Dan Edward Phillips's (danedwardphillips) Blog

Tomorrow is September 1st (already).  Don't forget the "September Localism Challenge"! This will be a great opportunity to develop your 'Localism' skills.  Something I have not had a lot of experience with. If you missed the original announcement from DeBorah Byron Leffler, this is the link: http...

The Humboldt County, California Association of Realtors has a 'rule' that agents will leave a business card at all showings with the date and time of the showing and the card must be' signed' by the agent.  It would seem to me that leaving your legal signature laying around in vacant homes may no...

If you will be placing your home on the market and it has a 'shop', make sure the 'shop' does not look like one! Shops are very popular with home-buyers.  They will want to see it and the shop needs to appeal to both buyers. After all, your 'wood' shop may become a 'quilting room'. Start by packi...

One of yesterday's news stories about Hurricane Irene contained the following quote: "and a women in Queenstown, Maryland died after a tree knocked the chimney through the roof of her home". Do You Really Need Your Chimney?  Here in Northern California, many chimneys and the fireplace they serve ...

This is the time of the year that Skunks will be looking for a new home here in Northern California.  Don't let make their new home under your house. 1. Make sure the cover to your crawl space access is secure. 2. Make sure that all vent openings in your foundation are secure.  If necessary repla...

When was the last time you inspected the vents in your Gabled Roof?  Older homes in this area of Northern California, in many cases, have large openings in the 'Gables' to allow for ventilation.  Some are very ornate. These openings in the Gabled end of your roof should be covered with screen on ...

A 'Widow Maker' in Humboldt and Del Norte county is not a spider.  It is an old 'logging term' that is very appropriate to Redwood Trees. Redwoods are very stable trees.  However their tops and branches are prone to breaking off in windstorms.  When that event occurs, the piece of the falling red...

Plants and shrubs planted close to a home allow a path for termites to access a home. One way to avoid the problem in Northern California is to place a concrete walk-way, three feet wide, around the perimeter of your home.  The walk-way will need to be designed to properly "meet" the driveway , a...

If your landscaping plans for this all include an area near a utility pole or utility cabinet, be careful what you plant and how close you plant to a utility pole or utility cabinet.  In almost all cases the poles and cabinets are located on utility right of way and the utility companies have the...

The Humboldt County, California Assessors Office maintains a ‘Public Information Center' to assist taxpayers with questions about their property.  They also have information on property you may be considering purchasing. The records available include property ownership information, assessed value...