The beginning of summer brings sunshine, warmer temperatures and a chance to spend more time outside, but for some home inspectors, it means an uptick in business.
Home inspector Jon Virt, who has been in the business in Dickinson for about three years, said he does an average of about 40 home inspections per year, which take about three to four hours per inspection.
"It's seasonal here. Once the snow starts flying I don't get many inspections," Virt said. "It cuts down to maybe two or three a month (in the winter)."
Foundation, insulation, the exterior of the home, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, heating and asbestos are just a few of the items looked at during a usual home inspection. A finished report can be up to 50 or 60 pages -- along with color photos -- Virt said.
Buyers pay Virt directly, he said, adding he charges a flat rate, however, some inspectors charge by the square footage of the home.
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"Most realtors will recommend it be done, it can save the buyer a lot of money," Virt said. "Some buyers back out of the deal because the home is in such bad shape."
In some circumstances, home sellers will try to hide things, he added.
Having a home inspection saved Jenna Sitzer money.
Sitzer, who was looking for a home in Belfield for her fiance and herself, just finished her second home inspection, since the first one revealed the home needed some work.
"The first home that we had inspected, the first inspection kept us from buying a money pit," Sitzer said. "The inspection was a little expensive, but it probably saved us about $40,000 in the long run."
Sitzer said she had her last home inspection about two weeks ago, and if all goes as planned, she hopes to close on the home by the end of the month.
Loren Wiest, a home inspector from Hazen who does inspections in the Dickinson area, said business is picking up with warmer weather.
"The slowest two months are January and February, in March and April it starts picking up," Wiest said. "May, June, July and August is our busiest time. Given an option, who wants to move in the winter?"
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Wiest, who has been involved with home inspections for about eight years, said it's important that buyers hire inspectors that are licensed and insured. To be registered with the state, inspectors must pass a national exam, he added.
"I try to determine in the initial conversation what their (the buyers) aspirations are, what they expect from the property, such as if they are looking for a fixer-upper, if they actually have skills to do a fixer-upper," Wiest said. "Most of the time it's fairly common stuff that happens because of lack of maintenance. To me, you're looking to not be surprised.
"Structural, electrical, plumbing -- something that's going to tag you for $2,500. Things like that, that's what I concentrate on."
