Maybe you have to be on an island to find this kind of trust. I have not seen anything like this since I was a kid back in the 1950's and early 1960's. My wife and I were visiting Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. It is an easy drive and ferry ride from Bellingham. We were going to the "cheese" factories on the island.

We found this one, on the map, that was called Moonstruck Cheese. We followed the winding country road and, before long, we were there. It was an attractive storefront.

As we got out of the car, to partake in the cheeses, this sign was on the door.

Honest to goodness. They trusted you to select your own cheeses and to actually pay for them and make change. There was a cash box there, with money inside, so we selected the items we wanted from their delicious products.

Then we wrote down our purchase, opened the cash box, paid, and drove away.

Bellingham, where I come from, is not a big place, but you sure do not see things like that around here anymore. In fact, I thought that this way of doing business was extinct in the year 2009. In so many places there are people who would ruin it for everyone -- steal the cheese and the money too.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Sometimes it is funny how the mind works. As part of the home inspection training class at Bellingham Technical College, I maintain some online practice tests that help students prepare for various inspection related state or national exams. Here is the scoop.

I was at an inspection today and one sprinkler head was buried down in the soil.

This morning in Bellingham the wind is howling. I have an inspection on Lake Samish. I really wonder if I will be able to get on the roof. This is turning out to be a bad year as far as losing our power in Bellingham. That is usually wind related. It has happened twice at my house so far. Back in early October I was writing a report one night -- it gets dark early -- and "poof" the power went out. Can you say dark?

The power came back on later and I thought nothing more about it. We had a class starting the following Monday at Bellingham Technical College. That first day was a royal pain. We had no internet access due to damage caused by the preceding power outage.

A young fellow, who helps around the yard, told me later that the cause of the power outage had been filmed and the show was playing at youtube. I had not had a chance to watch the video till today. It is quite the show. A tree gradually led to a fire and explosion.

If you are sensitive, turn the sound down because the events that unfold led to a few shocked expletives by those watching the fireworks. This really gives an amazing example of the awesome power of electricity and how vulnerable the power grid is to wind when big trees are all around.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Sometimes people resist the concept of gutters and downspouts. In the climate around here, in the Pacific Northwest, it is hard to believe that anyone can ignore the need of a means of controlling runoff water.

However, there are those who think that an inspector, who recommends gutters, is simply trying to make work for a gutter contractor.

Sometimes, however, the necessity of gutters is so readily apparent that nobody can argue.  

There are, actually, a couple causes for the rot on the fascia. The shingles are cut too short so the water runs right over the fascia, and there are no gutters. If there were gutters, and a drip edge flashing to route the runoff into the gutters this fascia would be in much better shape than it is today.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Frequently, in the northwest, we home inspectors see gutters, or roof/gutter combinations, that are improperly installed. The roof is cut short, so it does not overhang the gutter and seldom is there a drip edge flashing to help route the runoff into the gutter below.

When that is the case, it is common to find the edge of the roof sheathing decayed and, along with that, an inspector might find damage and rot to the soffit area if the problem has been going on for some time.  

In wet climates it is essential to control runoff water.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Picture this: The homeowner knows there is a roof leak. The homeowner knows that shingles are blown off. So how does the homeowner correct this? Usually in a totally unprofessional manner. The photo below is not an uncommon repair. 

Those shingles laying over the damaged area are vulnerable and this is not the way a roofer would do a repair. New shingles are worked in where the damage was done. They are no plunked down on top. If the old shingles were prone to blowing off before, then how about this conglomeration? Once an inspector sees something like this, the only option is to recommend that the roof be gone over and issues professionally resolved by an experienced roofer.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

There are some home inspection issues that are so easy to resolve that nobody gets tweaked when the inspector calls them out. The photo below is a typical example. 

When receptacles (outlets) or switches are missing cover plates that is no big deal as far as a repair. Heck, it is a piece of cake. On the other hand, citing the problem is valid. Anyone, but especially children, could come in contact with energized wiring when the covers are missing.

As much of a no brainer as it seems to be -- put covers on your receptacles -- I would say that I find this problem on at least fifty percent of the inspections at older homes. Seller's agents should tell their clients to solve this one prior to the inspection.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Home inspectors, when it is possible to do so, try to get data on water heaters. From a serial number, almost always, a water heater can be "dated" for age.

Some sellers think that as long as the water heater heats, then the inspector should say nothing about the condition of it. That is not wise on the part of the inspector. If a buyer goes into a deal and, right after the inspection, finds out that the inside of the water heater looks like this, then the inspector will probably be getting an unpleasant telephone call. 

It makes sense to say that the tank was functioning, or not, at the time of the inspection. But if a water heater, or a furnace for that matter, has rust like this then it is time to warn the client that the design life of the unit is stretched pretty thin. It is, or should be, shot as they say.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Natural gas and propane furnaces are usually vented with B vents. A B vent is a double-wall vent, so it can have tighter clearances to combustibles than single wall vents or metal chimneys.

But, just the same, it requires one inch of clearance, minimum, from flammables. Especially when people put water heaters in attached sheds, we find clearance issues.

A casual glance at the photo makes it all too clear that this water heater B vent is in contact with the OSB, a flammable. This contact is only a few feet above the water heater so we know that the vent gets hot. Remember, B vents require at least one inch clearance from flammables and that includes insulation in the attic. Life throws enough unexpected curves without playing it careless and dumb.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

The house below had signs of raccoons walking on the roof and partying under the soffit. It is really no big surprise if you have ever watched a raccoon climb a tree.

Raccoons are large animals and the damage they can do to a home -- siding and soffit -- if they decide they want to make a nest or den, or whatever it is called, is extensive. 

There are many reasons to keep trees cut back from a house: Leaves in gutters and on the roof, moss and fungal issues, damage to roofing and siding and trim, easy access by rodent and insect pests and now easy access by masked bandits.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith