bellingham home inspector: Old School -- It Could Have Been Worse - 11/09/09 03:47 PM
I do not know if anyone from Active Rain has written about this, locally in my area, or not. But last week, Thursday early morning, there was a major fire at Whatcom Middle School. Now I relate to that school. It used to be the original high school in Bellingham … (0 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Looking Under the Surface -- Can You Dig It! - 11/09/09 03:14 PM
In the past I have written a number of articles about underground fuel tanks, both heating oil and gasoline tanks. Such tanks were common in older homes and, sometimes, I find homes where the tanks are still in use supplying a furnace.
The most common signs of a storage tank … (3 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- Unsafe Closet Lighting - 11/08/09 09:26 AM
Bare light bulbs in closets are a safety hazard. I know of that first hand. You see that bulb there -- assume that the socket is not loose -- well people do things like use closet bulbs as hangers. I know that one firsthand. My dear departed dad (yes Heather that … (7 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Three In A Row Ain't Good - 11/07/09 09:14 PM
This week, at three inspections in a row, I found TPR drain lines that were improperly installed. By improperly installed, I mean that they were routed up. In some cases there were other defects as well -- the TPR drain was routed into flex tubing, a no no, or the … (12 comments)
bellingham home inspector: When You Can't See the Roof for the Trees - 11/07/09 10:41 AM
One of the state standards of practice, in Washington state, is that an inspector must traverse the roof if it can be done safely and without property damage. The idea is that the inspector, in so doing, will have a better idea of the condition of the roof.
While in theory that … (4 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Properties Taking Out The Home Inspector - 11/07/09 09:25 AM
Most of us in the northwest, when we think of decks, probably think of a flat walking surface comprised of either wood decking or a composite decking material with rain gaps to allow rain between the boards. That is usually the case. However, it is also not uncommon to find a solid … (4 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Why I Don't See Vermin At My Abode - 11/05/09 04:36 PM
Recently I wrote a post entitled Rodents In Paradise. I have got to tell you that I see them everywhere. We are talking rats and mice, not the wonderful little squirrels that are so well behaved. In this area even high-end homes have problems with rats and mice.
I can … (16 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Rodents In Paradise - 11/05/09 08:19 AM
Sometimes it seems like the rats and mice must look upon fiberglass batt insulation as some type of paradise. If not, well they sure have a strong love for the stuff. The photo below is commonly found at a home inspection when the rodents have been enjoying a roll in … (13 comments)
bellingham home inspector: The Problem With A Cantilevered Deck - 11/05/09 12:49 AM
An inspector needs to be on the lookout for structural problems with cantilevered decks. That is especially true here in the northwest where we have so much rain.
Do you know what a cantilever is? Here is a pretty good photo that I took at a recent inspection.
See that beam: … (5 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- Clues - 11/01/09 06:05 PM
In older homes it is not uncommon to find that the house, at some point, had an underground storage tank -- either gasoline or, more likely, heating oil. Since underground tanks are buried, not visible, probably any number of them go unnoticed. However, we home inspectors are on the lookout … (9 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Happy Halloween - 10/31/09 04:22 PM
I would like to wish a happy and safe Halloween to all of my Active Rain friends and relatives (hi there Heather) and Nutsy and I have decided to even extend our good graces over to those three low-life rats in the rain with the last names Buell, Ford and … (11 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Gangsta Halloween - 10/30/09 02:29 PM
Since it is the season of Halloween, it seems only appropriate to get into the spirit of the event. Unless one is in Mexico, participating in the big Day of the Dead celebrations, Halloween is mainly for kids. I try to take Fridays off, at least not scheduling work, so … (9 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Recycling the Truth -- A Story About Charles Buell - 10/30/09 09:08 AM
I have been busy but, just today, realized that tomorrow is Halloween. I think that all of us, over the years, have heard our share of ghost stories and tales that will curl our hair. Since I first told this true story in May a year ago, my friend and … (10 comments)
bellingham home inspector: 120 Hours And Lots Of Sweat Later - 10/29/09 09:03 AM
Down below George's head, in the body of this article, is a photo of the culmination of lots of work. For three weeks these students have been enveloped by the intense home inspection training program that is offered at Bellingham Technical College. This program is one of only a few courses … (14 comments)
This photo was taken by one of the Bellingham Technical College home inspection students. I was making a point. … (14 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Blogging 101: Use Active Rain To Enhance Your Business Relationships - 10/27/09 08:42 AM
Active Bob has challenged all of us to detail how we use our blog to reach potential prospects or existing clients. When I saw that challenge, my ears perked up, and my typing fingers became nimble, because I have been doing that for some time -- in several different ways. … (9 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Shoddy Workmanship By Dish Installers - 10/25/09 04:24 PM
In an earlier post I wrote about the way many TV dish installers leave vulnerable spots on the roof. That is a real problem in this wet climate. The post was called So Likely To Leak. These do-it-yourselfers and so-called pros sink fasteners through the surface of the roof and, in … (12 comments)
bellingham home inspector: Passing The Code Inspection Does Not Guarantee That Nothing Is Wrong - 10/25/09 11:07 AM
Whenever someone tells me that the municipal code inspectors have signed-off on a house, that does not mean that I let my defenses down when it comes to looking for problems. I think the code inspectors must have some good days and some bad days. One thing I know for … (6 comments)
Home inspection information designed to educate the real estate buyer and the real estate professional. Blog posts include general information and information specific to the Pacific Northwest region.
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I do not know if anyone from Active Rain has written about this, locally in my area, or not. But last week, Thursday early morning, there was a major fire at Whatcom Middle School. Now I relate to that school. It used to be the original high school in Bellingham … (0 comments)
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