Tag Archives: Fidalgo Island

SATURDAY REVIEW: ‘TIM HANCE IS PERSONABLE, CONSIDERATE, PROFESSIONAL AND KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING’

A couple of Saturdays per month, I like to share recent customer reviews with you. I hope that these client testimonies—which come primarily from Yelp, Facebook, and Google Reviews—help you to feel more confident in my services while also saying “thanks” to clients who provide me with feedback.

This week, we hear from client Mimi Shannon.

My customers (you) allow me a chance to do a job I love in a place I’ve called home my whole life. Without you, All Islands Inspections wouldn’t exist. Thank you!

If you have questions or comments about home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).

STANDALONE SATURDAYS: ON FROZEN POND

As a home inspector, I’m often on the road, traveling around San Juan, Island, Whatcom, and Skagit counties. Along the way, I’m often awed by what I see. On the first Saturday of the month, I plan to share some of these great scenes with you. 

I invite you to share your Northwest Washington imagery, too! Take your picture or video showing why you appreciate the region, tag it with #AllIslandsLife, and share via social media.

If you have questions or comments about home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).

HOMES NEED HAIRCUTS TOO!

You may operate under the false impression that the only things needing trimming grow on human bodies.  Just like we need a haircut/trim every here and there to feel clean and prevent excess moisture, our homes need the same treatment! 

Whether or not you like the look of vegetation growing on your home, it’s generally not regarded as structurally sound.  Vegetation on building exteriors can be an invitation for moisture and insect damage/intrusion.  Not to mention, it can also inhibit my ability to fully inspect the building’s exterior, which can lead to a less-than-thorough inspection.  I cannot trim vegetation back at the time of inspection…it isn’t my job, and it could present legal issues (I’m not permitted to fix and/or alter things as I inspect).  

Though it may be endearing to look at buildings such as Gowen Hall on the University of Washington Campus, Seattle, don’t let aesthetics take priority over longevity!  

IS YOUR CRAWL SPACE THE WRONG KIND OF MESSY?

Whenever I see messy crawl spaces, I let clients know to clean things up. 

But wait, Tim, aren’t all crawl spaces messy? And why is that important?

Well, yes, all crawl spaces are messy to a degree. But not all crawl spaces contain debris that I’d consider conducive to environments that promote wood-destroying organism activity. These are truly messy crawl spaces!

When I see materials like cellulose, cardboard, and wood laying around underneath a home, I always recommend their removal to let wood-destroying organisms know they are not welcome.

Bugs, be gone!

During a recent inspection on Fidalgo Island, I noted this type of debris in the form of concrete cardboard forms. 

If you have questions or comments about crawl spaces or home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).

STANDING WATER? TAKE A STAND!

Have you noticed standing water in your driveway?  It may be time for exterior lot drainage improvements.   

Standing water is not only frustrating and sometimes dangerous for walking and parking (especially when water freezes), but can also cause some serious damage to your concrete driveway.  If water sits for too long and seeps into cracks in the concrete, often freezing during the winter months, expansion and further damage/cracking is possible.  If snow or rain remains too long on the surface of your concrete driveway, discoloration is likely.  

Check out this link for some more information on the dangers of standing water in your driveway: How To Fix Standing Water In Driveway: What’s The Solution? (homelogic.co.uk)

STANDALONE SATURDAYS: WHATCHA LOOKING AT?

On Saturdays throughout the year, I hope to give you a peek of what I see as a home inspector traveling around San Juan, Island, Whatcom, and Skagit counties through photos and videos I’ve taken along the way.

I’m sure if you know or live in Northwest Washington, you probably feel the same about how special it is here. That’s why I invite you to share your Northwest Washington imagery! Simply take your picture or video showing why you appreciate the region, and tag it with #AllIslandsLife on Twitteror Facebook.

If you have questions or comments about home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).

WATCH YOUR STEP: HANDYMAN RAMP NEEDS REPAIR

Frequently, handyman construction practices are undertaken to make life easier for home residents. A lot of the time, these “fixes” work just fine. Occasionally, however, there needs to be corrective action taken because of safety concerns.

I encountered just such a scenario during a recent home inspection on Fidalgo Island. I noticed handyman construction practices at a ramp from the garage interior to the home, which I considered a potential safety issue because the boards deflected a lot when I walked on them. When I note these types of things, I always recommend further evaluation and repair by a qualified contractor in my reports.

If you have questions or comments about handyman construction practices, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).

VIDEO: DON’T GET ‘TRAPPED’ WITH THIS PLUMBING PROBLEM

Today, I’m going to write about a plumbing issue that is as easy to diagnose as counting “1-2-3,” or—more aptly—“A-B-C.”

I’m talking about “S-traps” and “P-traps.”  If you don’t know what these are, this video gives a nice overview. After watching this, you’ll better understand why you may want to consider making the switch from “S” to “P” in your home’s sinks.

I recently came across this very issue during an inspection on Fidalgo Island, where I found an “S-Trap” installed under the kitchen sink. As a result, I recommended the homeowner install a “P-Trap” in my report.

If you have questions or comments about plumbing issues, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).