Home Inspector in Farmington, MO

Farmington is the county seat of St. Francois County and the heart of Missouri's historic Lead Belt — a regional hub for shopping, healthcare, and education that draws residents from across multiple counties. Mark Krigbaum, Licensed Professional Engineer (PE 2012000775) and InterNACHI Certified Inspector, brings over a decade of engineering experience and 1,000+ inspections completed across Southeast Missouri to every Farmington property he evaluates — from a turn-of-the-century home in the historic district to a new build in one of Farmington's expanding subdivisions.

Farmington's roots reach back to 1798, when William Murphy migrated from Kentucky to what was then Spanish-held Louisiana territory and acquired a Spanish Land Grant near a local spring. The community was originally known as Murphy's Settlement, and in 1822 Murphy contributed 52 acres of land to establish the new county seat of St. Francois County. The settlement was renamed Farmington in 1825 — taking its name from the area's rich farmland — and incorporated as a town in 1836. Today, Farmington's Courthouse Square Historic District and East Columbia Historic District are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the area around the St. Francois County Courthouse continues to function much as it did in the early 20th century, with many of the historic buildings still serving the community as locally owned shops and restaurants. Other landmarks like the James Robinson McCormick House, the Presbyterian Orphanage of Missouri, and the 1870 St. Francois County Jail (now a museum) anchor a historic streetscape that has shaped Farmington's identity for nearly two centuries.

Today, Farmington is a real estate market that genuinely has it all — a 2020 population of 18,217, a strong school district, regional healthcare facilities including Parkland Health Center, the nearby Mineral Area College in Park Hills, and proximity to St. Joe State Park and the broader Old Lead Belt recreational area that draws ATV riders, hikers, and campers from across the Midwest. Farmington's housing stock reflects that variety: turn-of-the-century craftsman homes and 1920s bungalows in the historic districts, mid-century ranches on the established neighborhoods, and contemporary new construction in subdivisions north, west, and south of town. The city has also become a destination for retirees and families seeking small-town quality of life with regional-hub amenities — which keeps the real estate market moving and makes a thorough, unbiased inspection essential for protecting your investment.

Here's what every Farmington buyer should understand. Older homes in the Courthouse Square District, East Columbia, and surrounding historic blocks can be a century or more old — they often hide aging galvanized plumbing, knob-and-tube wiring, undersized electrical panels, and foundation movement from decades of clay-soil seasonal swing. Crawlspaces and basements in older Farmington homes frequently have original construction without vapor barriers, creating conditions for moisture intrusion, mold, and joist rot. New construction in Farmington's expanding subdivisions is not immune either — framing shortcuts, drainage and grading problems, HVAC imbalance, and settling cracks show up in homes less than a year old, which is why a Builder Warranty Inspection before the 1-year warranty expires can pay for itself many times over. And because Farmington buyers have one more advantage with A-Team: Mark is a Licensed Professional Engineer, which means when an inspection turns up a structural concern, a foundation question, or a load-bearing issue, A-Team can evaluate and document it directly — no need to hire a separate engineer. We can also issue HUD Manufactured Home Foundation Certifications directly with PE-stamped documentation that FHA, VA, and USDA lenders accept on the first review. Whether you're buying a historic home near the courthouse, a ranch on a shaded street, a new build in a Farmington subdivision, or a manufactured home anywhere across St. Francois County, A-Team brings the engineering expertise, 1,000+ inspections of experience, and the honest, plain-English reporting Farmington buyers deserve.