The short answer
Yes, if the house has a fireplace, a wood stove or a chimney that vents the furnace or water heater. Chimney repairs are among the most expensive surprises in a used home, and the time to find out is before closing, while you can still ask the seller to fix it or lower the price.
Why a home inspection is not enough
Most general home inspectors look at the chimney from the ground or the roof edge and shine a flashlight up the firebox. They are not looking inside the full length of the flue, and many reports simply say to have the chimney evaluated by a specialist. That sentence is the inspector telling you to do this.
What a chimney inspection for a home purchase covers
The cap, crown and flashing from the roof, the brick and mortar, the flue tiles or liner, the damper, smoke chamber and firebox, and any furnace or water heater flue in the same chimney. For a home purchase, the standard is a Level 2 inspection, which adds a camera run through the full flue. You get photos and a written report you can hand to your agent. See our guide to the three levels of chimney inspection.
Why it matters more in Minnesota
Freeze and thaw is hard on masonry. A small crack in a crown or a gap in the flashing lets water in, the water freezes, and the damage grows every winter. A chimney that looks fine in July can be hiding several winters of damage at the top.
Using the report to negotiate
A written report with photos and itemized prices gives your agent something concrete. Common outcomes are a repair credit, a price reduction, or the seller fixing it before closing. Our chimney repair cost guide shows typical prices so you know what you are looking at.