9 things to fix around the house before they get worse!

Here at All Islands Home Inspections, one of our continuing themes is “fix small problems before they become big ones.” While this is hardly an original idea, it is a proven and important principle. Popular Mechanics says: “No matter how much time you spend safeguarding your home and performing routine maintenance to keep everything in tip-top condition, you’ll still be blindsided by unexpected breakdowns. But often you can eliminate potential problems before they arise, saving yourself a lot of money and hassle.” See their list of nine things to fix around the house before they get worse.

Serving ALL San Juan, Skagit, Island, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties
Experienced- Over 3,500 Inspections To Date
Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #624
WSDA Licensed Structural Pest Inspector #75011
BPI Certified Building Performance Analyst / Energy Auditor
National Association of Certified Home Inspectors Member #7090404
NEFSI / NACHI / AHIT / MSA / CMI / WSDA / BPI / NIFAST Certified
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This entry was posted in Advice and tagged home improvement, home repair, whatcom county on March 26, 2021 by AIHI.

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Testimonials

I have found Tim Hance to be efficient, reliable, and responsive. His inspection reports are both detailed and comprehensive, yet presented in a clear and concise fashion. A true professional, we in the San Juan Islands are fortunate to have Tim Hance!

Kathryn FarronWindermere Real EstateSan Juan Island

Tim Hance was very professional and thorough with his inspection. The report was precise, well written, and easy to understand with lots of photos. His service was also fast and reasonably priced for all he did. If I ever need a home inspection again I will use All Island Home Inspections. Thank you for a great service!

Shelly KalalAndover, KS

Tim, thank you so much for the great job on our home inspection. You are the perfect person to be a Home Inspector, because you have personally done contracting not just overseeing but actually doing the remodeling yourself. You know what to look for, what is important and what is not. We have never had a home inspection that comes close to the service you offered us. The report was very well organized, extremely thorough, and you never tired of my endless questions. You offer a terrific service, if we ever purchase a home again in the area, you will be our inspector.

Jo Ann & John ScogginAlta, WY

Thank you again for your home inspection of our second property, which you did in our absence. We hired you on a tip from our real estate agent. We were extremely satisfied with your performance. You told us on the phone that the inspection would take 2 to 3 hours. We have parted from the house some 6 hours later at no extra charge. You patiently explained and answered every question we had. You crawled to all out of sight places, walked on steep roof, removed furniture and stored items of renters to see it all. You took dozens of close up photos. Your amazingly thorough report was over 30 pages long. Unfortunately seller, days before closing escrow, decided to be foreclosed on. We had to hire you again, in our absence, for our second choice of vacation home on Orcas Island. You performed that inspection on your own, just with keys borrowed from listing agent. We now have both the electronic and hard copy!

Let us tell you, you have not cut any corners. This second inspection of our pro… Read more

Josef & Bonnie SedivecSan Diego, CA

Each time my clients choose Tim Hance of All Islands Home Inspections I have confidence knowing they are getting the most comprehensive, detailed inspection available. Tim brings many skills to the table; one that stands out for me is his ability to communicate respectfully and professionally with both buyers and sellers. He is timely and produces a detailed report that is exceptional. I recommend Tim to my buyers; I also refer him to sellers for a pre-listing inspection/report.

Gwyneth BurrillWindermere Real Estate

Tim’s report was extremely thorough & comprehensive. His findings were presented in an organized, easy to understand manner, with clearly defined recommendations. Most importantly, Tim’s availability to answer our questions was invaluable in our decision to proceed with this purchase. We would highly recommend Tim and will certainly use him again in the future.

This is to thank you for the incredibly thorough and detailed inspection you made of the home we are purchasing on Orcas. We have bought and sold a number of properties over the years but we have never encountered a home inspector who was as careful and conscientious as you are. We were amazed you would sit with us after the inspection and go through every photo you took and explain what you had found and what it meant. That you would also patiently answer every question we had was also greatly appreciated. The strong sense we have of your integrity and care in conducting our home inspection gave us great confidence in proceeding to buy our Orcas home. We look forward to seeing you on island in the future.

Arthur & Judy Winer

I have used Tim Hance at All Islands Home Inspections on two real estate transactions in the past year and found his inspections to be thorough and well documented. He responded quickly to all phone calls and completed the inspections in a timely manner, even on property on a non-ferry served island. I found him energetic, competent and the buyers were impressed with his presentation. I would not hesitate to recommend All Islands Home Inspections in the future.

Jane SawyerColdwell Banker San Juan Islands Inc.

This is a must for anyone thinking to purchase a home… Tim’s services go behind the facade and ferrets out all the pluses and minuses for the structure. Even if you don’t use his inspection report to negotiate with, it gives you a realistic, honest and thorough picture of what you are buying and what additional projects you’ll be looking at in the future–whether it’s a dripping faucet, faulty wiring or carpenter ants. Thanks to his thoroughness, I didn’t make a huge mistake. Use Tim to look behind those few coats of new paint. We WILL be using him again in the near future.

Todd & Susan Ekstrom

I have been in real estate for 36 years and believe Tim to be by far the best home inspector I have ever used. In addition, in these trying times I have found that having a home inspection done when you first take the listing is very advantageous because buyers are sometimes looking for ways to get out of a deal or substantially penalize sellers for relatively trivial issues. I highly recommend using Tim Hance’s services for both buyers and sellers.

Wally GudgellAssociate BrokerWindermere Orcas Island

All Islands Home Inspections

5.0

Based on 665 reviews

review us on

B V

19:55 21 Mar 22

I was truly impressed by how smoothly everything went. Tim was responsive and accommodating while scheduling the... inspection, thorough while conducting the inspection, and quick to deliver his detailed report. Tim is very well informed, has great advice, and took the time to answer all of my questions. I would 100% highly recommend.read more

Ashish Saxena

15:55 05 Jun 20

Tim did an excellent job with the inspection. His attention to details was fantastic. Did a thorough walk through. His... ideas of creating videos throughout the inspection was awesome!read more

Jon Clark

18:59 27 May 20

All Island Home Inspections really helped us out with being able to make a solid offer on an Orcas property. Tim was... able to schedule the inspection within a few days and we had results is plenty of time. The details provided about the home, the videos and photos all were top-notch and made reading the report very easy. Thank you for a wonderful experience.read more

Ryan Gerth

17:59 18 May 20

Astounding timeliness and communication. The inspection was incredibly thorough and well exceeded my expectations. I'm... a first time home buyer and was provided excellent information for the smallest of details. Very upfront and didn't treat me like a lot of other people have in my first home buying process. I was recommended All Islands Home Inspections by an individual I trust and I will recommend All Islands for anyone in this area. The inspection quality and results are top-notch and should be the industry standard!read more

Kurt Dickmann

03:15 16 May 20

I would totally recommend All Islands Home Inspections. Tim was super-efficient and professional. Our inspection... report was thorough, well organized and included detailed recommendations. He was not just "ticking the boxes". The All Islands Home Inspections website is also packed with great home maintenance information. I recommend that everyone in the PNW watch his video on roof maintenance.read more

Jack Grandsaert

20:23 28 Apr 20

We have nothing but great things to say about Tim. He was responsive, honest and thorough. His inspection report... regarding the house we were trying to buy was as helpful and complete as any we had ever seen or could imagine. After the report was complete, Tim was more than willing to answer more questions that we had on things that were outside the purview of the report. Tim is friendly, approachable and very knowledgeable. My wife and I would recommend Tim without reservation for any home inspection need you may have.read more

Ken Cartwright

14:58 09 Apr 20

I highly recommend Tim and All Island Home Inspections. Really appreciated his professionalism throughout the process.... His inspection was very detailed, including pics and video. He also responded very quickly to questions we had following the inspection.read more

Nancy Hasler

18:17 07 Apr 20

I recently hired Tim from All Islands Home Inspections to inspect a home that I was interested in purchasing on San... Juan Island. I couldn't have been happier with the service I received. Tim was courteous and prompt in getting back to me to set up an appointment at his very first opportunity. The inspection report was exceptionally thorough and user friendly. It will be an invaluable tool as I begin to make the minor repairs necessary to maintain the integrity of the home. Based on my experience, I would not hesitate to recommend All Islands Home Inspections to anyone seeking this service.read more

Jessica Kim

06:54 29 Mar 20

If you are looking for a home inspection All Islands Home Inspections is the place to go. Tim was incredibly thorough... and whenever I had questions he responded quickly. I am so happy I chose him! I would highly recommend his services when needing a home inspection.read more

Elaine Prouty

13:54 18 Mar 20

Tim is the best home inspector my family and I have ever used. Hands down. Thorough, knowledgable, and very... professional. I can't imagine recommending anyone else.read more

Donald Ruffner

15:50 05 Mar 20

Very good experience! Tim did a great job and answers all your questions and provide an excellent report in a timely... manor! Highly recommend.read more

Paul Porath

16:51 01 Feb 20

Tim provided us amazing service for our home inspection on Lopez Island. We needed very quick turn-around and Tim came... through! The inspection report is the best I have seen: very detailed, thorough, and professional. I heartily recommend Tim and All Islands Home Inspections to anyone needing this service!read more

Carol Bingman

16:24 31 Jan 20

Tim was so pleasant and knowledgeable. He was also very patient with us. We were able to view our property and ask... questions. His report was very thorough and easy to understand. I would highly recommend Tim and All Island Home Inspections.read more

Mike D

22:38 22 Jan 20

I've seen quite a few different home inspectors in my buying and selling of homes. This company is on a total different... level. Professional, knowledgeable and equipped with state-of-the-art tools! Reports are easy to read and understand with pictures and the 360 HD is awesome!!!Keep up the good work. Thank you.All Island Home inspections!!!read more

Daisey James

18:03 16 Jan 20

Straightforward, clear and professional! Tim inspected a home I am preparing to purchase in Bellingham as a... first-time home buyer. As someone new to the whole concept, he was very clear, to the point, and honest. He was genuine and gave a few tips on what he would personally do as a homeowner and things to keep in mind going forward. Excellent experience. Thanks Tim.read more

Robert Hoffmann

21:16 11 Jan 20

Tim did a very thorough inspection of the home and followed up with a detailed report complete with recommendations... and photos. I'm totally satisfied with his work and highly recommend his services.read more

raven mcgrew

16:41 10 Jan 20

Very professional, authentic, & prompt. For a first time home buyer & doing so from another state, Tim really made... things a lot more easy in such a stressful time. We really appreciate the extra work from the pictures to the very detailed findings in the property. He explained things to and made the report very easy to read. I would recommend him to anyone especially first time buyers and HE DOES A VERY GOOD MILITARY DISCOUNT!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Thanks Tim !read more

Curt Brisky

22:45 04 Jan 20

I was so pleased with my choice of inspectors. Tim really knows his business and his communication and listening was... outstanding. I completely trust his comments and information. Tim goes over and above to teach you what you need to know about the inspection. 5 star rating and above.read more

Jonathan Jurgens

22:03 20 Dec 19

Great experience! Tim is honest and easy to talk to. I would definitely use him again.

Cindy F

23:38 10 Nov 19

Tim did a home inspection on short notice for a new home we were purchasing. He was incredibly thorough in his approach... to the inspection and took a lot of time to explain what he was looking for and what he was finding. His report was also very detailed and thorough, providing us a checklist for future home maintenance activities. He answered any follow up questions quickly and helped us turnaround additional documentation for the lender close to the closing date. If you want a thorough and well documented home inspection, and someone that is patient and willing to answer all your questions, I'd highly recommend Tim and All Islands Home Inspections.read more

mark ward

23:30 08 Nov 19

Tim did a wonderful job for our inspection. He looked at everything from the roof to crawling under the house in a... crawl space. He is friendly, prompt, does not rush through anything, and best of all, really knows his stuff. I highly recommend him.read more

Sydnie Tutino

17:43 06 Nov 19

Tim was very thorough and made sure my husband and I understood the process and his findings within our home. As first... time homebuyers this can be extremely scary, Tim made the whole process as easy as possible without sugarcoating anything. Would highly recommend All Islands Home Inspections!read more

Indranil Ghosh

19:13 17 Oct 19

Tim is one of the most thorough home inspectors I have worked with. This is my 4th home buying experience, and I can... say without any qualification that Tim exceeded all my expectations. He is knowledgeable, transparent and clear. He is also extremely responsive and personable. I highly recommend him!read more

Luanne Pasik

01:44 17 Oct 19

Tim did a thorough inspection and gave us a verbal report of his findings at the conclusion of the inspection. He is... personable and approachable and we enjoyed our interactions with him. We received a very complete written report the next day. I definitely recommend Tim Hance for a home inspection!read more

Kevin Park

16:29 07 Oct 19

Wow, I cannot recommend All Islands Home Inspections enough. As a first time home buyer, moving across the country, and... trying to do so in a short time frame, I was set up to have a rough time making sure everything was as I expected it to be. Tim really eased some of the stress of this process by providing an extremely thorough and personalized inspection report, including tons of photos and videos. Even better, I had the inspection the following day, allowing me to make an informed decision on the purchase of the home. Unfortunately, we backed out of the contract, but it was Tim who gave us the information we needed to avoid a money pit. When it comes time to make an offer on another home, I won't hesitate to give Tim a calread more

JMB

15:12 07 Oct 19

Tim is unbelievably thorough. His inspection is very detailed, including pictures and videos. He has been very... responsive with my texts and emails. I highly recommend him and wouldn't hesitate to use him again. Extremely professional.read more

Asbjorn Osland

18:07 26 Aug 19

The inspector provided extensive review of the home along with videos. It was done in a timely manner. He also included... check lists of things I should do as a homeowner. I've been through this process before and this inspection and report were far superior.read more

Charlotte Hill

22:31 24 Aug 19

The inspector came in a very timely manner and on short notice. He was thorough, efficient and immediately gave us the... results. I would definitely recumbent using him again.read more

John Filicetti

22:58 18 Aug 19

Tim did a very thorough job on the inspection and explained anything he found and recommended actions. I highly... recommend All Island Home Inspection if you are buying a home. We are very happy with the results.read more

Randy M

13:00 01 Aug 19

Tim gave me the hope & confidence to start making some needed repairs on a estate property that has been a challenge... for us thus far. My direction previous to inspection was unclear. He created a detailed bullet list of items that need to be dealt with, in order to obtain maximum benefit toward improving the property prior to listingread more

Mimi Shannon

16:51 26 Jul 19

Tim Hance is personable, considerate, professional and knows what he's doing. I felt entirely confident throughout the... inspection process with Tim taking the time to answer all my questions in lay terms and helping to prioritize my "to do" list. I highly recommend him and would use him again.read more

Rick Rosal

13:54 16 Jul 19

Purchasing a home from out of state can seem overwhelming. But Tim conducted our home inspection and made that part of... the process so simple. His report was not only very thorough, but easy to understand, even if you are not familiar with construction or the systems your home has. He provided clear photos and video of the inspection, and really took the time to walk us through the inspection report and answer any and all questions we had. If you are in need of someone to perform an inspection and you want the peace of mind that want it'll be done right, I highly recommend Tim at All Islands Home Inspection.read more

Tammy reynolds

14:16 16 Jun 19

We were very impressed by the inspection performed on our upcoming home purchase at Friday Harbor, WA. The inspection... was very thorough and the report was issued very timely after the inspection. The report was very detailed and easy to follow. The pictures included were extremely helpful. The recommendations made by the inspector were reasonable for both a buyer as well as the seller. We are extremely pleased with All Islands Home Inspections and would highly recommend them to others.read more

Travis Hess

15:56 11 Jun 19

This review is on behalf of a buyer that Tim, from All Islands Hope Inspections, assisted during the purchase of their... new property in the San Juan Islands. The entire process went very smoothly. Tim and his team were knowledgeable of all the boxes that needed to be reviewed and checked off. Any issues that came out, proper advice quickly followed on how to resolve them. We recommend their services to anyone that is in the process of buying a home.read more

Maggie Vantangoli Policelli

03:20 06 Jun 19

Tim was exceptionally thorough, friendly and efficient at our recent home inspection. He was professional, and took the... time to not just conduct the inspection, but to discuss all his findings with us following the inspection. With a extremely tight deadline, he sent the report within an hour or so after our inspection! Will definitely use again, and recommend to anyone. If you need an inspection, don’t waste your time calling anyone else - call Tim first!read more

Stacia Ott

02:25 06 Jun 19

Very professional, respectful. First time homebuyer here, and Tim was very patient and kind. Very knowledgeable and... answered every single one of our questions; even the dumb ones! Lastly, I would say that Tim is honest and fair! Highly recommend!read more

Todd Doyle

16:53 23 May 19

We've used Tim for multiple home inspections. His knowledge, insight and suggestion for resolving issues and problems... found is one of the best things about working with him. He is thorough, friendly and provides an exceptional service with excellent communication- we'd highly recommend him and obviously continue to use him for our own inspection needs. Thanks again for your help, Tim!read more

Kathleen Mitchell

13:57 27 Apr 19

Great experience with Tim. He explained everything and gave me such great advice. He was also just genuinely nice. It’s... so refreshing to get great customer service. We highly recommend him!read more

Clay Campbell

13:33 25 Apr 19

From the moment I contacted Tim he was very responsive and helpful, even providing recommendations on contacts for... other inspections. Report was well documented with pictures and videos via a website with convenient access and digital tools like a summary repair list. Highly recommended professional.read more

AMB Saxton

15:37 23 Apr 19

Tim is professional, considerate, friendly, thorough, and over all a good guy! He has inspected two houses for us and... it's been a great experience both times. I really appreciate his thoughtfulness in sitting down after the inspection and going over everything. And the videos he includes in his final report were really helpful. I would highly recommend him!read more

Spencer Goodall

14:21 18 Apr 19

I had to be out of town for a home inspection and Tim provided the most detailed and honest home inspection I have ever... seen. Video and photo evidence including a clean and neat report provide an easy and efficient way to review a home in its entirety. When reviewing a home for any future home inspections, I will definitely be using All Islands Home Inspections.read more

Ashley SunRose

12:33 04 Apr 19

We chose Tim to do our home inspection because I heard great reviews of him. We needed someone who knew who they were... doing as we used our VA home loan. My S.O. is up there already and my daughter and I will be up there in a few short months. The videos helped so much since I’m not there yet and it’s great to see everything and understand it. Very professional and trustworthy service. He got the inspection report to us well within 24 hours. I highly recommend Tim.read more

Matt Jones

22:41 27 Mar 19

Coordinated an inspection from FL, flew to WA to meet Tim at the house. Outstanding job and thoroughly explained... everything after the inspection. Amazing report with tips on long term home care and 3D photos of every room in the house. Inspection report will be useful for renting / selling in the future. Tim even answered multiple questions as previous owners were executing the recommended repairs / upkeep. Highest recommendation possible.read more

Mike Litke

20:21 11 Feb 19

The services that were rendered were exceptional. In addition to a paper report, Tim included pictures and videos that... were of immense assistance. I found the report to be thorough and it is clear that Tim has a comprehensive understanding of how to perform home inspections. I strongly recommend All Island Home Inspections.read more

matthew kirshman

14:20 10 Feb 19

Tim’s inspection was astoundingly thorough. We love the house we’re buying—but now we know the house in detail. Tim... left nothing unexamined. His report included photos, videos, & a breakdown of categories repairs needed: from safety issues to minor repairs & upgrades.read more

Scott Lommel

20:33 25 Jan 19

Tim was prompt in all correspondence and communication from the start. He was very thorough and detailed in his... inspection and report. I felt much better about our home purchase after his inspection, that all or most of the 'unknowns' had been documented. I would use him again and recommend his services to anyone in need of a home inspection.read more

Chudy Bowers

20:34 17 Jan 19

Tim is personable, knowledgeable and thorough. He knows, and is known throughout, the San Juan Islands, and every real... estate agent and contractor we spoke with knew him and had nothing but good things to say. He has a well earned reputation and gave us all the time we needed, answered numerous questions, and we came away feeling like we knew all we needed to make an important investment decision.Tim is a super intelligent and multi-faceted home inspector ... and even knows a couple of half-decent jokes!!Thanks, Tim!!read more

Paul Steimel

17:49 14 Oct 18

Once in a great while you come across a business where everything is done just right. Tim and All Islands Inspections... is just such a business. Tim exemplified professionalism. Setting up the appointment was easy and timely. Tim’s report was stunningly thorough and complete. He provided a very helpful narrative, pictures, video and an additional set of 360 degree pictures. When we had further questions, Tim took the time over the phone to answer them all. Extremely satisfied. No hesitation recommending this business over and over again!read more

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