The role of a home inspector is to identify problems. Obviously, in the course of any given inspection, the inspector will not be able to locate every problem. But the intent and the hope is that the inspector will locate, at a minimum, the bigger issues. Unfortunately, the home inspection proces
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08/04/2014
In Washington state, a wood destroying insect species that is often seen is the moisture ant. The only wood that is attractive to moisture ants is lumber that is very damp in the first place. And if it is rotted, well they like that pretty well too. The most common place to find them is under plu
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08/01/2014
The most frequently seen older electric panel of questionable merit, here in Bellingham WA and Whatcom County, would be Zinsco-Sylvania brand. More often than not, when I recommend replacing an electric panel, it will be Zinsco brand. However, maybe once every two or three years, I run into a "F
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07/27/2014
I was out and about in Bellingham just the other day. A home inspector can run into unexpected surprises at unusual places. As a home inspector, diligent and all, I try to inform a prospective purchaser of the presence of a multiple layer roof. We see all kinds of arrangements including two or th
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07/09/2014
In the 1980's and up to 1995, and even after that, Louisiana Pacific (L-P) innerseal siding was popular with builders. That was, especially so, true in my corner of the Pacific Northwest. L-P siding is still available and, whether or not the new variation of the product is much of an improvement
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06/09/2014
There are building techniques that will survive for only a few years, then there are methods that will result in materials lasting for many, many years. A classic example of non-durable, short term, construction is the way many contractors pay no heed to the consequences of moisture wicking up in
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04/27/2014
If I think back on homes that I have inspected in Bellingham and Whatcom County, a runner-up for the most misrepresented detail is the wiring. Potential clients will call telling me they are buying an older house. I explain that my fee will be higher due to the probability of old cast iron or gal
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04/02/2014
For some reason, lately, I have been seeing a number of recalled and outdated electric panels. The timing of this is rather strange, it is not like these old Zinsco-Sylvania panels are a fad, since they are all about 40 years of age. I guess it is just the luck of the draw as to the houses I have
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03/02/2014
Anyone who says that a home inspector sees the same old things over and over again, is either not familiar with the territory of home inspection or he or she is ill informed. Sure, most of what we see is repetitive with varying degrees of good or bad going on. But there are so many different syst
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02/22/2014
At an inspection in Bellingham a few days back at a house with a "basement" I found a concealed crawl space area. This one really was concealed, no outside vents or anything to provide a clue as to its presence. However, when I found a hatch cut in the rotted-out deck, I pried it up and sure enou
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02/17/2014