Do I need a Truth-in-Sale-of-Housing (TISH) evaluation to sell a house in Minneapolis or St. Paul?
Yes. Most single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses and condos in Minneapolis and St. Paul need a Truth-in-Sale-of-Housing evaluation by a city-licensed evaluator before they're marketed. Minneapolis can require repairs; St. Paul's report is disclosure only, apart from a required hard-wired smoke alarm in single-family homes.
"Do we need one of those Truth-in-Housing things before we list?"
Agents in Minneapolis and St. Paul hear that question from sellers constantly. The short answer is yes, for most houses in both cities. The longer answer matters more, because the two cities run very different programs, and the roof and exterior items on that report are often the first thing a buyer's agent brings up.
Do I need a Truth-in-Sale-of-Housing evaluation to sell a house in Minneapolis or St. Paul?
Yes, for most homes. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul require a Truth-in-Sale-of-Housing (TISH) evaluation by a city-licensed evaluator before a single-family house, duplex, townhouse or condo is marketed for sale. Minneapolis can require repairs; St. Paul's report is disclosure only, with a hard-wired smoke alarm as the one required item in single-family homes.
TISH is a city-mandated condition report. A private evaluator, licensed by the city, walks the house and files a report that buyers get to see. It is not a buyer's home inspection, and it is not an appraisal.
How are the Minneapolis and St. Paul TISH programs different?
Minneapolis is "disclosure with required repairs." St. Paul is disclosure only. The reports also last different amounts of time: two years or one sale in Minneapolis, 365 days and one sale in St. Paul.
| Question | Minneapolis | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Who orders it? | Seller hires a Minneapolis-licensed evaluator | Seller, or Realtor/agent on their behalf, hires a St. Paul-licensed evaluator |
| When? | Before the property is shown | Before marketing; available to buyers within 3 calendar days of listing |
| How long is it valid? | Two years, or one sale | 365 consecutive days, one sale, owner named on the report |
| Are repairs required? | Yes, for items marked as required repairs | Disclosure only; hard-wired smoke alarm required in single-family homes |
| What does it cost? | Evaluators set their own prices | Fees set by each evaluator or their employer |
Neither city publishes a set price for the evaluation itself. Minneapolis's evaluator guidelines do list a city filing fee the evaluator pays: $25 per report if filed within 5 business days, $50 if late. Ask your evaluator how that's handled in their price.
Do other Twin Cities suburbs have point-of-sale inspections?
Some do, and the rules vary city by city. Check the official website of the city where the house sits, or ask the city's inspections department, before you list.
Does the TISH evaluator look at the roof?
Yes, but from the ground. In both cities the evaluator is not required to climb a ladder. In Minneapolis, roof covering problems are recorded as "below minimum" and disclosed to buyers, but the City lists roofs among items that do not require repair.
That's the part sellers often misunderstand. A worn roof usually won't stop a Minneapolis sale on its own. It will, however, sit on a public report that every buyer and buyer's agent reads.
Which roof and exterior items typically show up on a TISH report?
The Minneapolis evaluation covers roof structure and covering, roof venting, chimneys, cornice and trim, exterior walls, porches and stoops, windows, doors, drainage and the garage. Items you can see from the curb are the ones most likely to be written up.
Here's what the Minneapolis guidelines tell evaluators to check on the outside of the house:
- Roof covering and flashing: missing, curled or granule-worn shingles; worn valleys and flashing.
- Chimney: missing brick, stone or mortar; height above the roof; a flue liner where a gas furnace vents into it. If the evaluator thinks the chimney could fail structurally, it's flagged.
- Cornice and trim: whether paint or finish still protects the wood.
- Exterior walls: rot, cracking, flaking paint, and whether the walls are weather-tight and rodent-proof.
- Stoops and steps: safe loading, step rise and run, handrails on four or more risers, guardrails.
- Garage: the same roof checks, plus rafters and sheathing viewed from inside.
Gutters aren't a line item by name. But "drainage (grade)," dampness or staining, and foundation are on the checklist, and gutters that dump water at the foundation often show up in those.
How can a seller get ahead of roof and exterior items before listing?
Look at the house the way the evaluator will, from the ground, a few weeks before the TISH is scheduled. Then decide what to fix, what to document, and what to simply disclose.
- Read the city's list first. Minneapolis publishes a list of commonly required repairs and tells sellers to fix anything they can before the evaluation.
- Get a photo-documented look at the roof. The evaluator stays on the ground. A roofer on the roof can tell you whether a curled section or patched flashing is a small repair or the end of the roof's life.
- Fix the cheap, visible stuff. Loose flashing, a failed vent boot, missing chimney mortar, a broken shake at the foundation. These read as neglect on a report and are usually small jobs.
- Check permits. In Minneapolis, repairs that need a building permit are signed off by a City inspector; others go back to the evaluator. Your contractor should know which is which.
- Decide on the roof. If the roof is at the end of its life, a buyer's inspector will say so anyway. Replacing it before listing, or pricing for it, keeps it from becoming a renegotiation.
Know the roof story before the evaluator writes it down
Send us the address and we'll put together a Pre-Listing Property Report with roof photos and permit history.
Request a Pre-Listing Property ReportIf the roof needs replacing and the seller doesn't want to pay out of pocket, our close-ready roof program lets the roof be paid at closing. If your seller's insurer is asking for proof of roof condition, that's a different document: a roof certification.
What's the difference between a TISH evaluation and a buyer's home inspection?
The TISH is a city-required report the seller orders before listing, done to a city checklist. A home inspection is optional, ordered by the buyer after an offer, and usually goes deeper. Buyers in both cities are told to get their own.
| TISH evaluation | Buyer's home inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Who orders it | Seller (or their agent) | Buyer |
| Required? | Yes, by city ordinance | No, the buyer's choice |
| When | Before showing or marketing | Usually after an accepted offer |
| Standard | City checklist and codes | The inspector's own scope |
| Roof | Viewed from the ground | Depends on the inspector |
| Who sees it | Public, filed with the city | The buyer |
For a seller, the practical point is this: a clean TISH doesn't mean the buyer's inspector will stay quiet about the roof. Agents who want fewer surprises look at the roof from the roof. More on that on our Realtor resources page, including St. Paul permit history and Minneapolis code cases.
Does a hail-damaged roof matter for TISH?
The evaluator only records what's visible from the ground, so hail bruising usually won't be written up. A buyer's inspector or the buyer's insurer may notice it later.
If a storm has gone through the neighborhood, check the address for recent hail and wind before listing, and have the roof looked at. We document damage consistent with hail with photos; what the insurer does with that is between the owner and their carrier. Our storm damage guide covers the next steps.
Listing in Minneapolis or St. Paul?
Get the roof, permit and code-case picture before the TISH evaluator and the buyer's inspector do.
Questions people also ask
Who pays for the TISH evaluation?
The seller orders it, so the seller normally pays. Both cities say evaluators set their own prices, so it's worth comparing a few licensed evaluators.
How long is a TISH report good for?
In Minneapolis, two years or one sale. In St. Paul, 365 consecutive days and one sale by the owner named on the report.
Will a worn roof fail a Minneapolis TISH?
Minneapolis lists roofs among items evaluators look at where issues do not require repair. Roof problems get marked below minimum and disclosed, so buyers will see them, but they aren't a required repair on their own.
Can the buyer take over required repairs in Minneapolis?
Yes. The buyer signs an acknowledgment of responsibility, submits it to the City within one day of closing, and completes the repairs within 90 days of closing.
Does a TISH replace a home inspection?
No. The TISH follows a city checklist and the roof is viewed from the ground. St. Paul says it's in a buyer's best interest to hire their own independent home inspector.
Can my Realtor order the TISH?
In St. Paul, the City says you may hire an evaluator through a Realtor or agent, as long as the evaluator is licensed by St. Paul. In Minneapolis the evaluator must be licensed by Minneapolis.
Sources
- Truth in Sale of Housing (City of Minneapolis)
- TISH Evaluations (City of Minneapolis)
- TISH Evaluation Checklist (City of Minneapolis)
- TISH Evaluator Guidelines (eff. 6/24/2021) (City of Minneapolis)
- TISH Re-Inspections (City of Minneapolis)
- Truth-in-Sale of Housing (City of Saint Paul)
- TISH Program Summary and FAQs (City of Saint Paul)
Repair King is a licensed contractor, not an insurance company, public adjuster or attorney. We inspect, document and repair. Coverage decisions belong to your insurer, so read your own policy and ask your agent.
