Van Meter is a small Dallas County town west of West Des Moines, near the Raccoon River and the I-80 corridor. When a home with a fireplace goes on the market here, the chimney is one of the things a buyer’s inspector will flag if it looks questionable. Top Notch Chimney Sweep & Services has been doing chimney inspections across Central Iowa since 2002, and we often hear from sellers who wish they’d called before listing.
Why a Chimney Can Slow Down a Sale
A general home inspector can see the outside of the chimney and peek into the firebox. They usually can’t see inside the flue. When they spot cracked mortar, staining or a missing cap, the standard note is “recommend evaluation by a qualified chimney professional.” That one line can open up repair requests, price talks or a delay while everyone waits for answers.
Getting Ahead of It
A pre-listing chimney inspection gives you answers first. Our technicians are trained in Level 1 and Level 2 inspections. When a property is changing hands, a Level 2 inspection is the standard, and it includes a camera look at the inside of the flue. You’ll know what condition the system is in and can decide what to fix and what to disclose on your own timeline.
What we commonly find before a sale
- Creosote buildup that just needs a chimney sweeping
- Missing or damaged caps and rusted dampers
- Cracked crowns and worn mortar joints
- Cracked flue tiles that need repair or relining
Fix It or Disclose It
Many problems are simple and inexpensive to correct before listing, like a sweep, a new cap or minor masonry work. Bigger items, such as a damaged liner, are good to know about up front so you can price accordingly or take care of them. Our chimney repairs cover crowns, masonry, relining and factory-built fireplaces.
A Clean Fireplace Shows Better
It’s a small thing, but a swept firebox with no ash and no smoky smell looks better in listing photos and showings. If you have a gas fireplace, a quick service check helps it light reliably when agents show the house.
For Agents
We work with real estate professionals regularly. If you’re listing a home in Van Meter with a fireplace, we can help you and your seller get the chimney question answered early.
Buying Instead of Selling?
The same advice works from the other side of the table. Under NFPA 211, a home changing owners is one of the situations that calls for a Level 2 inspection. A general home inspection is useful, but it isn’t a substitute for a camera look inside the flue.
If you’re buying a Van Meter home with a fireplace, ask for a chimney inspection during your inspection window. Finding a cracked liner before closing gives you options. Finding it after your first fire in the new house does not.
Timing the Inspection Before You List
The best time to call is before the listing photos are scheduled. That leaves room to handle a sweep, a cap or a damper repair without rushing. If the inspection shows something larger, you’ll have time to get quotes, plan the work or adjust the asking price before the first showing.
Weather plays a part too. Exterior chimney work goes best in mild, dry weather, and our off-season runs April through August. A spring listing is a natural fit: inspect in March or April, finish any work in May, and go to market with the chimney question already answered.
Gas Fireplaces Deserve a Check Too
A gas fireplace that won’t light during a showing doesn’t help anyone. Neither does one with sooty glass or logs that have shifted out of place. Our gas log service looks at the pilot, burner, valves and connections, log placement and venting, then cleans soot off the logs with a soft brush.
Vented gas logs also rely on a working chimney and an open damper to carry exhaust outside, so the flue gets checked as part of the visit. Buyers and their inspectors notice when a gas unit runs clean and steady.
Small Fixes That Take Items Off the Report
Some of the most common notes on a home inspection are also the easiest to clear up. A missing or rusted cap lets rain and animals into the flue. A damper that’s rusted shut or won’t seal tells a buyer that water has been getting in. We replace both. Our stainless steel chimney caps carry a lifetime warranty, which is a nice line to hand a buyer.
If the Liner Needs Work
A damaged flue liner is the finding sellers worry about most, and it doesn’t always mean the worst. Clay tile liners with cracked joints can often be restored with HeatShield, a refractory sealant our technicians are certified to install. Liners that are too far gone can be replaced with stainless steel, which is approved for all fuels and typically carries a lifetime warranty when installed by a professional. Our chimney relining page explains both.
Knowing which option fits your chimney lets you give buyers a clear answer instead of an open question.
Stoves and Inserts in a Sale
A wood stove in the basement or an insert in the living room fireplace adds another layer to the inspection. We look at how the appliance connects to the chimney, whether the liner runs the full height of the flue and whether clearances to nearby walls and trim are adequate. Inserts installed years ago without a full liner are a common finding, and a buyer’s inspector may flag one even when the fireplace looks fine.
What Sellers Can Do This Week
- Scoop the ash out of the firebox and wipe down the hearth
- Look at the top of the chimney from the yard and note anything missing or crooked
- Gather any receipts or paperwork from past sweeps, repairs or relining
- Test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors near the fireplace
Paperwork matters more than people expect. A Van Meter seller who can show a recent inspection and a record of upkeep gives buyers one less thing to worry about.
Credentials Buyers Respect
A buyer’s agent reading your paperwork wants to know who did the inspection. Ours come from a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, with a Certified Chimney Professional on the same team. Our owner, Tom Hunkele, served as President of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, and the company has been in his family for 24 years.
Buyers notice details. A rusted damper, a cracked hearth or a cap that’s sitting crooked all raise questions during a showing. Getting those small items handled before photos are taken helps the fireplace read as a feature of the house instead of a question mark on the inspection report.
We also serve West Des Moines and Waukee.
Getting ready to list? Call (515) 249-6337 or book an inspection online.
