Along the way it, also, wiped out a carport and whizzed by the owner of the home who was, lucky for him, outside. This house was immediately condemned by the county. It was completely destroyed -- knocked or broken off of the foundation. Since it was only two years old, that truck had an amazing wallop with all of the various positive connections used in Pacific Northwest construction today to keep the structure in place during seismic events.
Click here to see a video interview with the homeowner and some scences from the site. Nodoby was hurt and a dog got out alive.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
Even a flat roof is suppossed to drain. This is a torchdown roof and you will see a big puddle. That is called ponding. Fact is, that is a low place and, because of the lack of slope toward built in drains, the water stays on the roof. Water like that, on a roof, will almost always eventually lead to a leak below.
The photo below is a snapshot of the area directly below the pond that you see above.
Bottom line -- Flat roof or not, you want the water to drain off the roof in a reasonable period of time. Time to call a roofer.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
Under the new home inspector licensing law, which takes effect in the fall of next year, all prospective new inspectors will be required to complete 120 hours of state approved classroom residential home inspection education. They will, also, be required to complete 40 hours of field training and pass two tests (even those veteran inspectors grandfathered in will have to do that.)
It has come to the attention of the State of Washington Department of Licensing, and the home inspector licensing board, that there is at least one education provider that is, as part of their marketing, verbally telling prospective students that their class will fulfill all of the future state requirements for the 120 hours of training. Stop right there!
As someone who is on the licensing board, and affiliated with a college level home inspection class, I can tell you that information is not correct. At this time, there are zero approved classes in the state. The formal curriculum, which will be determined by the licensing board, has not even been established. That is not likely to happen until a few more things fall into place, like adapting standards of practice.
At Bellingham Technical College, which I am affiliated with, I tell students that we are working on formulating curriculum and classes to meet the guidelines that we expect to see. But I will freely admit that, even as a state college, BTC cannot guarantee that our 120 hour course will meet state guidelines.
Now, it is possible that it will be determined that some classes will meet state guidelines retroactively. That is, DOL might decide that classes previously taken count towards mandated education requirements. But that is not guaranteed and, at the high cost of home inspection training, students might not want to gamble on that one.
The bottom line is this: If you are looking for home inspector education, in order to meet upcoming state regulations, you cannot find guaranteed credits anywhere at this time. We presently believe that online training will not count, but we do not have a definitive answer as to which classes will apply.
I suspect that this situation will change in the next month or so as the full board and sub-committees formulate policies, procedures and standards. But any education provider that is guaranteeing that a class meets the requirements of the upcoming law is either ill-informed or misleading you. The best advice is -- student beware!
The final word, sent out by Department of Licensing, is below.
STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING
PO Box 9020, Olympia, Washington 98507-9020
HOME INSPECTOR BOARD
DATE: October 1, 2008
TO: All Home Inspector Education Providers
FROM: Home Inspector Program Staff
SUBJECT: APPROVED COURSES & TRAINING FOR HOME INSPECTORS
The Department has received several telephone calls as well as emails from people asking about, or telling us that they have completed the "approved" course work necessary to become a Home Inspector.
The Home Inspector Board is the authority responsible for establishing course approvals requirements. The Board anticipates they will make these determinations in the very near future. There are no approved courses at this time.
Please be advised that schools providing education/training to students seeking to use the course work to become licensed should tell their students that the course work has not been evaluated or approved.
Thank you for cooperation.
The Department of Licensing has a policy of providing equal access to its services. If you need special accommodations, please call (360) 664-6487 or TDD (360) 664-8885.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
The first hit for Leiber and Stoller ended up being one of the all time classics of rock n' roll. The song was originally released in 1952, named K.C. Lovin. It flopped. However an artist named Wilbert Harrison picked it up and it became a huge hit in 1959. It is amazing to me, but a good quality video of this little know artist, performing that song, is available at youtube.
While Wilbert Harrison performed the definitive version of that song, those four guys from Liverpool heard it performed by Little Richard. Kansas City was such an important song in the development of the Beatles, and in influencing their musical direction, that they recorded it 1964. With that recording, and the songs overall success, Kansas City became one of the standards of rock n' roll music.
For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar 
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
The meeting time is 1PM to 4PM at the Double Tree Inn, Seattle. The address is 18740 International Blvd. Members of this committee include Bruce Macintosh, Michael O' Handley and Stephen Cancler, all from the greater Seattle metro area.
Issues on the agenda include -- Standards of practice; Professional conduct; Ethics; Written reports; Advertising standards and related business issues.
Since space is limited, those members of the public wishing to attend, need to first contact Jerry McDonald of DOL. If you have been paying attention, you will see that this afternoon meeting follows the first meeting of the education committee, which meets in the AM
Contact person: Jerry McDonald, Assistant Administrator
360-664-6524
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Experience counts! More than 35 years ago, Steven L. Smith -- King of the House Inc -- performed his first inspection for wood destroying organisms. State licensed, insured and ready to serve you
Member, Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board -- a gubernatorial appointment
Experience, attention to detail, knowledge and ethics. Those are the attributes people are looking for in a home inspector. Steven L. Smith, owner of King of the House Inc, meets all of those requirements. More than 35 years ago, Steve performed his first inspection - locating wood destroying organisms that were severely damaging a home. Since that time, Steve has worked in the fields of inspection, building, remodeling and real estate investment. Steve is a WSDA licensed inspector and ranked the number one home inspector in the USA at the industry leading active rain real estate network! In 2008, Steve was appointed by the Governor to serve on the newly formed home inspector licensing board.
Choosing the right home inspector is an important decision. Steven L. Smith is uniquely qualified to help you evaluate the condition of a home that you plan to buy or sell. Steve has acquired many years of experience in purchasing, renovating, building and repairing residential and investment properties. When buying investment properties, or advising others in that regard, an inspector must have a critical eye and be able to identify those properties that are "sound" investments while eliminating those that are not suitable. Let Steve, a leading home inspector in the Pacific Northwest, put his experience and knowledge to work for you!
In addition to serving new clients and maintaining many repeat clients; Steve works as a consultant in the field of home inspection. Under the auspices of the state college system, he teaches home inspection, ethics and professional report writing to prospective home inspectors across the state. A King of the House home inspection is thorough and the written report is an industry leader, detailed and easy to understand. A King of the House home inspection includes virtually all areas of a home. To view a sample report, click here.
Steven L. Smith has lived in Whatcom County all of his life and is familiar with the problems and issues that afflict homes in our damp climate. If you hire King of the House to inspect your investment, you will receive the benefit of an honest report based on Steve's many years of professional experience and his industry knowledge. When you hire King of the House, you can count on a thorough inspection and a great written report. That is Steve's promise to you.
Based in Bellingham, WA I inspect homes in Whatcom, Skagit and Island Counties. One of my special interests, and very important in our damp environment, is discovering damage from wood destroying organisms. In fact, for a number of years I have taught, a course on identifying and inspecting for wood destroying organisms. I am a member in good standing of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and also home inspection training coordinator for Bellingham Technical College which offers one of only two inspection training programs that are accredited by the state college system. If you ask a Bellingham home inspector, it is likely that he or she graduated from the BTC program. In fact, many home inspectors in both eastern and western Washington were students of mine. A bit of advice to homebuyers: If you hire a home inspector, make sure that inspector is a state licensed structural pest inspector. Any home inspection in this state, that excludes wood destroying organisms and conducive conditions, would be of little value and in most cases would be an illegal inspection. As an instructor of home inspection, and a working inspector, I am uniquely qualified to perform inspections throughout the region. I am knowledgeable, and keep up to date, in all areas of home inspection. Below are photos of three of the most common wood destroying organisms in this region.
Carpenter ants, Point Roberts Anobiid beetle, Bellingham WA Wood rot, Blaine, WA
LEFT: This photo is frass from carpenter ants. They were chewing in the ceiling structure above. Most people think otherwise, but ants do not eat wood. They build in it and throw out the shavings, along with other debris. CENTER: This is one of the worst pests on the Washington Coast, the anobiid beetle. This destructive larvae is common in damp crawl spaces. While the adult beetle is tiny and will rarely be seen, an anobiid infestation can silently turn structural lumber into dust. RIGHT: This is rot, or wood decay fungi. About 80% of the time people mistakenly believe this to be dry rot. True dry rot comes in two forms and, in each case, it involves a vine that leaches moisture from the soil up into the wood. Rot does not form in the absence of moisture and dry rot has never been found in Washington State!
Bellingham Technical College Residential Home Inspection Training
Bellingham Technical College provides a course in Residential Home Inspection Training. This is a professional level home inspection education program that is offered in major cities around the state. The class, the curriculum of which is fully accredited by the state college system, attempts to improve the quality of home inspection training and the home inspection industry. The course is 160-hours, four weeks, of intense training. Students learn about wood destroying organisms, heating and air conditioning, ventilation, insulation, roofing, structure, electrical, plumbing, exteriors, etc. The course includes five field inspections, where a professional inspector supervises students. A goal of the program is to provide a more standardized inspection, so inspectors are more reliably calling "real issues" as opposed to making incorrect judgments based on having too little information or a poor understanding of a condition. Another offering from BTC is RHI 105, an affordable three-credit real estate clock-hour course designed to help realtors keep up with their continuing education requirements. Steven L. Smith, King of the House Inc, is the program coordinator, director of curriculum and an instructor of home inspection training at Bellingham Technical College.
Do it yourself home inspections and your well-being!
Are you, a friend, or a client thinking about doing an inspection without the help of a professional? Any person considering this option, to save money, should take the exam below to find out if he or she is really up to the job.
If you, or someone you know, has ever given serious consideration to performing a "do it yourself home inspection", this is your lucky day! Just for fun, and as a guide for those thinking about doing an inspection on their own, King of the House, Inc has designed a short, interactive, online home inspection aptitude test. The most common problems, found in new and old houses, are included in the easy to take exam and you receive your score instantly. Go ahead and take it, it is fun, enlightening and free! Unfortunately, if you score less than 100%, you should seriously consider hiring a professional inspector who is also state licensed to report on wood destroying organisms. To take the test right now, simply click on the link below and then choose your viewing preference. That setting is found at the upper right hand corner of the screen and lets you see questions individually or, the other choice, all of them displayed in order on one page.
Take the "Do It Yourself Home Inspection" Exam now
Professional Associations, Resources, Specialists
Any professional, including a home inspector, can run into a problem now and then that requires the attention of an expert. Realizing this, King of the House maintains excellent relationships with a number of other industry professionals. In fact, one expert was retained as a fulltime staff member of King of the House Inc. In memory of Topolino, the best cat friend I ever had, 2005-2007.
More information on the late Mr. Toplino Stromboli, a multi-talented employee
Letters to King of the House Home Inspection, Inc
Steve, we appreciate the great job you did with our home inspection at Sudden Valley. We were able to rely on your report as a "to do list" as we made improvements to our new home. Clif Brown, Sudden Valley, Bellingham WA
Your inspection on the Point Roberts home was detailed to the point of being exhaustive. Thank you very much! Your efforts are appreciated as we work to make an informed decision. John, a buyer, Point Roberts, WA
We first found King of the House online. We appreciated your website and your attitude. Now we have your great inspection report to work from, as we get ready to put our Whatcom County house, in Everson, on the market. We will contact you when we are ready to buy another house. Thanks. Amy, a seller, Everson WA
Having been taught by "one of the best", Steve, I can hardly miss. My own inspection business is doing well and much of that is directly due to Steve's knowledge of home inspection and his abilities to share that knowledge....both with his students and, most importantly, with his own clients. I cannot give a higher recommendation to anyone, as an inspector and as a person. Randie Carlie, Simcoe Inspection Services, Goldendale, WA
We love the new house at Glenhaven and really appreciate the quality of your inspection. It helped us determine what needed to be done so there were no surprises. Mike, a buyer, Sedro Woolley, WA
I have referred Steven Smith to several clients and colleagues over the past years. His inspections are thorough and the written reports are concise and professional. Because of the positive feedback I have received, I highly recommend the services of King of the House, Inc from Bellingham WA. Curt Cummings, State Licensed Appraiser, Camano Island WA
Do you have any recommendations for a reputable contractor? We don't want to use someone who is flaky and way off the mark. We appreciate your help. By the way, we think you did an awesome job with the inspection! Our daughter recently hired another inspector to inspect her Seattle area home.Never again. Next time we will bring you down to this area instead. The Hoffmans, Bellingham WA
Steve, I have received the report and it looks good. Thanks so much for the inspection at Point Roberts.
Al L, a buyer, Point Roberts WA
As a realtor, I recommend King of the House because I value Mr. Smith's honesty, professionalism and commitment. When necessary, he goes beyond the call and researches issues that might require further clarification or investigation. His detailed reports and advice enable my clients in Whatcom county and Skagit county to make informed decisions and that reduces the anxiety that goes with purchasing a home. Lynda Spaulding, Realtor, Keller Williams, Bellingham WA
Your report on the Whatcom county home, in Bellingham Washington, is very detailed and easy to understand. I may call you with some more questions about improvements we can make. You have really gone out of your way to help us. Thank you again for being so detailed, prompt, professional and knowledgeable. K and Laura, buyers, Bellingham WA
The thorough home inspection and excellent written report you did for me, when I bought the Skagit county home, was very helpful. I like the house very much and it is conveniently located being near both Mount Vernon and Burlington. Mike C, a buyer, Mount Vernon, Burlington WA
Thank you for providing such a complete and detailed home inspection report on the investment property we were looking at in Island county, Anacortes. Your comments and recommendations were valuable to us as we considered the pros and cons of buying this home in Anacortes. Barb and Brad Clure, buyers, Anacortes WA
Thank you for the very thorough inspection at Point Roberts in Whatcom county. We appreciate receiving such a complete report. My wife sold real estate for several years and she said this was the BEST home inspection and the best report she has ever seen. Ron, a Point Roberts buyer, Delta BC
Boy, what a detailed inspection and inspection report you did on the home I was buying in Skagit county, in Mount Vernon WA. We ended up buying the home but the things you pointed out really helped us in the final negotiations. Thanks again. Robert P, Mount Vernon WA
Angela Gardner and I, Eric Badgley of Bellingham Washington, have been referring our clients to Steven Smith of King of The House Inc. for almost two years. Steven provides speedy, friendly and professional service. His inspections are detailed and provide our clients with piece of mind that the home they are purchasing is the right fit for them. We highly recommend Steven Smith for anyone in need of a home inspector; he will take care of all your inspection needs. Eric Badgley of RE/MAX Whatcom County Inc, Bellingham Real Estate Agent
Hi Steve. What a great report you did for me at the house in Blaine! This is the most comprehensive report I've ever seen for a home sale - excellent service & I really appreciate the recommendations for repair people. Thanks again. Elizabeth S, Blaine WA
Brandi and I, the principals at Property Watch in Blaine WA, appreciate your professionalism. That was brought home to us when we worked with another inspector who was hired by one of Brandi's clients. It was a nightmare! Brandi knew more about the inspection process, and what to look for at the house, than the "inspector" did! Thanks again Steve. We will keep sending you the referrals. Rose Abbaspour, CFO, Property Watch, Inc., Real Estate Management Solutions, Blaine WA
Thanks for looking at my activerain website!
Steven L. Smith
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