Should I have a "bank owned" home inspected? - 02/25/09 08:16 PM
 After all its being sold as is..... There is a reason why these homes are  referred to as "distressed" properties.  Many owners that go into foreclosure have been struggling financially, which usually means that the house has not received needed repairs or general maintenance for a while. Some homeowners who lose their property to a lender frequently damage the property. After the owners leave the property  frequently we see the homes have been neglected or poorly winterized. Winterization was  especially important during the December freeze we had. We have inspected homes that claimed to have been winterized and found freeze damage. … (1 comments)

Are You Still in Business? - 02/24/09 11:02 AM
I had a call from a REALTOR that started out that way. I had never done business with this individual just a few folks in her office. It just points out that the "thinning of the herd" is really hitting the real estate industry hard. In some ways thinning the herd is healthy for the marketplace as the weak and underfunded service provider drop by that wayside leaving the strong and profitable companies.Unfortunately when these companies drop by the wayside they leave behind websites and literature to confuse the public.
This also tell me that I need to spend a little … (1 comments)

Will your Washington Home Inspector meet the new licensing requirements? - 02/01/09 03:34 PM
Washington Home Inspector Licenses will be issued beginning July 1, 2009. Beginning Septembers 1, 2009, inspectors will be required to have a license to inspect unless they are already a practicing inspector. Practicing inspectors will have until July 2010 to become licensed.
Many Washington Realtors are under the impression that there home inspector is already licensed which is partially true. To be a Washington Home Inspector you are required to be a Structural Pest Inspector (SPI) which really has little to do with Home Inspection and more about identifying wood destroying organisms.
Realtors will need to beware that if they are … (2 comments)