anacortes home inspector: Deer Me - 12/16/09 12:44 PM
I think that my ever growing photo collection of deer that I have seen while inspecting has to be up there in the realm of among the best. It is now large and ongoing. When I inspect near Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish and, most specifically, at Sudden Valley, I run into deer by the dozen.
Yesterday I was down in Anacortes, a great city here in the northwest, and sure enough, here come the deer. I think this is mom and a youngster or an adolescent.
Thanks for stopping by,
Steven L. Smith





(9 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Building Codes, WSDA and the Washington Home Inspector - 11/28/09 05:36 AM
The other day a seller gave me his blunt opinion of home inspectors. He made it clear that he disagreed with the general idea of a home inspector citing a problem at an older home if that problem might be, reasonably, expected at a home of that age.
I guarantee you that if an inspector used that theory, as a business model, he or she would be spending more time in court than out in the field working. The man said that inspectors use codes retroactively and that is not the intent of codes and should not be allowed. Now, what he says has some degree of good … (9 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- Controlling Runoff Water - 11/14/09 06:59 AM
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 … (11 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Vermiculite In The Closet - 08/29/09 04:16 AM
Home inspectors know that, often, vermiculite attic insulation contains at least some asbestos fibers. Vermiculite and asbestos are different but, due to the proximity of the mines in Libby, Montana, some asbestos got into vermiculite back in those days when vermiculite was so popular.
The general safety guideline is that vermiculite may be left in place in an attic -- some people prefer to have it removed -- but it should not be disturbed. A few times I have run into situations where that is easier said than done. Below we have an older home and they have a storage area, … (9 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Busy Carpenters Are A Bad Thing - 08/28/09 11:08 AM
In Washington state, at least up until recently, most of us home inspectors are also licensed structural pest inspectors. I have seen plenty of carpenter ant activity and damage over the years.  I teach the course in wood destroying organisms for Bellingham Technical College.
I have seen more ants on premises previously, but nothing to compare to the amount of frass that I saw the other day. It was quite amazing. Frass consists of sawdust and byproducts of insect tunneling or feeding.
 
All of those shavings came from carpenter ants. At first, based on the amount of frass, I was surprised. I … (18 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Anacortes Arts And Crafts Festival, 48 Years of Fun - 08/13/09 03:37 AM
This past weekend, for the umpteenth time, my wife and I attended the Anacortes Arts and Crafts Festival. This big-time festival, an amazing business enterprise in the small but very charming waterfront city, has been going on for 48 year now. I have not attended each year, but I have visited the festival for at least 35 years. The photos below show some of the color of the street festival. 

 
While we were there, the grandson got a spider on his face. No worries, it is not real and it rubs right off.
 
This year's festival is over, as … (2 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Don't Let The Water In - 07/29/09 02:56 AM
It is common place to find that a repair has been made, yet it is not done correctly. The photo below is a good example. The original receptacle at this outside corner of the home had not been a GFCI protected receptacle. The seller hired someone to upgrade all of these -- good! While most of the work, from what was visible, looked to be okay, there was a dead giveaway that the work was not done by an electrician.

Any electrician, or so we hope, would know that this is not an acceptable, nor waterproof, arrangement for a receptacle … (6 comments)

anacortes home inspector: It Should Be More Than Just a Piece of Wood - 07/25/09 04:25 AM
I would say that, about half the time, the door on a crawl space is inadequate. There is nothing particularly unusual about the arrangement below.

The problem, if one thinks about it, is pretty obvious. First, the various flaps of wood are touching the ground so they are rotting. That condition is conducive to attracting wood destroying insects as well. After that, how about all the gaps and openings. It is not uncommon to have rodents under manufactured homes, at least in my experience. And when they have this kind of access, you can figure they will move in. And, … (20 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Can You Guess the Culprit? Crime Scene Below. - 07/24/09 02:17 AM
I was inspecting at a manufactured home that was located out in the country just the other day. The two downspouts out front were as flat as pancakes. I will put a photo below.

This crushing was from just above my head down probably three feet or better.Since there was more than one downspoutlike this, it got me to wondering what caused this issue. Then, as I walked around the site, it became apparent to me what dastardly deed had taken place. Anyone care to venture a guess? I can tell you that the clue, as to what really took place, … (14 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Twin-Pick (Music Trivia Quiz) -- So What's The Most Popular Album Ever? - 06/29/09 02:08 AM
I have written a number of posts on music and songs. Recently, I have focused on interactive music quizzes that are popular with Active Rain participants.
These are usually based on the record charts -- Billboard, sometimes based on Cashbox which was a similar magazine. Recently, I have mainly looked at singles. Let's move to albums this time.
There were #1 singles and #1 albums.  One thing that might surprise readers is that the singles and the albums charts often have much different entries from one another.  For example, artists who have had #1 albums, yet NEVER had a #1 single include elite performers … (14 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- In-Service, Out-of-Service - 04/22/09 02:43 AM
Outdoor receptacles (outlets) that do not have "in-use" or "in-service" waterproof hooded covers are not meant to accommodate plugs and cords on a permanent basis. If a person thinks about it, the reason is obvious. Water, from rain or watering a garden, can get into the receptacle and water and electricity do not mix well. The photo below would be an example of the problem inspectors often see. So what are those cords? It is hard to tell but they usually go to some yard feature -- a pond, a fountain, a timer, maybe low-voltage yard lights. 

I know this arrangement does not … (7 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Whatcom County Unemployment Rises - 04/17/09 10:38 AM
Those who work in real estate, and those of us on the periphery of the business, hate to see prominent figures showing that unemployment rates have really "boomed" in Whatcom County. At least something is booming, right?
In February unemployment in this county was 7.9%. In March it jumped to 9.0%. That is the highest it has been in 16 years. An economics professor at Western Washington University in Bellingham, who studies business and unemployment in the community, is predicting that, at some point this year, the county is likely to hit 10% unemployment. Our good neighbor to the south, Skagit County, … (4 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Stories Behind the Music -- George Harrison's Wife - 03/20/09 03:03 AM
There was a famous British model back in the 1960's. Her name was Patti Boyd. In 1964 she married the famous  Beatle, George Harrison. 

Patti was one hot babe and the inspiration for a number of hit songs. Two that pop into mind are the George Harrison penned "Something" and "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton.
It is not a coincidence that both of these music giants wrote songs about Patti Boyd. As I stated previously, George was married to her and, fact is, so was Eric. She and Harrison were divorced and then she married Clapton in 1979. Eventually, both marriages ended … (14 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Electric Safety - 03/15/09 01:13 PM
A common electric concern seen by the home inspector is known as "double-tapping" or double-lugging. This is the practice of fastening, or trying to fasten, two wires under one breaker screw terminal. This often results in wires that are barely hooked, or one wire that is hooked and another one that might be "kind of" hooked but maybe not. Enough words, this photo from an inspection makes it all obvious.

That lower right red wire is more not connected, than connected. A poor connection can also lead to arcing or increased resistance, which creates heat. Sometimes, when you see a … (14 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Newspaper Column I Liked -- Really! - 02/22/09 01:51 AM
It seems that, so often, what we see in the media is either silly, plain wrong or disturbing. I had a friend send me an article the other day from, low and behold, a newspaper in Everett, WA. Everett is down near Seattle, to the south of Bellingham. My friend said it was a question and answer column on real estate and home inspections and it discussed whether or not consumers should waive a home inspection to save money. The information applies in Everett, Bellingham or just about anywhere.
Inspectors and realtors are aware of this mindset. It is a dilemma -- sellers … (8 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Stories Behind the Music -- Wild Things - 02/20/09 11:08 AM
So are you ready for the story of one of the first of the "raunchy" garage bands? I remember it well, the summer of 1966, and this really weird song came on the radio. It was a band from England. The song was loud, the lead singer's voice was not exactly great and the words were plain silly. Even the lead singer, Reg Presley, was reluctant to record such silly lyrics. If you are my age, you have got to remember this classic of 1960's rock n' roll.
 The Troggs - Wild ThingUploaded by scootaway
Ah yes, the Troggs. It was … (10 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Happy Valentine's Day From King of the House - 02/14/09 01:47 AM
Hi Active Rain members, This is a Valentine's Day greeting to all of you from those of us at King of the House Home Inspection. The staff here at King of the House has made Active Rain, and participation in this community a big part of our business.
My highest profile, special certifried home inspector assistant, Nutsy wishes everyone a happy Valentine's Day. Below, he has a special salute to his God-mother, Active Rain's Barbara Duncan. The current photos and greetings from the staff are below. Each photo has a caption if you run the cursor over it.
We start with the King of the House.
 
Essential … (22 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Washington State -- Possible Elimination of Boards and Committees - 02/13/09 07:14 AM
Due to a budget crisis in Washington State, there is a hearing today in Olympia, the state capital, in which the lawmakers will seriously look at elimination of most boards and committees. One entity, that they are looking at eliminating, is the Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board. This board was created after the legislature passed a home inspector licensing law in January 2008.
The law will not go into effect, have any real clout, until September of this year. As a member of the home inspector licensing board, I have concerns about elimination of the board. And no, it is not … (2 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Who Or What Is That Intruder - 02/12/09 03:06 AM
I just downloaded Picasa, the photo program. I had it years back, on my old computer, but not on the new one. It is fun to have it dig out all, and any, old photos that exist. In doing so, I have found a number of interesting inspection photos for future posts.
I saw the photos below and thought they would make for a guessing contest. These were taken at an inspection we were running through the Bellingham Technical College home inspection training program. The home is in the Alabama hill neighborhood of Bellingham. Note the stains at the gable end … (32 comments)

anacortes home inspector: Renegade Seattle Home Inspector Claws His Way To The Top - 02/11/09 08:59 AM
Probably most of you do not have the same screen view that I have. Far as I can tell, most of us working in the rain pay the most attention to rankings in our own state. Speaking of our own state, mine being Washington, I was looking at the rankings today. Boy, what a big shocker, over to the right I saw a real renegade home inspector. You can see that view right here. You will be surprised at just how young and handsome the guy on the left looks, compared to the curmudgeon on the right. Must be about forty years … (28 comments)

 
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc.)

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Bellingham, WA

More about me…

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc.

Address: 1609 East Maplewood Ave, Bellingham, WA, 98225

Office: (360) 319-0038

Mobile: (360) 319-0038

Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals. Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector, ASHI certified inspector #252760 and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest. Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.


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