A family of four from southwest Minneapolis moved to Mound for Westonka Public Schools, and a sewer scope on their 1960s home turned an $11,800 hidden repair into a $9,500 seller credit before closing.
The Move at a Glance
| Buyers | Family of four from southwest Minneapolis |
|---|---|
| Must have | 4th bedroom, usable yard, Westonka schools, trail access |
| Budget | Up to $675,000 |
| Home | 4 bed, 3 bath, listed at $639,000 |
| Closed | July, at $631,000 with a $9,500 credit |
Why Mound and Westonka
The family wanted a fourth bedroom, a usable yard, Westonka Public Schools and easy access to the Dakota Rail Regional Trail, and they wanted to close by mid-July so the kids could settle before school. CJ Norman confirmed the district boundary for the exact address instead of relying on the school named in the listing. The Growing Families page compares districts town by town.
Usable yard versus lot size
Several homes fit on paper but sat on steep lots where most of the yard was not usable for play. The family chose a home on a gentler lot near the trail, which mattered more than the listed acreage. Living in Mound covers how hilly the town can be.
What the sewer scope found
Because the house was built in the 1960s with no record of a replaced line, CJ Norman recommended a sewer camera inspection. It found heavy root intrusion and a cracked clay pipe near the city connection, with a licensed contractor's estimate of $11,800. CJ Norman got two written estimates, confirmed the lender's credit limit, and negotiated a $9,500 credit so the family could choose their own contractor.
What Other Buyers and Sellers Can Take From It
- Confirm school district by exact address.
- Order a sewer scope on older Mound homes, even after a clean inspection.
- Judge a lot by usable yard, slope and drainage, not acreage.
More on this kind of move lives on the Growing Families page, in client reviews, and in CJ Norman's own account of this case study. See every story in Client Stories.