About Chelan County, WA

NCW Home Inspections and the 2012 NCHBA Home Show

Taking time out of the schedule to do a booth at the 2012 NCHBA home show. This has been a awesome experience.

What I did not anticipate was how much fun for the kids it would be to talk about bugs. As a home inspector and structural pest inspector I have some nice samples of damaged building materials from termites, moisture ants, Anobiid beetle and more.

The young ones actually get a kick out of see these examples and talking bugs. Hey a few parents did also.

I may have missed my calling and should have been a science teacher ; )

Today is the last day of the show and I think it will be a great success.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Steve Jobs

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com

What’s Your Perfect Valentine?

Valentine’s Day is February 14, and here’s a great story to celebrate it:

There was once a young man who had the perfect girlfriend. They were similar in almost every way but, in one aspect of their lives, they were complete opposites: He was a hockey fanatic – his girlfriend wasn’t.

They’d been dating for a while and had exchanged Valentine’s Day presents on two occasions, but he’d yet to give her that one perfect gift. He’d misfired on two in a row and it looked like he would fall flat again since the holiday was rapidly approaching, and he still hadn’t decided on a gift.

A week before Valentine’s Day, his favorite hockey team traded for a player whose last name matched her first name. The young man thought, “That would make the perfect gift. A hockey jersey with her name on the back; then we’d have matching jerseys. She’ll absolutely love it.” He immediately ordered the jersey, had it packaged in a team-colored box, and rush delivered. He was certain that he’d finally gotten her that perfect gift.

When his girlfriend opened the box, however, a bewildered look appeared on her face as she held up the jersey. “Turn it around,” he said excitedly. Sure enough, it had her name on the back. She just smiled, said, “Thanks honey,” and put the hockey jersey away in her closet.

The young man eventually figured out that she wasn’t quite as thrilled as he was about the hockey jersey, but she lovingly reassured him that his gift meant everything to her. The young woman knew the “perfect” Valentine’s Day gifts aren’t necessarily the dozen red roses, the expensive dinners or the diamond jewelry. They’re the gifts that come from the heart.

As for the couple now: They’re married – and the jersey still hasn’t left their closet.

Have a happy Valentine’s Day, whether you receive the perfect gift or not!

Up a tree- Quincy and Cle Elum Home Inspection Service

When I was a younger man I had a good friend that rented a home that was built over a creek. It had plexi-glass floor panels so you could see the creek below the home. As a home inspector now I think this is crazy and see many issues with it but it was very cool to me back then. Okay I still think it was cool, issues or no issues.

The other cool thing was just about 50 feet away there was a tree house that was a rental. It was so cool built in a big old cedar tree. It was set up like a studio apartment.

This made me think about these tree house builders that we have out here in Washington State. They have workshops on tree house design and construction. (http://www.treehouseworkshop.com/ )

So if you are every out here in the Evergreen State and looking for a natural high check out these two links. These are “Tree House getaways” that could make for a very special time.

http://www.cedarcreektreehouse.com/index.htm
http://www.treehousepoint.com/

Hey we are never too old to be kids again.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Steve Jobs

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com

A true green building practice- Chelan and Wenatchee Home inspections

Here is a video that was shared with me from a dear friend.

This is the ultimate green building practice in Megalia, India. Watch this fascinating story of people working with nature to solve a problem. This is an extremely wet region of the world. In one year they received 82 feet of rain, a record.

I think this shows that necessity is the mother of invention.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Steve Jobs

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com

Home Inspections on new Construction- Wenatchee and Leavenworth Home Inspection Service

I know this seems repetitive but I cannot stress this enough. If you are buying a new home (I mean newly built) or if you are having a new home built hiring a professional home inspector as a quality and audit check is going to save you money and headaches over the time.

The local building department cannot spend the time needed to inspect your home thoroughly. You are relying on the Architects, General Contractors and the Sub-Contractors involved in performing their jobs to code or better. Codes are minimums and need to be viewed that way.

Let do the math- Your hire a Qualified Home Inspector to do a pre-drywall inspection and then a final inspection. Cost- $600 to $1000 (or more depending on size and complexity).

Cost of home $150,000 +, the inspection cost less than .05% of the value of the home.

The cost of a defect going unreported may end up costing thousands of dollars and at a minimum you will have you will have peace of mind that things were done reasonably well.

Here is an example- Venting of baths and laundry rooms.

(Close but no cigar)

Left uncorrected over time this defect can cause stuctural damage, infestation of wood destroying organisms and potential health issues.

Remember the time to negotiate a repair of an issue is prior to giving out all the money. No matter what the warranty is if you end up in litigation it will cost. Finger pointing will ensue and the lawyers will all be happy.

Remember no home is perfect and I do not expect anyone in the process to be perfect (me included). But the more checks and balances in the process the better everyone will be in the end.

Construction defect claims - Washington State Law

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com