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ferndale: "Nuke-testing" for Fun and Profit, Bellingham, WA - 02/25/12 08:55 PM
A few months ago, a friend of mine who happens to be a home inspector, showed me this little gadget. The sole purpose of the gadget was to test the function of microwave ovens. Now, fact is, as a home inspector, the obligation for inspecting appliances in this state is pretty minimal -- we don't have to do so if we don't want to, per the state standards of practice.
From a marketplace standpoint, most of us do take a look at appliances as a service. It is basic: We check that range burners come on, that dishwashers don't seem to be … (14 comments)
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ferndale: Whatcom County WA -- Rare Snowy Owl Migration - 01/12/12 04:01 PM
My friend Curtis Brown, of Curtis C Home Inspections, is not only a competent and an excellent home inspector, whom I often recommend to others, but he is, also, a wonderful photographer. Curtis loves to shoot (with his camera of course) birds. I have, with his permission, used his excellent bald eagle photos in past blogs and online videos. That shot above, taken locally by Curtis, is one of my favorite eagle photos. Well, here is something new and interesting. About a week ago, Curtis had a long awaited and an exciting opportunity. He received a call from a past client, who said … (10 comments)
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ferndale: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) It's Cold Outside - 12/22/11 01:25 PM
Recently, as the weather has gotten colder, I did an inspection on a cold day -- at least it was cold based on our wimpy Pacific Northwest standards. It was 28 degrees F.
At first, I thought that someone had left the garage door to the outside ajar or open. On closer examination, the fit of the door was something less than ideal.
Since it was cold outside, and my little knees were knocking together, it made me think of an appropriate song for the season and the weather.
… (7 comments)
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ferndale: Washington State Home Inspector Training -- Bellingham Technical College - 07/22/11 06:24 PM
The next full (120-hour) home inspection training course will be held at Bellingham Technical College beginning on October 17, 2011. The 40-hours of state approved field training work follow, beginning on November 4, 2011. This will be the last such course offering, at BTC, in 2011.
The BTC inspection course, the first course to receive state accreditation when licensing began a couple years ago, includes both the three weeks of Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training, 120-hours, and 40-hours of field training. While the courses can be taken separately, most students take both.
For an overview of the BTC course, and the field training, please watch … (8 comments)
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ferndale: Lummi Ferry, Out But Not Down - 06/26/11 01:51 PM
Earlier this year, as I reported at my blog, there was tension between the county and the Lummi Nation about the fate of the Lummi Island ferry. The Whatcom Chief transports visitors and island residents between Gooseberry Point on the mainland and Lummi Island.
Finally, about a month ago, the county and the Lummi Nation negotiated terms that should save the ferry run for many years to come.
However, due to routine maintenance, the Whatcom Chief will not be operating for part of the day on Wednesday, June 29. Glad I do not have an inspection on Lummi that day. That … (4 comments)
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ferndale: Local Athlete Makes Good - 04/29/11 10:16 AM
Ever since he was a kid in high school, Ferndale's Jake Locker has been the athlete to watch in Whatcom County. Jake was a standout football star at Ferndale High School. And his name was well-known in this community because his uncle, Pat Locker (now a real estate agent) was the best known football player ever at Western Washington University here in Bellingham.
Jake spent four years at the University of Washington and, while the UW football team is not the powerhouse it was back in the era of coach Don James, they went to the Holiday Bowl and won this year.
… (2 comments)
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ferndale: Willie and Lobo -- Jazz Alley (Seattle) Monday April 18, 2011 - 04/15/11 05:49 PM
Willie and Lobo, a musical duo, was introduced to my wife and I about a year ago by one of our favorite restaurateurs, Carol Shank at the Rhododendron in Bow, south of Chuckanut Drive.
Carol had this interesting music playing. It reminded us of the Gipsy Kings, but it was different and all instrumental. The duo was known as Willie and Lobo and they had, for years, played in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
We had wanted to see them at some point so, a month back, I was pleased to get an Email that they would be playing on April 18 at … (2 comments)
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ferndale: Clouded by Fog - 04/07/11 10:50 PM
Most of us home inspectors, when we see it, will notify clients when there is fog inside of double-pane windows. Windows, even to begin with, have a pretty low R-valve. But when they are foggy that is further reduced. Often the biggest issue with fogged windows is simply that they are unpleasant to look through. I remember, once, inspecting this place with a great ocean view. That view was through the totally fogged sliding glass door -- those things are often fogged.
Even though inspectors will report fog inside windows, the fact is that subtle fog might be hard to … (8 comments)
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ferndale: Citizens Work To Save the Lummi Island Ferry - 03/13/11 12:25 PM
At first, I believe that everyone thought that Whatcom County and the Lummi Nation would resolve the dispute over the mainland port for the Lummi Island ferry. But the negotiations are at an impasse and there is now less than one month left before the deadline that has been imposed by the tribe. The Lummi's have notified Whatcom County that the ferry must vacate their land by April 10, 2011. Below is a photo of the ferry arriving at the mainland port, Lummi Island in the background.
About 1000 people, or fewer, live on Lummi Island and there are very few businesses. … (5 comments)
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ferndale: Lummi Island Ferry Service - 02/27/11 11:57 PM
The on-again, off-again saga of the Lummi Island ferry, Whatcom Chief, seems to be off-again. At the end of 2009, here in Whatcom County, there was a rumbling that the county was going to lose the mainland dock -- that they were going to have to find an alternative way to get the 700 or so Lummi Island residents back and forth across to the island. The ferry, Whatcom Chief, leaves from Lummi reservation land on the mainland. And, over recent years, the tribe has been making it plain and clear that they would like to have the ferry permanently vacate that … (3 comments)
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ferndale: Haggen Grocery Chain Sells - 02/19/11 10:55 AM
There are not very many locally owned and independent grocers left in Bellingham and Whatcom County. One fo the county's largest employers, and a locally owned grocery since 1933, has sold a majority interest in their store to a private investment firm out of Florida.
Rick and Don Haggen, of Haqgen's Inc, own and they are managing the firm at this time. I remember shopping at Haggen clear back in my grade school days and, at that time, it was operated by the Haggen family. The Haggen family is retaining a significant minority ownership, even after this sale, and will remain involved … (3 comments)
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ferndale: Dreaming of Warm - 02/11/11 07:00 PM
So much of the country is cold that my recent posts with photos of Oaxaca, Mexico, taken less than a month ago, are being well-received here in the rain. In Italy, and Mexico, the town square is a big deal.
In Italy they call it the piazza. In Mexico it is the zocalo. Same thing. Townspeople are loyal to the square and, most nights, they all go out on the town or at least walk around. Even though it was winter in Oaxaca, the weather was warm and the zocalo was full of vitality. Oh, and plants too.
… (6 comments)
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ferndale: Whatcom County and Bellingham Home Staging Professional -- Melissa Young - 02/08/11 02:59 PM
Bellingham (and Whatcom County) is, in the realm of things, a small community. The city and the county are growing but, compared to the Seattle area, we are still small. Therefore, some of the professions that are commonly found in larger cities are not present here, or, if they are present, there are fewer people working in the field.
I work with real estate agents all of the time and I run into many people who are involved in real estate in the affiliated fields: appraisers, bankers, title companies and various other specialty inspectors.
One profession that I do not run into very often is the home staging professional. … (3 comments)
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ferndale: Outdoor Kitchens by Mark Palmer, Bellingham, WA - 02/06/11 11:25 AM
I often have inspection clients ask me for the names of licensed general contractors who are capable of remodeling the houses that the clients are buying. One state licensed contractor, who I have referred often in Bellingham and Whatcom County, is Mark Palmer. He has extensive building experience -- from disassembling and putting a house back together again to major remodels and designing and building complicated multi-level decks.
One interesting and popular field that Mark is involved with is designing and building outdoor kitchens. The basic kitchen will usually include a sink, a barbecue and sideburners. Some of the kitchens will have all of … (10 comments)
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ferndale: What is a Conducive Condition - 02/04/11 02:02 PM
In this state, and my community, the WSDA which regulates structural pest inspections, has a term that is called "conducive condition." People often ask for a list of conducive conditions. A list of common conditions could be drafted, but never could one supply a list of all conducive conditions. Because, the fact is, something an inspector never thought of before could be a conducive condition if that circumstance makes wood more prone to rot.
Common conducive conditions are uncontrolled water runoff, improper perimeter grading, poor ventilation, wood to soil contact and debris or organic matter or moss in locations where those substances should not be. … (11 comments)
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ferndale: Uncontrolled Roof Runoff Water - 02/03/11 11:52 PM
If you look at the photo below, you will see evidence of why a home in an area that gets significant rainfall should have gutters and downspouts. The wood fascia, below the roof, has had heavy runoff water routed over it for about five years. Wood that is subjected to heavy moisture will eventually decay. Fungus is moving in on us here, slowly but surely.
If a roof have proper overhang, over the gutters, that wood will be afforded a great degree of protection. And that is very helpful in the long run. This home, like many houses that … (13 comments)
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ferndale: Electric Heater Safety - 02/02/11 11:36 PM
Recently I read a post by Charles "Chuckie" Buell, where he talked about cords being run over electric heaters. I guess it was a coincidence but at an inspection recently, I ran into a great example of the "cord over the heater syndrome". It is a very common occurance in Bellingham. Problem is, people do not know that there is an inherent problem with the arrangement. Below is the language, and photos, straight from my report.
"Electric outlets/receptacles are installed directly above bedroom and living room heaters. While this was a common installation practice a few years ago, it can be a … (14 comments)
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ferndale: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) B-vent Safety - 02/01/11 07:17 PM
One of the most common issues that I find, when doing home inspections in Bellingham and Whatcom County, is the B-vent from the furnace, the water heater or the gas fireplace buried in attic insulation. Even though the B-vent is designed to reduce the spacing required for proper combustible clearance, it requires at least an inch of clearance to flammables and that includes insulation.
The temperature of a B-vent, if it is against wood, can lead to pyrolysis (lowers the combustion point of wood) or a fire. As I said, normally the inspector sees insulation around the B-vent. A metal shield or collar can take … (2 comments)
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ferndale: Never Answer The Same Question Twice -- Home Inspector Licensing - 12/29/10 11:34 PM
This post is in response to Bob Stewart's "it's raining" blog. He has created a challenge: Sanitize and post some past business or client Emails and responses. The goal is to provide, to the public, easily accessible online information. Especially since home inspector licensing kicked-in here in Washington State, there are now many consumers who are trying to determine whether or not an inspector is licensed to legally work in the state.
This post starts with an Email from an agent.
Hi Steve,I know that you teach the local Home Inspector Licensing course at Bellingham Technical College and are closely tied to … (4 comments)
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ferndale: Never Answer the Same Question Twice -- Calibrating A Hygrometer - 12/28/10 09:12 AM
This post is in response to Bob Stewart's "it's raining" blog. He has created a challenge: Sanitize and post some past client Emails and responses. The goal is to provide, to the public, easily accessible online information. This probably seems like an esoteric topic but, over the years, I have gotten many Emails and calls on the topic of calibrating a hygrometer. Years back, I wrote an article on how to do so, using common salts, and this piece has legs. It never goes away and every year I receive questions from people, from around the world, who have found that piece. Here is one … (6 comments)
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Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector
Bellingham,
WA
More about me…
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc
Address: Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Sumas, Nooksack, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA, 98225
Office Phone: (360) 676-6908
Cell Phone: (360) 319-0038
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