Today, at Bellingham Technical College, students spent the whole day focusing on learning about the various wood destroying organisms that are found in this state. The primary culprits are carpenter ants, termites, wood boring beetles, moisture ants and wood decay fungi or rot. Under the new home inspector licensing law, a home inspector inspects for rot and conducive conditions (things that cause rot or attract pests) but the inspector does not inspect for wood destroying insects. However, many home inspectors are also licensed structural pest inspectors and they do inspect for wood destroying insects. The purpose of this class, an add on to basic home inspector training, is to teach students about the role of the inspector and the structural pest inspector. In a few weeks each student will have to make a determination as to whether or not he wishes to get that add-on license or not. The structural pest inspections are regulated by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections
The weather has changed and, with it, the winds of change have blown into Washington State. As of yesterday, the licensing of home inspectors became official. Washington state is a state that licenses home inspectors now and in the future. This whole process of wrangling over the law, and the implementation of the law, took place over years. In fact it is not all complete as of yet. Until July of this year, there are a few inspectors, who have been given extra time to work, so they can gain mandatory education credits. If they do not do that, then they are done in the field as of the last day of June. As I understand it, the phone was ringing off the hook and many people were showing up at the DOL offices in Olympia over the last couple days. There is nothing like people putting things off and working against time and in a panic. The ramifications of missing the licensing deadline, as an experienced inspector, were just too great to take it casually so I took my test a month ago. I have had a number of calls and Emails from other inspectors and a few from realtors. The response at real estate offices, as reported to me, runs from their having no idea that inspector status has changed to firms that have given agents a list of licensed inspectors and told them that they must make recommendations to clients off that list. Those days of agents simply giving out the list of inspectors who belong to some association are gone. Any licensed inspector, at this point in time, must be inspecting according to the Washington state standards of practice. No industry association standards apply anymore, for the licensed inspectors. They must comply to the Washington standards which are similar to but, in some ways, more stringent than any published standards of the various organizations. Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections
I work as a Bellingham home inspector, serving all of Whatcom county and frequently Skagit county and Island county. On the job, I see a number of old homes. When a home is older, and the foundation is post and block (pier), it is very common that some settling will have taken place over the years. In fact, that is so common in my experience that one of my disclaimers on an older home with that type of foundation notes that this could be ongoing. When possible, if there are smooth floors without carpets, I will put a large glass marble on the floor and see which way it rolls. Sometimes when I give it a nudge, it goes nowhere but often it will roll down a slope in one or more directions. That was the case the other day. Here the marble headed -- consistently -- to the east. Sometimes, when an inspector goes into the crawl space, it is hard to tell what the exact structural problem causing a slope might be. It can be as subtle as unprofessional repairs that left the floors uneven. In this case, it was quite apparent that the primary issue was settling. Below is a shot of a pier and a post at the higher west end. The piers under the house are simply set on dirt with no poured footings of any type. These piers, and based on the look of the landscape attempts were made to solve this problem before, are resting on disturbed soil. Bottom line: They are sinking and this sinking has led to structural issues below. This problem, along with many others in the crawl space, will require the services of an experienced and qualified contractor. Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
In Washington state, at least up until recently, most of us home inspectors are also licensed structural pest inspectors. I have seen plenty of carpenter ant activity and damage over the years. I teach the course in wood destroying organisms for Bellingham Technical College. I have seen more ants on premises previously, but nothing to compare to the amount of frass that I saw the other day. It was quite amazing. Frass consists of sawdust and byproducts of insect tunneling or feeding. All of those shavings came from carpenter ants. At first, based on the amount of frass, I was surprised. I thought maybe this was not ants but that somebody had thrown sawdust in the crawl space at this old home. I sifted through the frass and found bits and pieces of dead ants and I even found some full-size specimens of C. Modoc, the most common carpenter ant in this state. A bit of trivia here: Carpenter ants do not eat the wood. They tunnel in it, making a gallery to live in. The ants make or find a hole in the lumber they are tunneling in so they can toss out the excess wood and waste products -- hence the pile of shavings below. Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
Those of us who live in Whatcom County live right on the border with Canada. By doing inspections in various northern parts of the county -- Lynden and Sumas -- I am often very close to the border. The other day, while inspecting in Point Roberts, I had an interesting inside view of border living. Point Roberts is an enclave, surrounded by Canada and water but it is part of the USA. To get there by car, you have to cross the border twice. When I arrived at the home I was inspecting, I mentioned to the man that he had to be mighty close to Canada. He said, yep, that is Canada right there on the other side of the road. These photos get the point across pretty well. The first one is me driving down the road. I am in the USA. That is Canada to the right. One thing that I found interesting was that, on the Canada side, people had gates that open right out onto the US side. A fellow told me that it is not unusual to have those who live in Canada come visit on the other side. He said they just leave through their back gates and come over into the USA. Granted, there are not roads coming out the gates, so they could not do so with cars but people could certainly bring motorcycles and bicycles into the USA without clearing customs. Then to get out, they would either have to take a boat out of Point Roberts or they would have to clear customs. Below is a house in Canada, right on the border, with a gate that opens toward the USA. I guess this could work the other way too, but then strangers would be walking through the backyards of the Canadians which might attract attention. It is a good thing that the USA and Canada have a friendly border. 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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