This is a guardrail at an upstairs bedroom, above the stairway. For a guardrail to be considered safe, it must be at least 36" high and the gaps, the distance between spindles, must be sized so that a 4" sphere will NOT pass through. The latter is for child safety. Obviously, in this case, a bit of redesign work would be of immense benefit. Low is good if you are doing the limbo, … (16 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: I Know Where Charles Buell Is Today
- 05/21/10 03:09 AM
Time just flies. It seems like the class just began, but at Bellingham Technical College we are ready to begin the final phase of the most recent "Fundamentals Of Home Inspection" class.
The final phase of the state approved course is 40 hours of field training and that begins today with Charles Buell taking the students on their first inspection. Charlie is a meticulous detail-oriented inspector so he is a perfect choice to run that first inspection. People often ask who takes the course. I would estimate that the average BTC home inspection student is about 45 years old and has … (10 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: Bellingham Technical College State Approved Training
- 05/02/10 04:15 AM
At Bellingham Technical College we have two classes beginning tomorrow at 8am. One is a state approved fundamentals of home inspection course and the other is a supplemental course for inspectors with some training but not enough to meet state guidelines for education. The two classes are combined so a map is provided to direct students to the correct building. The course, at least the first few days, will be in building B. The room is B-11. You can find that building, on the map, over at the left side. Often people come in to attend the course from out of … (0 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: Bellingham Technical College Campus Orientation
- 04/24/10 05:15 PM
We are about a week out from the next state approved "Fundamentals of Home Inspection" training course at Bellingham Technical College. Once again, we will have a few students who are there to take the "supplemental" course as well. Often people come in to attend the course from out of town, so I like to distribute an online map to let people know how to find their way around campus. This one, published by the college, is helpful but for a more detailed version of this campus map, click here,
This is a four week course and the first three weeks are comprised of 120 hours of fundamentals training and instruction while the last week consists of 40 hours of field training.The student who passes the course, both sections, will be approved to sit for the state home inspector licensing exams. This is, of course, a fully state approved course, approved by the Washington State Department of Licensing, Home Inspector Division. … (3 comments)
A bonus offered is that students are also introduced to the field of structural pest inspection, so they can determine whehter or not they wish to be dual licensed as home inspectors. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Washington state licensed home inspector, who did not meet grandfathering requirements, is required to take a state approved course. For additional information on either the fundamentals of home inspection course or the supplemental course, … (3 comments)
Frequently, in this economy and with people being injured on the job, I am asked by state and federal agencies that retrain workers about the physical demands of being a home inspector. As a result of interest in this topic, I have compiled the information below that I supply to potential students and government agencies. Probably the heaviest thing an inspector carries around and lifts would be the ladder. These come in different weights, but if the ladder is long and going up to … (11 comments)
This is a four week course: The first three weeks are comprised of 120 hours of fundamentals training and instruction while the last week consists of 40 hours of actual in the field training. The student who passes both sections of the course will be approved by Rhonda Meyers, Manager of Home Inspector Licensing, to sit for the state home inspector licensing exams. Steven L. Smith
I looked at the calendar today and, surprised, realized that the week after next is the beginning of the next fundamentals of home inspection training class at Bellingham Technical College. Monday, March 8, is the day.
The beginning of the class, without fail, means I have to watch my schedule. Although there are several of us who teach the class, classroom duties on certain days, shall we say, make scheduling inspections for clients a challenge. This is a four week course and the first three weeks are comprised of 120 hours of fundamentals training and instruction while the … (3 comments)
This is a four week course. The first three weeks consist of the 120 hours of fundamentals training and the last week is field training, 40 hours. The student who successfully completes the course, both elements of it, will be qualified to sit for the state home inspector licensing exams. Anybody who would like additional information on this course should call 360-752-8600, extension 8796. The cost of the course, including the text books, … (1 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: WSDA Credit For Structural Pest Inspectors -- BTC Fundamentals Class
- 01/09/10 12:33 PM
The Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection course has one day set aside where students learn the differences between being a structural pest inspector and a home inspector. In this state that is a big difference. A home inspector may not cite damage by wood destroying insects, but a structural pest inspector may do so. In fact, the structural pest inspector must do so if such damage or an infestation is seen.
So, the termites above would be reported by a structural pest inspector but they would not be reported by a home inspector. The home inspector would tell the … (0 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: Bellingham Technical College -- Fundamentals of Home Inspection Course
- 01/08/10 01:37 AM
At the Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection training course, we always plan to have guest lectures from experts in their fields. One guest that we have come to depend on is Dr. Dan Suomi of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Dan is the regulator who oversees those of us who are, in addition to home inspectors, licensed structural pest inspectors. Dan also provides education to train inspectors so they make fewer mistakes. Prevention is the word. There are many limitations on what can be reported by an individual who is a licensed home inspector but not a licensed structural … (4 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection
- 01/05/10 04:03 PM
Bellingham Technical College had the first Washington State approved fundamentals of home inspection training course. Students may obtain 120 hours of fundamentals training and also complete their field training requirements. The course has been in existence for about 15 years. I am the lead-instructor, program coordinator for the course, and I receive telephone calls from prospective students. For additional information, and the schedule, please call me at 360-676-6908. Thanks for stopping by, Steven L. Smith
… (1 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: Tomorrow: Bellingham Technical College Home Inspection Training
- 01/03/10 03:15 PM
It seems like a merry-go round, going round and round, but, beginning tomorrow, Bellingham Technical College will begin yet another of our state approved "fundamentals" of home inspection courses. This is a full sized-class. We are at max capacity -- sixteen students. For field training, the group will be split in half with two instructors taking the class out to different sites. We will do, roughly, ten inspections that last week. And the previous three weeks of the four week class will entail 120 hours of detailed lectures and study. Topics include roofs, exterior, chimneys, decks, heat, electrical systems, plumbing, A/C, wood … (16 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training -- Rick Pen
- 01/03/10 11:23 AM
Bellingham Technical College offered the first fundamentals of home inspection training course to be approved by the state of Washington. Even now, BTC has one of the only approved state fundamentals courses and, within the confines of the four-week course, students have the opportunity to complete field training requirements as well. This course has been in existence for about 15 years. I am the lead-instructor, program coordinator for the program, and I receive telephone calls from prospective students. Due to those student enquiries, I am posting a series of bios on the adjunct faculty at Bellingham Technical College. These are the people who keep the … (6 comments)
These photos were taken during the fourth week of the course -- field training. The first three weeks students are in the classroom, and at some labs, but generally they are tied down learning the nuts and the bolts of what it is that they are looking for. In that final week, the students go on-site with instructors and put to practical … (6 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: 120 Hours And Lots Of Sweat Later
- 10/29/09 02:03 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 that are approved by the state to meet the new state requirements for a "fundamentals of home inspection" class.
When I say this is the culmination of their work, I mean that these students are taking their final test which consists of more than 200 questions. The test helps them … (14 comments)
Now that the state has mandated home inspector education for all people entering the field of home inspection, in my role at Bellingham Technical College, I spend a few minutes almost every day speaking on the phone, or by Email, with potential students. Most potential inspectors, who are checking out the choices in this field, are interested in the BTC program since it is offered through the state community and vocational college system. They ask what to expect if they take the Fundamentals of Home Inspection course that is offered in Bellingham. The student will receive text books that … (3 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: Home Inspector Training Washington State
- 09/17/09 01:58 PM
I have had a number of potential home inspectors contact me and ask why they should take the home inspection course that is offered at Bellingham Technical College as opposed to a cheaper online course. They ask me because I am the program coordinator of the program. I can answer that question, and tell you more, in a few sentences: 1. If you settle for an online course, as your fundamentals training, then it will not count one iota towards getting your license. In this state, there are four approved classes in fundamentals training and two of them require purchasing a franchise. BTC is … (1 comments)
fundamentals of home inspection: All Aboard -- Washington State Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training
- 08/22/09 03:07 AM
New home inspectors, would be home inspectors, and those who are working in the field but are required to acquire 120 hours of fundamentals education prior to their being allowed to test and receive a license, have the opportunity to get that training in the near future. The next fundamentals course, the last one the school will offer prior to the September 1 date when many of the licensing rules become effective, gets underway at BTC on August 31, 2009.
That's right, the Bellingham Technical College state approved fundamentals of home inspection course, along with an extra week that provides … (3 comments)
Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals.
Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector, ASHI certified inspector #252760 and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest.
Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.
I was perusing some photos from a home inspection field training course that we taught at Bellingham Technical College a couple months back. I found this one.
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