Olympia Home Inspectors Find Huge Bug!
This big guy was mounted on the wall of an Olympia home during a recent home inspection. This is clearly an exotic, museum quality specimen and not a local insect. While the insects we have here are much smaller in statue, they can be very destructive. Older homes can have significant bug damage that is not apparent to the home owner or perspective buyer. Even a home that has been tastefully remodeled inside can have damage under the home that needs to be addressed. One of the major insects in our area is the Anobiid Beetle. This beetle...
read moreOlympia Home Inspector Explains Dark Marks On Siding
Although I had never seen this exact situation before, it did not take long to understand what was going on with this Olympia home. These dark marks were on the siding above all the sub-crawl area foundation vents. They are similar to the dark markings I sometimes see around roof vents on homes with moisture issues in the attic. I knew more would be learned near the end of the inspection when I got into the crawl area. Sure enough, it was a very wet crawl area. Water under a home is never recommended. A one time event is unlikely to cause a...
read moreThink your house is haunted?
Last week I found something my clients were very happy I identified during a home inspection in Olympia. The home was large, beautifully built and well maintained. By the time I was finished inspecting the exterior, roof and entire first floor there were only a few findings to report. On the ceiling of the second floor there was a large powerful exhaust fan which directed air from inside the home up into the attic. I turned the fan on, the louvers opened and the fan began to blow into the attic. In eight+ years of full time inspecting here...
read moreProtect Your New Home Investment
Many new homes in Washington State come with a 12-month new home warranty. The cost of this warranty was figured into the sale price so you have already paid for this assurance. Congratulations if you are a new homeowner! It is likely that your builder did a great job overseeing the construction and assembly of your home. It is in his or her best interest to produce a quality product and provide good customer service. However, many workers were involved in the building process, and sometimes things get overlooked. Small defects in materials or...
read moreKeep Your Home’s Crawl Space Dry
There is no doubt; I live in a very wet place. From November to March we get an average of nearly seven inches of rain a month in Olympia, WA. This deluge can lead to many homes having standing water under them. A one-time event may not do damage, but constant or re-occurring water “events” under your home can cause a lot of problems. Standing water can lead to moisture issues in the wood sub-structure. Wood rot and pest infestation are common results of moisture under a home. Like all animals, wood-destroying organisms (WDO’s) need...
read morePre-Sale Inspection Gives Seller An Edge
Thinking of selling your home or already have it listed? In this market savvy home sellers are looking for a competitive edge. A thorough home inspection from a local, qualified inspector is a powerful tool for setting buyer’s minds at ease. Pre-sale inspections offer the seller considerable advantages over other listed properties: Permits seller to make repairs ahead of time so that defects do not become stumbling blocks in negotiating Signals openness and good faith towards the buyer Unearths any unpleasant surprises before potential...
read moreMaintain Your Home & Protect Its Value
Your home is likely one of your biggest investments – and protecting your investments has never been more important. A residential maintenance inspection by a qualified professional provides valuable information about the condition of your home. This type of preventative inspection is a check-up for your home. Some people don’t get their home inspected until they’re putting it up for sale, but knowing the state of your home while you’re living it can save you money now. Houses are subjected to destructive forces on a...
read moreJust Hire An Electrician
Here is something I found in an attic in Olympia recently. The ropes were coming up out of the attic insulation and were tied to the 2×4 “rat run” above. Can you guess what this is for and why Harvey the homeowner placed it here? A little digging into the insulation reveled the standard “bar hanger,” type electrical box below and the suspicion that something heavy was suspended from it. I made note of its location and went down to have a look. Harvey the homeowner had decided to mount a large ceiling fan/light fixture into this...
read moreSealing Vents Can Cause Problems
For many years folks around here have diligently sealed off the vents to the under side of their homes in an effort to keep heating costs down and stay warm in the winter. Time passes, and as more information surfaces, thinking changes. Back when homes had no insulation in the floors and water supply pipes were not insulated sealing vents likely saved a few pipes from bursting. However, now most homes are insulated at the floor level and all water pipes are individually wrapped in insulation. Little heat from the home above makes it down into...
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