FAQ
What does a home inspector not check?
Quick Answer
Standard inspections generally don't include radon testing, sewer scope camera inspections, well and septic system testing, pool/spa equipment evaluation, or destructive testing behind walls. These are typically offered as separate add-on services, and given Minnesota's basements and aging sewer lines in some older neighborhoods, several are worth adding rather than skipping — radon testing especially, given the state's naturally higher radon levels.
Key Takeaways
- Radon testing, sewer scope inspections, and well/septic testing are typically separate add-ons, not part of a standard inspection.
- Inspectors generally don't perform destructive testing — they won't open up walls or move furniture and stored items to check behind them.
- Pool, spa, and some specialty systems (like elaborate irrigation systems) are often excluded from a standard inspection scope.
- Minnesota's radon levels and aging infrastructure in some neighborhoods make several of these add-ons genuinely worth the extra cost.
- Ask your specific inspector for their exact scope of service in writing before the inspection, since practices can vary slightly between inspectors.
Buyers are often surprised by what a standard home inspection doesn't cover, usually right after they've assumed it covers everything.
What Falls Outside a Standard Inspection
Common exclusions from a standard home inspection
- Radon testing
- Sewer scope (camera inspection of the sewer line)
- Well and septic system testing
- Pool, spa, and hot tub equipment
- Destructive testing — inspectors won't open walls or move stored belongings to check behind them
- Some specialty systems, like elaborate irrigation or built-in audio/security systems
Why these are separate
These items typically require specialized equipment, additional licensing, or significantly more time than a standard inspection scope allows — which is why they're priced and scheduled as add-ons rather than bundled in automatically.
Why Several of These Matter More in Minnesota
Notably higher than national average
Radon Levels
Common — water intrusion risk
Basements
Present in some established neighborhoods
Older Sewer Lines
Relevant for some outlying properties
Well/Septic
Minnesota's soil composition contributes to some of the highest average indoor radon levels in the country, making radon testing a genuinely worthwhile add-on regardless of a home's age. Sewer scope inspections are particularly relevant for homes in older, established neighborhoods where clay or cast-iron sewer lines may be reaching the end of their service life.
Dave's Local Insight
I recommend radon testing on nearly every purchase I work on, and a sewer scope for any home built before the more modern PVC sewer line era. Both are relatively inexpensive compared to what a serious problem would actually cost to fix after closing.
What to Do About the Gaps
Steps to fill in inspection gaps that matter to you
- Ask your inspector for their exact written scope of service before the inspection day
- Add radon testing as a standard practice, given Minnesota's typical levels
- Consider a sewer scope for older homes, especially in established neighborhoods
- If the home has a well or septic system, arrange separate specialized testing — a standard inspector typically won't cover this
- Confirm any pool or spa equipment is evaluated separately if the home has one
Bottom Line
A standard home inspection covers the home's major systems and structure, but it deliberately excludes several items — radon, sewer scope, well/septic testing, and destructive testing — that require specialized scope. In Minnesota specifically, radon testing and sewer scope inspections are worth strong consideration as add-ons rather than assuming the standard inspection has you fully covered.
Related Questions
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Written by Dave Brown
REALTOR®, LPT Realty
Dave Brown is a REALTOR® with LPT Realty who has spent his career helping families buy, sell, and settle into life in Woodbury, Minnesota and the surrounding East Metro. He writes Woodbury Living as a local resource first and a business second — every guide is meant to leave you better informed, whether or not you ever work together.
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