It seems wrong to be saying that water is the enemy. People in some parts of the world and this country are in desperate need of water. Even here in Bellingham, we have some rivers that are looking pretty low right now. But, when it comes to the health and well-being of homes in this region, water is the enemy. Water can lead to rot, mold and other nasty conditions. Take a look at the crawl space below. You might think that photo is shocking, if you realize that what you see there is the sub-structure of a home, but I have seen this many times in my region of the county. Crawl space water is to be avoided. I have had clients suggest that it is no big deal. Wrong -- crawl space water of significant quantities WILL over time lead to serious problems with building materials and it will adversely impact the longevity of the home. Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections
When there is an unconditioned crawl space under a home, the most common situation in Bellingham and the Pacific Northwest, it is important that the vapor barrier be effective. For a vapor barrier to be effective -- keeping evaporation from the earth under the plastic -- it must cover all of the soil. Below is a classic example of a sloppy job of installing a vapor barrier. It is, also, probably the way the vapor barrier looks at about half the houses I inspect -- even the new ones. A home with major gaps in the vapor barrier can lead to significant quantities of water evaporating up and into the home. If that goes on for too long, it contributes to the chances of a home developing fungal issues, such as mold. Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections
Vinyl siding is very popular in Bellingham and Whatcom county. Often I will see homes with vinyl siding and it looks to be in good shape. One place the inspector really needs to look carefully though is at decks and patios -- any place where barbecues or equipment might be stored. This photo is typical of what you are likely to find at the patio. Perhaps even more common than that is the melted siding where the barbecue has been sizzling away and it overheated the siding. Remember, vinyl is plastic and plastic melts. If you are checking a home with vinyl siding, as a realtor or selling agent, snoop a bit behind the equipment at the patio or deck. Also look down low where lawn mower and weed wacker damage is prevalent. Thanks for stopping by, Steven L. Smith Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #207
When you live in a wet area, like Bellingham and the Pacific Northwest, sometimes all people can do to keep the crawl space reasonably dry is to install a sump pump. The biggest ongoing problem with sump pumps is the fact that they are mechanical devices. Mechanical devices -- like your car and the airplane you fly in -- quit working unless they are well-maintained. That is true of a sump pump too. The next problem is this: Homeowners do not know much about them, they are out of sight and out of mind and, with few exceptions, homeowners have no clue if they are working or AWOL. I am convinced that people avoid their crawl spaces. At a recent inspection I found this sump pump. It was one of the largest catch basins I have seen in a crawl space -- not just the plastic bucket. Problem was, the pump was not working. Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #207 
Oh yes, if only everything could be perfect. My belief is that, if you are talking houses, the word "perfect" never applies. That is my view, having worked for several years as a home inspector in Bellingham. Here is an example -- I often find water heaters that are installed in finished living space and the tank has no pan with a drain to the outside underneath it. The inspection report language goes much like this: The water heater is installed over finished living space and has no catch pan and drain installed. While the probability of this becoming an issue increases proportionally with the age of a water heater, should the tank develop a leak, a pan and drain will route any water outdoors so interior damage would be minimized. Recommend that client consider having a pan with a drain installed by a qualified party, such as a plumber. For an illustration of a typical pan and drain, see the illustration below: That photo, of the model tank, shows a great water heater installation. But, in older homes and many condos or houses with basements, the water heaters we find in finished areas, more often than not, have no pans or drains. It is not always easy to figure out a way to get around this problem. Obviously, if a person is buying a condo, the association is not going to take kindly to the new residents running pipes through shared areas. And a tank in a finished basement may be too low for gravity to be effective. The pan would not drain. Rejoice, there is a decent option. Install a pan under the tank. Make sure the pan is big enough that it will accommodate an inexpensive water leak alarm. The device costs about $30.00 and the alarm will sound even if small quantities of water are detected. Now, these devices require new batteries each year. That is the downside. Oh heck, just remember to put in a new battery on Christmas day or your birthday. That is easy enough! You can click on the water leak alarm above to read about the device. These affordable units are available at any number of online and hardware stores. If we are rating ways to thwart the dreaded water heater leak, I think the best remedy is tried and true -- a pan and drain to the outside. Second best would be a pan under the tank with a water leak detector inside the pan. And, last of all -- not as good as the others but better than nothing -- would be simply putting a water leak detector on the floor beside the water heater. It would sound if there was even a small leak so, hopefully, any major interior damage could be averted. It is an imperfect world, sometimes second best is as good as it gets! Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections
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Experience counts! Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #207. Licensed Structural Pest Inspector. Member Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board.
If you compare our detailed inspection reports to those provided by our competition, we are confident that you will hire King of the House Home Inspection, Inc.
View a typical King of the House home inspection report:
Steven L. Smith, owner -- Washington state licensed home inspector
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 is top-ranked at the 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
Steve, I was sooooo impressed with your report. You did a great job. I also sent my realtor friend, at Century 21 Bay Properties, a copy of your report. I was praising you as the best inspector in the business. So, my friend, thank you once again for the excellent inspection report. I will sing your praises for the rest of my life and I hope I will have a long ways to go. Peter, owner of multiple condos, Lynden WA
Thanks for looking at my activerain website!
Steven L. Smith
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