Jim Allhiser Salem, Oregon Home Inspector

The foreclosure boom has done more than weeded out the agent pool. It is also creating a real blank spot in the histories of a large number of homes. With out the disclosures of the previous owners there are fewer and fewer explanations for issues that might have been easily remedied

I was doing a home inspectionon one of these bank owned homes in Keizer, Oregon the other day and came upon a little oddity that I just couldn't help but speculate over. As the drawers in the cabinet were pulled the drawer slides (not just any slides by the way, these were high quality full extension slides) would bang into the doors after about ½ inch worth of travel. Every single drawer was installed with this same issue. This little "oops" rendered the pull out shelves utterly useless.

The section of "custom cabinetry," work had me envisioning a the home owner, (most likely a contractor or builder as well) behind on his bills and sweating away as he installed upgrades here and there in hopes to quickly attract a buyer before things went south.

Of course it was too late, and at that point and the market around him was crumbling as he tirelessly tried to bail water from his sinking ship.

His loss, my clients gain. My client knew his way around a tool belt and looked forward to the finishing touches he could put on this home that had some very nice features. And at the price he was paying it will be a very nice home for his family very soon.

I guess the owner does this every year when he opens but this is the first year I have heard about it: Free ice cream!!

That's right boys and girls. The best farmers market/morphed restaurant has opened for the season and is giving away free ice cream cones.

My kids and wife and I have been partaking in the soft serve for the last few years, since we moved to West Salem, Oregon, and it is worth the price even when it is not free.

Last year the little market did some renovating and added a restaurant. I have only been a few times but it is definitely worth checking out if you are headed home from the coast and like delicious food.

Check them out this week!! I think the free ice cream ends on Friday 4/24.

Operation Love Boxes is a program that has given me extreme pleasure. My friend, John Baker, a great local agent and philanthropist, and his church and local community, started the program in November of 2005.

The idea is to fill standard boxes to the brim with candies, granola, stationary, wet wipes, small books and anything else that might be handy for a solder that hasn't seen home in a while. The boxes are sent with a domestic flat rate for very little postage. These are just simple things, from home, to remind our troops overseas that we love, miss and support them.

I have only been involved for a few months now and the thank you emails that we have received have been incredible. I urge you to check out the website and start your own Love Box Operation. It is easy, view the video here.

Operation Love Boxes is having party to stuff, address and send DVDs on Wednesday the 18th (tomorrow). The DVDs tell the Operation Love Boxes story and tell how to start your own operation.

If you are in the Salem, OR area and want to help out please come to:

2339 State St, Salem, Or 97301 on 3/18/09 @ 6-8pm.

If you want to start your own Operation Love Boxes please go here: www.LoveBoxesForOurTroops.com and view the video,

Or call/email John Baker:

john@nedbaker.com

(O) 503-364-6797 ext 302

(C) 503-871-2624

(F) 503-364-6798

Toll Free 877-893-6797

Please Re-Blog this one to help spread the word.

Yesterday was the third day in a row with sunny weather. That is pretty unusual in March on this side of the Cascade Mountains. With the benefit of the sun rays for warmth I started turning over my cover crops in preparation for the later spring plantings.

Two years ago I harvested my first ripe tomato in mid October, and vowed to do better the next year. I discovered two books, written by the same author, that were a tremendous help. Anyone on this side of the Cascade Mountains that wants to grow their own vegetables should read these books: Gardening West of the Cascades and Growing Vegetables When it Counts both by Steve Solomon. These books cover gardening from general to specific and most importantly ideas for the Westside gardener.

Many books have been written about how-to grow vegetables. A majority of these books have been written by people in other parts of the country and even other parts of the world. There is a huge amount of useful information available however sometimes there are some specifics that can be confusing for gardeners on this side of Oregon. In most other parts of the country starting seedlings indoors on a sunny window sill is common. There is one big problem with that here: we don't get enough sun light. Starting seedlings requires artificial light. We just don't get enough sunshine to grow stout plants early in the year.

Last year I harvested my first ripe tomato on June 21st. With the help of lights and cloches I hope to repeat my luck with early season veggies again this year.

To improve the home inspection industry in Oregon the Construction Contractor's board (CCB) has defined a set of standards for home inspections. This standard encompasses not only what a home inspector is to view but also certification process insurance and bonding and also our standards of behavior.

The "standards of behavior" gets interesting because it states, "No Oregon certified home inspector shall give any gift, rebate, kickback, or anything of value, including but not limited to any payment of money, to any person for the purposes of obtaining an engagement, referral or preference selection to perform a home inspection. However,...this rule shall not apply to items of nominal value given as part of an advertising promotion of general distribution."

That previous statement leaves a lot of questions unanswered so in December of 2008 the CCB further defined what the previous statement meant with a question and answer format. For you agents in Oregon please read it here: Home Inspectors frequently asked Questions

What got me thinking is a comment on one of my posts that referred to getting paid at closing. The comment stated that in Kentucky home inspectors are prohibited from being paid at closing to ensure that the home inspector's pay check does not rely on the deals consummation.

I am going to write the CCB licensing program manager today and get her thoughts on this issue. I like Kentucky's restriction and think Oregon should have a similar statute. Stay tuned, I will let you all know how it turns out.