I have noticed in the past that Active Rain members seem to have a strong interest in vermin -- more so rats than mice. Whenever I post any information about rats, it seems to get more clicks than my average blog post about less "sexy" topics. An example of that would be this post from earlier in the week. I think that this phenomenon might be like watching horror movies and hearing about serial killers. The topics are fascinating but there is a creepiness factor too. The truth about rats, at least around here in Bellingham and Whatcom County, is that I see signs of them on AT LEAST 50% of the inspections that I perform. I often find them in expensive waterfront homes -- properties priced at over $1 million. Rats are equal opportunity rodents. Some of the common places to find rat droppings would be in the crawl space, basements, under sinks or on top of the water heater. These are places people do not look, so the signs of rats are as likely to be missed in that $1 million dollar crawl space as in that low-end crawl space. Other than their droppings, rodents leave other signs -- seeds in the crawl space, torn insulation, insulation pulled down, plastic on flex heat ducts shredded. All those items are clues of rodent activity. People ask if we inspectors are not afraid of the rats that are onsite. Even though I have heard mice in walls while I was working, I have yet to run into a live rat. When we find them, and it does happen, they usually look like this one. So, the bottom line is this: It is not great to find rats onsite but rats are not usually intimidating in anyway....just gross. And, it is my suggestion that nobody, no matter where you live, should look down on another person if rats are found on his or her property. It is not necessarily a sign of low class to have rats, they might be lounging in your snazzy house too -- you just do not know about it YET! Obviously leaving food, garbage and bird seed laying around attracts them, but not everybody living with rats is a slob. Please remember that! Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
San Diego, CA
Is he babbling to himself now? Whose open mind? Whose support? Who is accepting him? I told you he was over the edge. CG Kate
Jun 28, 2009 08:04 AM
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Mrs Kate,
I think I know the source of your attitude toward me. Someone told me you are related to Cruella Deville? Is that true?
Nutsy
Jun 28, 2009 08:15 AM
San Diego, CA
Nutsy, I'm off to the gym. I go every day. Maybe you should try it. It might improve your attitude. Kate
Jun 28, 2009 08:18 AM
Perfection Inspection, Inc. - Salem, OR
Salem, Oregon Home Inspector
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia
So---
Slobs live with rats.
Rats are everywhere.
We are all slobs.
Logically, love, Aristotle
Jun 28, 2009 08:49 AM
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Mrs Kate,
Who is this Jim you are off with? Is he as good looking as me?
Nutsy
Jun 28, 2009 12:38 PM
San Diego, CA
Ms Barbara, Will you please sit him down or step on top of him, it does not matter, but either way teach him to read and spell.
Nutsy, as I asked you yesterday, does "a bear of very little brain" set off any bells in your head, assuming grey matter resides between your ears eyes? (hint: AA Milne) Kate
Jun 28, 2009 12:45 PM
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector
Rats are opportunists. They find something they like about your house, they're moving in. Kind of like the in-laws showing up announced and staying, and staying, and.......
Jun 28, 2009 01:10 PM
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Mr James,
You are so correct on that. I am in charge of making them unwelcome. I just boot them out.
Nutsy
Jun 28, 2009 01:15 PM
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Mrs Kate,
I thought that we already established that I smell just fine. As for which Jim you are romantically involved with, seems to me that are being very coy on that.
Nutsy
Jun 28, 2009 01:20 PM
San Diego, CA
"Mr James, You are so correct on that. I am in charge of making them unwelcome. I just boot them out. Nutsy"
And yet YOU are still here... Kate
Jun 28, 2009 01:26 PM
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
NorthGroup Real Estate/www.TonyORealtor.com - Concord, NC
Realtor- Cabarrus County, NC
Getting back to the point of the post...
Steve, you are so right, rats and other vermin are not bias. They will invade anyone's home. Yuck!!
Hi Nutsy!
Jun 28, 2009 10:52 PM
San Diego, CA
Nutsy, But it is you who is without understanding. YOU ARE the rodent. Have a nice Monday anyway. Kate
Jun 29, 2009 03:01 AM
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector
Kate, you are fighting a losing battle trying to convince Nutsy that he is nothing more than a bushy tailed rat.
Jun 29, 2009 03:58 AM
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
San Diego, CA
It is one thing to attempt to convince the unlearned. Quite another to merely set the record straight. Kate
Jun 29, 2009 04:06 AM
Rainmaker
1,248,786
1,248,786
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Real Estate Resources
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.
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