bellingham home inspector: Home Inspection: Clarity of Language and Documentation
- 07/27/11 06:51 AM
In a tough real estate market, like we have now, tensions run high. Agents work hard to put together deals. Most agents do not have a problem with an issue, cited on a home inspection report, as long as it is valid and put in reasonable perspective. However, building houses is complicated and there are many safety guidelines that the properly trained home inspector looks for that might go "unseen" by someone who is not familiar with the job and requirements.
For that reason, when certain not so obvious problems are noted at an inspection, it can save later bickering if the inspector provides … (6 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: #1 Single 45 Years Ago, Jul 30, 1966
- 07/26/11 05:19 AM
It was 1966, the center of the universe in the United States was San Francisco. Many new music groups were forming in the bay area.
But, despite the excitement in the USA, and the words "hippie" and "flower power" the bands from the U.K. were ruling the record charts in the United States.
The music critics rate the rock music of the mid-60's as the best of the best. Creativity was at an all time high. Rock music was getting sophisticated and many tricks were being used in the recording studio to create sounds that were hard for bands to duplicate in their … (9 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Old Dog, Learns New Tricks
- 07/25/11 02:02 AM
They always say, in popular lore, that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. That is not necessarily true. In the last few months, on large or assumed difficult inspections that I book, I have been co-inspecting with Curtis Brown of Curtis C Home Inspections. I am busy enough these days, and keep a tight schedule, so when a job is tough or large, I like to have good solid and capable backup. Curtis has been an inspector for several years now and, years back, he was a graduate of the home inspection training program at Bellingham Technical College (2x in … (19 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: #1 Hit In America 38 Years Ago, 1973
- 07/24/11 01:09 PM
Some time ago, Kristin Johnston, a member here at Active Rain, said that she would like to see a music post in this series that referenced the year in which she was born, 1973. Well, being an old radio guy, of course I do requests.
Remembering back to 1973, the blockbuster movie of the day was Serpico. It was a crooked cops and crime movie that introduced most of us to the young actor, Al Pacino.
In the 1970's, it was prior to the advent of compact discs, we were still buying vinyl (45's and 33's) and spinning our hot wax.
… (27 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Is Your Washington State Home Inspector Licensed?
- 07/24/11 09:04 AM
Many consumers, and others, are having trouble finding the official website that lists licensed home inspectors for the state of Washington. This has led to frustration on the part of people trying to find licensed inspectors -- that includes realtors and other inspectors. To be most effective, licensing data should be easy to access and there are unlicensed inspectors out there.
Since I am on the licensing board, I figure I need to be able to pass that official link on to others. So, if you are an agent, in Washington State, and you wish to be able to, anytime night or day, search the … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Berried in Rain
- 07/24/11 04:43 AM
Well, the wet and cool northwest summer has been a big story in this area. Nationally it is, certainly, not the big news that the heat has caused in other parts of the country. In the past week, the Seattle weather forecasters said that, defining summer as 80 degrees F or better, then Seattle has had a 78 minute summer.
Well, yesterday, the local paper had an article that says that, so far, Bellingham has yet to have ONE DAY this year to reach 80 degrees. So, as of now, we have yet to have an official summer day.
There is … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: #1 Song In America, 42 Years Ago, The Day Armstrong Walked On The Moon
- 07/23/11 09:07 AM
Those were the good times -- the 1960's. Rock and pop music was just about as good as it would get -- ever. Between the artists from England and the bands and solo artists in the United States, the 60's were full of hot wax and spinning vinyl.
The 1960's produced innovative sounds and huge hits that are still played on the radio today, 50 years later.
I remember well, the day of July 20, 1969. I was, with my family, driving from Saskatchewan, Canada back to Bellingham. We were on the road, listening to the radio the whole … (9 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: 78 Minute Summer -- Poof And It Was Gone!
- 07/21/11 12:29 PM
The Pacific Northwest made the national news today. I was listening to the radio, network news, and one of the major stories, right after a piece describing the heat wave in other parts of the nation, was a story that involved the lousy year we are having in western Washington.
If you live on the west side of the mountains, nobody has to tell you, or remind you, of the cold year we are having. In the course of doing home inspections, many a week, I have only taken my sweatshirt off two or three times. And, unusual, my wife and I have … (15 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: #1 Album In America, July 1964, 47 Years Ago
- 07/19/11 01:52 AM
President Kennedy had been killed the previous year, 1963. By July 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson was fully ensconced in office and his term would be among the most controversial in U.S. history, largely based on the country's direction, and his leadership during the Vietnam War.
Vinyl was still king and kids were buying their favorite tunes as 45's and as albums.
Top 40 radio was at it's peak and the band that had the #1 album in the country, come the dwindling days of July 1964, was one of the most famous bands, maybe the most famous of all, in recording … (8 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: #1 Single In America, July 1964, 47 years ago
- 07/17/11 02:13 PM
One of the groups that has been classified as, perhaps, the most all-American of all singing groups, had a #1 single for two weeks in July 1964. The song hit the #1 slot on July 4th and it stayed there for two weeks. As a result of the British Invasion, the single had the distinction of being the first #1 hit on the U.S. charts by an American "boy" band in eight months.
The band had formed in high school as Carl and the Passions, from there the name changed to the Pendletons. Needless to say, the numerous tracks of "hot … (8 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) Guardrail Safety and Code
- 07/17/11 04:56 AM
When a deck or a landing, outside or inside the house, is 30" or higher above grade or the floor, there should be a guardrail. And, to provide safety benefits for children and adults, it has to meet certain requirements. First, and pretty basic, it needs to be secure -- not wobbly. If a 200 pound person leans on it, heavily so, it may give a bit but not collapse or appear to be prone to catastrophic failure.
The rail, also pretty basic, must be a minimum of 36" high. That helps keep a kid from climbing over the rail or an adult from falling … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bivalve Bash -- Another Year In The Mud
- 07/17/11 04:38 AM
Recap: Yesterday was a big day in Bow, Washington. At Taylor's Shellfish Farms, there was another successful 250 yard mud run. The annual Bivalve Bash takes place at Taylor's, the south end of Chuckanut Drive. This is about 20 or 30 minutes from Bellingham. Back in the era of Ladybird Johnson, she named Chuckanut as one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the country and that seems about right. It winds along a cliff and overlooks Puget Sound.
Each year, at the lowest tide of the year on a July weekend, Taylor's is the site of this annual bash. Taylor … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Churches in Mexico
- 07/16/11 03:45 PM
One of the fun things about traveling is taking photos. And, since I participate at Active Rain, I get to share some of them. Europe is noted for it's many elegant churches. What many people do not realize, if they have never been there, is that Mexico has many very pretty and elegant churches or cathedrals as well.
Here is a shot from a small city that is just outside of Oaxaca. I really appreciate the color scheme.
… (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: First Ever Gold Record -- Booming Back to 1958
- 07/16/11 02:42 PM
Let's face it, the entertainment and music industries are fueled by hype and excitement--heightening people's expectations sells merchandise.
By the late 1950's, to generate record sales and with no strict rules or guidelines in effect, the record labels were, at will, awarding gold records to their artists. The result was that the false hype sold more records. At one point the labels were shipping out what they claimed to be records that were "gold on delivery." The dishonest part of that distribution system was that many of those discs did not sell well and they ended up coming back to the record companies as … (8 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Garden Timbers -- Conducive Condition
- 07/16/11 03:53 AM
When it comes to the exterior inspection at a home, at least in the northwest, probably one of the most commonly cited problems is labeled as the "conducive condition." A conducive condition is a circumstance that makes it more probable that structural lumber will rot or become infested by wood destroying insects.
Some conducive conditions are pretty apparent -- wood to soil contact, brush and trees growing against the house, green fungus on siding and trim. Three conducive conditions that even the careful homeowner might miss include: Planters hung against the side of the house, the fence that touches the ground … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Inadequate Heat
- 07/15/11 05:25 PM
I have done a number of inspections at houses where there was inadequate heat. A house should have heat in every livable room. That does not include hallways, closets or bathrooms, although most of us like heated bathrooms in the dead of winter. At many old houses I might find a single space heater, or maybe a baseboard heater in one bedroom but no heat in other rooms.
What buyers often do not realize, in taking on such a house, is that the problem caused by lack of heat might go beyond simply being uncomfortable in cold weather. Lack of heat, … (10 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House) Deck Flashings
- 07/15/11 04:16 AM
Recently I came across another good example of the problem that comes with neglecting to install a proper flashing at the junction of a deck and an exterior wall.
There are a couple factors involved in installing a flashing. First, you want the metal flashing in place to direct water away from the wall and to prevent seepage. Second, by installing the flashing, you are able to trim the cladding so it is not in direct contact with the flat surface deck below. Even when people get the first step right, they often miss the second step and that can allow … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: #1 in America, July 1966 -- 45 Years Ago This Month
- 07/12/11 04:26 AM
The artist who had the #1 hit in the country in July 1966, 45 years ago, had an incredible chart life. His hits spanned -- first hit charted to last hit charted -- over 40 years.
The artist had the distinction of being the vocalist on the first ever #1 hit single which was listed on Billboard magazines first ever singles chart, back in July 1940. His last hit came out in July 1980 and, if you watch baseball, you hear it fairly often when the Yankees win.
This guy had a hot daughter who looked good in go-go attire and she … (7 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bivalve Bash, Bow, Washington -- July 16, 2011
- 07/10/11 10:04 AM
Just today I picked up a bag of clams at one of the jewels here in the northwest, Taylor Shellfish Farm, in Bow, Washington. They are located at the south end of scenic Chuckanut Drive.
Each year, at the lowest tide of the year in July, Taylor's is the site of the Annual Samish Bay Bivalve Bash and Low Tide Mud Run. Taylor Shellfish farm is noted for their oysters, mussels and clams. This year, the big bash is coming up on Saturday, July 16.
This is a wild day, with games, contests, food and beverages (heavy on seafood and bivalves) … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Do It Yourself Home Electric Repairs -- Done By Nutsy
- 07/10/11 03:51 AM
Many of the home inspectors write about home owner repairs or the inspectors explain how things oughts to be done. As a certifried home inspector assistant, I have decided that I should writes a similar piece. As you know, I am well-known, working for the King of the House firm in Bellingham and, also, working as a troubleshooter with Mr Charles Buell in Seattle. I thinks that my credentials are outstanding in the field and speaks for themselves.
I reiterate that not every home owner should do his or her repairs. Especially in the case of electricity, sometimes the repair requires … (9 comments)
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In a tough real estate market, like we have now, tensions run high. Agents work hard to put together deals. Most agents do not have a problem with an issue, cited on a home inspection report, as long as it is valid and put in reasonable perspective. However, building houses is complicated and there are many safety guidelines that the properly trained home inspector looks for that might go "unseen" by someone who is not familiar with the job and requirements.
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