About Brian Devery, Owner of Apple Home Inspections

I specialize in Truth in Housing inspections, also known as TISH inspections. I’ve done thousands of inspections over the past 20 years, in all the cities that require them. Here’s how I got started in this business:

I bought my first house in 2000, a duplex built in 1884 in the West 7th area of St. Paul. I had no idea what I was getting into, so I hired a home inspector. I also had no idea how to pick a home inspector. So I called a reputable-sounding national franchise with a slick, professional website. They only charged $250 (the lowest price out there), so I took it.

My home inspector was at the house for a total of just two hours. That’s not long enough, especially for an old house, and a duplex at that. He missed some staggering defects that I only discovered after I bought the house.

The house had a two-story “mud room” addition on the back, one up and one down. Each had been converted into a bedroom. But with no insulation and no heat source! They were freezing cold in the winter, as you might guess.

Then there’s the clincher: This whole two-story addition was pulling away from the house. It had no footings and was slowly tipping over like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I first found out about it when my renter on the 2nd floor told me “my room is really cold, and when I lay in bed I can see the sky.” Sure enough, the crack was big enough to see right through to the sky.

I learned a lot about houses for the next four years and discovered I loved it. I figured “if that guy can charge $250 and miss such huge defects, I could become an inspector and do a much better job.”

Thanks for checking me out. If you have any questions, call or text anytime at 651-644-3999. Or email me at brian.inspect@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon!