RESIDENTIAL HOME INSPECTION
Home Inspection Licensing Course
Wenatchee Home Inspections
As many will know I am one of the instructors at the home inspection licensing course “The Fundamentals of Home Inspection” at Bellingham Technical College (BTC).
As part of that course, we take our students out on training inspections. These inspections are rudimentary in comparison to what most of the instructors do during their normal home inspections but are a great introduction to performing home inspections.
As one aspect of our curriculum is that we use volunteer homes to do field training for our students. This allows us, as instructors, to take the time necessary to discuss many of the issues that will be encountered when performing home inspections and how to start organizing that information to be included in an inspection report.
On a recent training inspection, we have an early 1920’s home that was volunteered to the students for their training.
As we make it around the home we discuss many aspects of inspecting homes of this period and many of the common practices and modifications that occur to these homes as they change hands and are bought sold, updated, remodeled, bought and sold.
The current homeowner has been in the home for two or so years and told me that there were many things he had been repairing. I discussed some of the findings and informed him that the heating duct in the master bathroom was covered by an end cabinet. He chuckled because he thought that there was no heat in this room.
Air leakage from heat duct under the bathroom cabinet
Unfortunately, this is a common practice to terminate ducts under cabinets and then use the cabinet base as a register, very inefficient as you can see.
Even though he had this home inspected when he purchased the home these training inspections can bring valuable information to the homeowner as well as the students who are pursuing a new career.
If you are looking into becoming a home inspector in Washington State I suggest you look at at the course we provide at BTC.
Washington State requires that potential Home Inspectors are to obtain at least 120 hours of "fundamentals" training. BTC offers substantially more credits (135 clock hours) -- a full 15 clock hours above the minimum requirement. In addition to acquiring the licensing certification required by the state, our students earn both field training accreditation and state college credits.
We focus on standard areas of inspection such as Site and Exterior, Structure, Roofing, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Building Science, Chimneys and Wood Heating, Interior Issues as well as newer requirements such as Alternative Construction Methods such as Manufactured Homes, Straw Bale, Timber Frame and more.
As always BTC tries to maintain the highest level of education available and the current course is compliant with new state requirements that mandate instruction in the basics of swimming pools/spas, yard irrigation systems, and alternative methods of construction.
The BTC class, also, presents an overview of wood destroying organism education and WSDA licensing options for those who are looking to add a Structural Pest Inspector license to their resume.
If you live in the Bellingham area and you would like to volunteer your home for a student inspection please do not hesitate to contact me. This is a great opportunity for you to get valuable information on your home.
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.”
Stephen Hawkins
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service
Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection- Bellingham Technical College
WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board
www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
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