vancouver wa home inspector: Maintaining Your Roof - 11/02/12 05:00 AM
Tip From Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC: If your roof is 11-16 years old and you haven't checked it out closely in many years you should.  95% of all homes that we inspect will have cracked plumbing vent boot/jack necks, which is the #1 cause of small leaks into attics: leaks that eventually become bigger ones.  If your home was built in the 1990's then you likely have an original roof, and if it was built from 1999 or before, then you would definitely fall into this category.  Remember that maintaining your home is cheaper and easier in the long run than … (1 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Winter Tip: Foundation Vents--To Block, Or Not? - 10/28/12 07:01 AM
We are coming off of the summer, our driest time of the year, and this year's dry period was also marked by the longest streak of no rain in the (recorded) history of SW Washington and NW Oregon (don't you miss it already?). As we move into the colder season a lot of people will be moved to buy and/or install foam foundation vent blocks to "keep the cold air out of the crawl space", a reasonable idea, but one that we don't recommend in most cases. The vents around your foundation (assuming that you have a home with a crawl … (0 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Roof (Attic) Vents - Fastening/Nailing/Stapling in the Field/Flange - Proper/Improper and Ramifications - One Roof - 7 Years Old - 04/07/12 08:53 AM
I am regularly finding roof vents installed improperly.  In this area, I would say that at least 80-90% of them are installed improperly by nailing or stapling them in the flange/field, even though there are clearly pilot holes/key holes that are made for this and even though most of the vents clearly say not to do this right on them.  
This is how it should be properly installed: 
This is how they should not be installed: 
This is what can happen if they are not installed properly: 
This is a good example of a roof vent properly installed lasting 20 … (3 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Development of the Old Downtown Vancouver Burgerville, Stuck in Limbo - 03/23/12 02:33 AM
It was so sad to see one of the original Burgervilles torn down this last year.  How many times I ate there as a kid!  How many times I took my own kids there!  And, with call in orders, how many times I called (on speed dial) their store when I was passing by around lunch time while on my way to my next appointment.
Sad as well is to drive by the site and see absolutely nothing being done with it.
The Columbian reports that development for the site, which is earmarked for a 16 million dollar, 92-unit apartment complex … (1 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Clark County Parade of Homes - 03/23/12 02:26 AM
March 5, - The Columbian (Vancouver, WA ) Homebuilders will showcase two concepts at this year’s 2012 Parade of Homes, a September showcase of spacious models overlooking the Columbia River and smaller abodes built with eco-friendly practices. They’ll break ground Thursday on the first of those concepts.
“We really have two different audiences” in the market for houses, said Jim Beriault, a promoter of the annual event, organized by the 800-member Building Industry Association of Clark County.  (For more of this article, please see: http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/mar/05/parade-of-homes-focus-luxury-green/)
The Clark County Parade of Homes is a great opportunity to see the latest trends in design … (0 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Realtor Referral Misnomers and Washington State Laws - 03/21/12 01:01 PM
Just about 2-3 times a week I get a contact from a client who says, "My relator gave me a list of inspectors and said that it was against the Law for her to refer one, so I am contacting everyone on the list," or "I asked my realtor for a home inspection referral and she said it was against the Law for her to refer anyone, so I found you on the internet," or I will hear from a realtor that "It is against the Law for me to refer a single home inspector" or "it is against the Law … (9 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Common Problem on Bank Owned Properties or Vacant Short Sales: The Damaged Garage Door - 02/11/12 05:34 PM

The proliferation of vacant homes in the last few years, due to foreclosure and shortsale (when vacant), has led to a subsequent proliferation in particular problems.  I could list dozens of issues that are more common on such properties, but one that I wanted to mention is "the damaged garage door".
General bank owned properties, HUD properties, Fanny or Freddy properties, etc. will be winterized after they are taken over, and many of the winterization companies or others involved in the property will put locks on the garage door tracks or if the door has a lock on it they … (2 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Common Roof Leak Points: Cracked Plumbing Vent Boots/Jacks - Typically After 10/11-15 Years Post-Installation - 02/11/12 04:47 PM

From my experience, the majority of roof leaks originate at one of the many penetrations through the roof line found on the vast majority of homes.  Some of these penetrations include roof vents, dryer exhaust vents (on newer properties), satellite dish fasteners, and a host of other penetrations and connections to the roof.
Of these, a very common leak point is at the plumbing vents which penetrate the roof line.  These plumbing vents, part of the plumbing system, have a "boot" or a "jack" (or a host of other commonly used names...) that acts as a sort of "shirt" around … (1 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Drip Edge Flashing - 01/04/12 12:25 PM

Drip edge flashing, while not technically "required" in most municipalities, is a good idea, and if it isn't present I will often find problems on homes.  Subsequently, whether there are problems or not, I will always call out missing drip edge flashing (with a couple notable exceptions...) in a home inspection report.
But first, what is drip edge flashing?
Drip edge flashing tucks up under the shingles, resting on top of the roof decking/sheathing (which also happens to be, in this case, the top side of the "eave"...), then angles down over the gutter providing an "edge" for water to … (3 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: National Radon Action Month - 01/01/12 04:24 PM

JANUARY 2012 IS THE NATIONAL RADON ACTION MONTH, AND THE VIDEO ABOVE HAS BEEN PRODUCED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO ACCOMPANY THIS YEAR'S AWARENESS MONTH.  IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD YOUR HOME PROFESSIONALLY TESTED FOR RADON, CONSIDER DOING SO THIS MONTH.  YOU NEVER KNOW: IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF THOSE YOU LOVE...
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vancouver wa home inspector: Words of Wisdom - One Life - 01/01/12 04:07 PM
         You have exactly one life in which you will do everything that you will EVER do.
Act accordingly.
(4 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Radon "Only by the River", and Other Radon Myths... - 12/29/11 05:50 PM


Radon Myths
I have heard many a real estate professional in this area suggest that "if" radon is a concern in SW Washington and NW Oregon that it is "only a concern when you are close to the river": a step up from the others who suggest that "it isn't a problem in this region of the country".
EPA Ratings for SW Washington and NW Oregon
Interestingly, the EPA rates Clark and Skamania Counties in the "Red Zone" or "Zone 1" for radon concern: this is the EPA's highest rating for a county in the United States (not that … (1 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: KGW Reports that the Portland Housing Market is Close to Bottom - 12/22/11 08:05 AM
"WEST LINN, Ore. -- There is talk the housing market may be on the way back up.
Construction, homes sales and prices are all up. It's giving Wall Street and the economy an early Christmas present. This time of year, the real estate market is in limbo. But, this November and December in West Linn, several home builders are busy again with new construction. Some are building on spec. That hasn't happened in years. "They are buyers out there and everybody wants new construction," said Shawn Gentemann, owner of Park Place Homes.In the Portland metro area, construction is up for apartment buildings as well as … (0 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: 90 Day Flip Waiver for FHA Expires 12.31.2011 - 12/22/11 07:48 AM

Via Chris Berg at Envoy Mortgage: "As you may have heard the FHA 90 day flip waiver expires on 12/31/11. As of today the waiver HAS NOT been extended. This means that any borrowers or listings you have where the subject property has been owned by the seller for less than 90 days will need to take action." 

Related, did you know that in Washington State if you flip a house within one year, you have to have a general contractor's license?  That is strange... WA Law House Bill 1843, Ch. 436.

Other than that, ejoy the sunshine … (0 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Radon Testing Services - 12/13/11 06:02 PM
Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC is proud to announce that we are now offering the option of professional grade continuous radon monitoring: no more canister tests that take forever to get the results. If you want radon testing done, our equipment can produce results in 48-96 hours from the start of the test: results are available immediately upon completion, making radon testing easy to do during a real estate transaction. Further ensuring accurate test results, our equipment has anti-tampering features which will show unusual spikes in the readings, and even detects motion. If you are interested in radon testing for your own … (2 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Here's To You, Mr. Handy Home Owner?! - 09/24/11 04:33 AM
Here's to you Mr. Why-Pay-For-An-Electrician-DIY-Handy-Man-Home-Owner! Why ask for help when you can "get 'er done" all on your lonesome with some wire nuts, speaker wire, and just about anything else you can find!? After all, in Vietnam you *were* an electrician (you worked on one part of one kind of plane, thus ensuring your ability to do all phases of home construction and residential electrical work). And who needs a cover. Nope, just let the air in: perhaps it will keep the wires cool. Here's to you! I LOVE the creativity of people! This is almost artistic! :-)
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vancouver wa home inspector: What To Look for in a New Home Walk Through - 09/17/11 09:36 AM
Great article from the Chicago Tribune:
 
You won't believe the stuff Jay Markanich has seen on his rounds as a home inspector.
Among other things: exhaust fans that vent to nowhere, faulty drain line connections that will surely leak, drywall screws that are used for everything but their intended purpose, insulation thrown into wall cavities but not stapled to the studs, decks so riddled with nails shot from power guns that they cause the wood to split.
The kicker? This is new construction. Not remodeling projects, but brand-new houses that have never been lived in. (read more here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/buy/sc-cons-0915-new-home-inspect-20110916,0,1118521.story)
If you … (1 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Pricing and Timing of Home Inspections: Why "Square Footage" is Not a Good Sole-Indicator - 09/16/11 12:28 PM
Every once in a while I will be in an occupied home where I learn that the seller's agent told the buyer's to leave for 1.5 hours or 2 hours.  This surprises me, because sometimes I will be in a home that is in really poor condition, or is very large.  Recently I was in a home that was over 4000sf and the seller's came back after about 1hour and 45 minutes stating that their Realtor said "that is how long it would take".  They essentially forced us to wrap things up so that they could get back into the home. … (3 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Elevated Radon Levels in Washougal Prompt Evacuation of City Hall - 09/16/11 09:48 AM
It seems that few people in SW Washington, including consumers and real estate professionals, know that the EPA rates Clark County and Skamania County in "ZONE 1", meaning that, on average, the EPA considers these counties to have the highest potential for radon levels in homes warranting remediation.  "Zone 1" or "Red" is their highest average rating for a County.  See map here: http://www.epa.gov/radon/states/images/washington.gif and see information on what the map means here: http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html#mapcolors 
While SW Washington (Clark and Skamania Counties in particular) have the EPA's highest rating, radon measurement during real estate transactions is very rare, and I have found that most real … (1 comments)

vancouver wa home inspector: Don't Forget: Home Inspections are Not Just an "American" Thing - 09/16/11 09:04 AM
We Americans can sometimes be a bit miopic in our world outlook.  I know that I have been suceptible to this in the past, assuming that home inspections was a predominately "American" profession.  And I say "American" in a broad sense: the Canadians are certainly on top of things, eh?  
I recently ran into this on Twitter: a Japanese inspector.  How cool: http://ameblo.jp/home-inspector/
If you are on Twitter, hit me up: www.twitter.com/pdxinspector
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Justin Nickelsen, CMI - (p 360.907.9648), Vancouver/Portland/WA/OR Home Inspector (NICKELSEN HOME INSPECTIONS - Vancouver WA Home Inspector)

Justin Nickelsen

CMI - (p 360.907.9648), Vancouver/Portland/WA/OR...

Vancouver, WA

More about me…

NICKELSEN HOME INSPECTIONS - Vancouver WA Home Inspector

Address: PO Box 872862, Vancouver, WA, 98687

Office: (503) 502-1495

Mobile: (360) 907-9648

Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC is proud to be performing home inspections in all of the Clark County Washington and the Greater Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA metro areas. We specialize in offering a complete inspection process, from the inspection to the report, on site and in an expedient yet thorough manner. Prior to taking on the form of Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC in 2005, Inspection Consulting was one of the original home inspection companies in Clark County. We have collectively performed over 10,000 home inspections in the last 12 years, and we put all of this experience to work for you. -- If you need a home inspector in Vancouver WA, or anywhere in SW Washington and NW Oregon, Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC will offer you the most experience, the best service, and we guarantee it! Call Today: WA: 360.907.9648 OR: 503.502.1495 Toll Free: 1.866.284.3151


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