup Air,…
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PODCAST: Kitchen Hood Fans: Design, CFMs, Makeup Air, and Myths
To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/-Tsv9suvZwc In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry discuss kitchen hood fans and exhaust ventilation, focusing on CFM, hood design, ductwork, makeup air, and combustion safety. They explore common…
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Home Inspector Training Advice 2026
How do you train to be a home inspector? I blogged on this in 2011, 2016, and 2020. And it’s time for another update, because this is one of the most common questions I get as a home inspection company owner. All of this advice is tailored for someone in an unregulated state,…