Eastside Real Estate Working-for-you!

Important new rules for Home Inspectors!

Requirements for Home Inspectors are changing!  The following information was written and submitted to 425Realty.com from Jim Merritt, WIN Inspections Services.    Make sure YOUR Home Inspector is a licensed Home Inspector!

 

Licensing for Home Inspectors comes to Washington

Licensing for Home inspector in the state of Washington was signed into law in June of 2008.  The law includes qualifications for Home Inspectors including

120 hrs of approved educational courses, 40 hours of practical in the field training and the ability to pass a national and state home inspector examination.

Effective Sept 1 2009 all home inspectors must be licensed (RCW 18.210.020)

Further the home inspector license does not include a structural pest inspection. In order to obtain a pest inspection one must hire an inspector licensed by the WSDA as a structural pest inspector which is a separate license (RCW 18.280.190)

How do you know if you are using a licensed Home Inspector?   All advertising for that individual must contain “Licensed Home Inspector # XXX 

Licensing was enacted to protect the consumer, so remember to ask, so that you are receiving the services of a fully qualified and licensed Home Inspector!

Jim Merritt

WIN Home Inspection

Licensed Home Inspector #293

Structural Pest Inspector #66157

425-868-1408

jmerritt@wini.com

 

 

To learn more about Jim, please visit this link!

Greg Perry quoted on national AP wire article on how to sell a listing.

Recently, I was approached by AP reporter, Melisa Kossler Dutton, who was doing a story on the impact of neighborning eyesores on the salabilty of close by listings.  She was attracted to a comment that I had made some time ago in Seattle's Rain City Guide on the subject. 

After a phone interview, she called again and asked if I would be willing to stand for an AP photographer, and I agreed.

Here's my contribution to the AP article:

"If homeowners are uncomfortable contacting their neighbors, real estate agent Greg Perry is happy to do it. He's had varying degrees of success. Some neighbors have seen the value of improving their property, others haven't, said Perry, who sells homes in Kirkland, Wash.

"You run into all kinds of people," he said. "There are belligerent people in life and there are accommodating people in life."

"A lot of agents need to think a little bit outside of the box," Perry said. "I'm always willing to help my seller out, and sometimes that means actually arranging for the neighbor's cleanup. I've done it on my own dime."

To see the entire article: click here

I thought it was a well done article on the subject (and I was quoted correctly)!

Why All Home Buyers Need An Inspection!

Greg Perry
Eastside Realtor

If you walk through enough old houses, you'll eventually run into most anything that a past home owner did to the electrical, plumbing and general construction of the house.  Even the best of homes -- on the surface-- have strange things done to them in the crawl space and attic.  Here are a few bizarre examples for your viewing pleasure!

Home Depot had a sale on yellow wire nuts!

 
Redneck junction box

 

 
A receptacle is highly overrated, especially close to a burner!

 

House comes complete with pantry storage for grits, ascetone and tools!

 

 
Need a creative dryer vent?  Just do-it!

 

  
Ok, don't have that Nike box?  Just tap that dryer vent into the heat escape vent of your water heater!

 

More bizarre photos to come on another day!

 

Winter is not over! Winterize your home before the next "suprise"!

I just got off the phone with a client whose pipes burst in the recent winter blast that nailed Seattle's Eastside communities and surrounding areas.  He, like many others (including myself) had been caught off guard, totally unprepared for the fury that old man winter delivered to us.  The conversation reminded me to take care of all the winterizing necessities during this mild break we are in.  Here is a list of 10 quick, inexpensive MUST DO's,  you can do to winterize before you get surprised by the next big storm! 

1) Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace! (this is no joke!  My in laws almost died from a carbon monoxide leak through the heat exchanger in the furnace.)

2)  Check and repair all the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors in your house.

3)  Visually inspect your chimney and call a sweep if needed.  Check for creosote build up and mortar cracks.

4)  Inspect and replace if necessary window and door weather stripping.

5)  Make sure your pipes are wrapped and spigots insulated.  Also, now is a good time to make sure you know where your main water shut-off is located.

6) Get in your attic when its raining.  Check the underside of the sheathing for water marks or stains.  If found, get a roofer out to inspect and repair your roof.

7)  Inspect your crawl space.  Now that its been raining is the time to check.  If you have water build up get it removed and fixed. 

8)  Clean out your gutters and downspouts.  Water needs to drain out and away from your house.  Over flowing gutters will rot your fascia and other components of your home.

9)  Insulate your attic.  Visually inspect your attics roofing.  If it looks thin throw some insulation up there.

10)  Prepare and Emergency kit.  Check out 3 days 3 ways website.

Good luck and this time, be prepared!

425Realty.com Service Provider Spotlight - Jim Merritt, Eastside Home Inspector

By Greg Perry, Eastside Realtor
www.425Realty.com

Jim Merritt has owned WIN Home Inspection Bellevue for over 6 years.  He is certified at the highest level from the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI).  He is also a graduate of the Professional Association of Building Inspectors training and is licensed by the State of Washington as a Structural Pest Inspector.   I recently interviewed Jim about his home inspection career and experiences.  Here's what he had to say:

How did you become interested in becoming a home inspector?

I got my start in the building trades while financing my college education, and later continued to buy and rehab real estate for profit.  The home inspectors that I hired simply listed deficiencies.  I didn't really find this a satisfying experience and knew I could do better.  What I strive to do is to explain  any deficiencies in the context of the operating aspects of the home.  Inspections should never be viewed as "pass" or "fail". Home inspections are simply a good way to advise the client on what issues should be addressed in the context of the overall condition of the home.

What are the most satisfying aspects of your business?

I enjoy working with first time buyers who gain an understanding of how to operate their new home.  In addition to showing them the home's systems and components during the inspection, I carefully review all findings and conclusions in a meeting at the end.  All inspection reports come with a detailed narrative and digital photographs of the major deficiencies.  Afterward, I mail to my client a detailed book with check lists to assist them in the ongoing maintenance of their home.

What are your biggest challenges?

The biggest challenge is to explain what a visual, non invasive inspection is.  Our industry has agreed upon standards that spell out the minimum standard of what should be included in a home inspection.  Although I always exceed that minimum, it is impossible to see inside a wall or predict the future with certainty.  I don't know if the dishwasher will fail next year or if a future wind storm will blow shingles off the roof.  But I promise that the client will know much more than they did when they drove up for their inspection.

What are some of the things people should be looking to you for?

My goal is to discover virtually all observable deficiencies, especially major deficiencies in a home's structure, systems and safety.  Occasionally manufacturers produce potentially defective products -- exterior siding is good example.  I stay on top of all home consumer issues and also stay current with acceptable standards.  This is why experience, certifications and ongoing continuing education is so important in the home inspection field. 

I enjoy questions from my clients and encourage them stay with me as I inspect their house.  I can teach them about the home's systems (electrical,plumbing,heating, etc.), tell them what is good about the home, and of course find the deficiencies.  I love to give hints and advice about future care of the home and teach them about ongoing maintenance.  I'll put my clients in my hip pocket and share everything.  In fact I keep a spare set of coveralls so they can join me in the crawl space if they want to! 

Jim Merritt has done many inspections on behalf of our clients and we enthusiastically endorse Jim and WIN Inspections as a 425Realty.com TOP SERVICE PROVIDER!

You can reach Jim Merritt at  WIN Home Inspection Bellevue at 425-868-1408 or jmerritt@wini.com

Crawl Space Diving....... or Fall Maintenance Guide - Revisited

Last week we posted a Fall Maintenance Guide.  As I was typing it out, I realized that it had been a long time since I participated in the dreaded CRAWL SPACE DIVE!

I live in an updated 2 story, 3200 s/f house on the Eastside that was originally built in 1969.  My crawl space has a whopping 2 foot clearance and 40 years of dust.  YUCK!  I hate going into the crawl.

So, over the weekend I girded myself and put on my in my worst jeans, long sleeved shirt and junky shoes.  I donned my hat, coveralls, knee pads, gloves and placed my respirator over my face.  I opened the hatch, grabbed my high intensity flashlight and dove on in.

A horror movie could be made in my crawl.  Again, YUCK!

Here's what I found:

• Those pesky rodents (that I paid to have exterminated) had found their way back in.
• A heat duct (an item right from the list!) had fallen.  I was heating the crawl space!
• A copper plumbing pipe had developed a pin-hole leak and was creating a small pool of water on the vapor barrier.
• The vapor barrier needed to be cleaned and re-spread in areas for coverage.

So there you have it!  Real life issues from the Fall Maintenance Guide.  I immediately repaired the fallen heat duct and have arranged for professional help in the other areas.

If you haven't been in your crawl space in a few years, now is a great time.  If you WILL NOT go into that crawl the next best thing is to hire a residential building inspector!  If you want the assistance of a good inspector, give me a call.  I know the best!  We'll get him out to you so your home will be sanitary, safe and energy efficient.

Fall Maintenance Guide

  Around the House:

• Replace the furnace filter
• Have your heating system serviced
• Inspect the ductwork in your crawlspace to insure the ducts have not fallen and the system is intact.
• Have your ducts cleaned.
• Have your chimney serviced and cleaned.  Check for missing mortar and obstructions.
• Clean your gutters throughout the fall to prevent blockage.
• Check and repair an window cracks or holes in weather stripping or caulking.
• Check to make sure your thermostat works properly before the cold weather hits.
• Make sure all storm doors latch properly to protect against high winds.
• Check crawl space for flooding after first long rainfall.
• Check locks on windows to make sure they work properly.
• Make sure you have new batteries in your flashlights and that they are easily found around the house.
• Stock up on bottled water and food staples in case of power outage.
• Is it time to re-insulate?
• Clean out the bathroom fan.
• Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Make sure fire extinguishers are in place and up to date.
• Review your fire escape plan with your family.  Keep rope ladders in each of the second story rooms.

Around the yard:

• Fertilize and seed your lawn.
• Cut back an tree branches that are growing towards your house or a power line.
• Plant your spring bulbs.
• Start a composting pile for your leaves,yard debris and grass clippings.

Slugging it out with slugs --- The green way

Did you know that Lavender, Thyme, Sage, Geraniums and Mint are all natural slug "repellent" plants?  Planting them in your garden will encourage slugs to visit your neighbor!

Yes, slugs are the bane of many a NW gardener.  The conventional way to rid the garden of slugs was to use toxic poisons.  Metaldehyde has killed countless innocent birds and pets over the years, not to mention beneficial earthworms and insects.

Environmentally friendly Iron Phosphate has gained popularity over the years.  This can be purchased at any garden store.  The EPA reports that Iron Phosphate has no observed toxicity to mammals, birds, fish or insects. 

If you want to kill or repel slugs the organic way, here are some ideas:

1.  Send the kids on a slug hunt.  Give them a dime for every slug that they bring in.  This will dramatically reduce current populations.

2.  Pine needles, bark, sawdust, bark and crushed eggshells are natural barriers for slugs.

3.  Snails and slugs just LOVE beer.  Pour a beer and a shallow container and you'll find dead slugs in the morning.

4.  Get a pet duck.  Pet ducks love to eat slugs! 

5.  Frequent hoeing and turning of dirt in bare areas will bring up the eggs, which birds will feast on!

6.  Create simple traps such as upturned flower pots and wooden boards.  They like these areas to hide in.  Check them daily and dispatch them.  Conversely remove unnecessary debris in the garden that slugs will attract to.

So there you have it! Many environmentally friendly ways to rid your garden of those pesky slugs.

A 425Realty.com Service Provider Spotlight -- Symbiosis Tree Care

Trees  They are all around us.  What do we really know about them?

Is this one healthy?  Is this the right tree for this location?

Today we're going to highlight Certified Arborist Kurt Fickeisen.  His company is Symbiosis Tree Care.  Kurt knows trees.  Here's our 425Realty.com interview with Kurt.

Tell us about who you are and about your company, Symbiosis Tree Care:
After 11 years working as an arborist for other companies, I started Symbiosis Tree Care.  I started by offering standard services like pruning and removal.  I enjoyed the direct contact it gave me with customers.  Over time, my business focus shifted to evaluating trees for hazard, and appraising them for their landscape value.  In addition, tree issues often start below ground.  I can help improve soil to increase tree health and deal with root problems to improve tree health and protect other assets close to trees from damage.

Services I provide:

• Tree risk assessment; rating trees for risk posed to people and property nearby.
• Tree appraisal; I can assign a dollar value that trees add to your property.
• air spade work to improve health of trees and protect your house and hardscape features from damage.
• Tree planting and recommendations.  I can help you get the right tree in the right place.

How long have you been in business?
I started my business in 1999.

How did you become interested in trees?
I grew up in a house with a forest behind the back yard.  I would spend days playing in it; through that I took a real interest in trees and nature.  At a young age, I also started climbing rocks and mountains.  after finishing college, I found that I could get paid to climb trees.

Working with trees was fun, and I started to learn more and more about their biology and behavior.

What are the most satisfying aspects of your business?
Helping people appreciate trees both around them and on their property.  Finding real problems that need attention and helping to resolve them.

What are your biggest challenges?
Explaining tree growth and characteristics to people who do not work and or study trees.  I constantly remind myself that what I may view as a standard term may mean nothing or confuse others.

I also feel it is my duty to explain correct and good quality tree work and encourage proper tree care.  Without proper education or experience, trees can suffer damage and increase long-term maintenance expense.  Many companies are out there who charge clients money for work that cost the client more in long-term expenses.

What are some of the things people should be looking to you for?
Is a tree going to fall on your house?  You may own several trees.  Several of them may be healthy and safe, but one or two may have problems.  I evaluate trees for structural problems and identify insect and disease problems.

Do you own a tree that a neighbor would like to remove, but you love?  I can put a dollar value to your trees value in the landscape.  Your neighbor can then compensate you for the loss.

Are your trees cracking your walkway?  I can prune roots without damaging your tree or provide solutions to replacing cracked walkways.  I also can help route utility lines under trees with minimal damage to the trees.  Soil remediation also benefits trees health.

Tree planting is often a tricky job.  I can help select an appropriate tree for a location on your property and platen it correctly.  Planting a tree that will thrive is more complicated than just sticking it in the ground.

What unique benefit can you offer potential clients?
I have twenty years of experience working with trees.  Over my career, I have seen many different situations where trees have both benefited and damaged a client's property.  I spent one year running a group of arborists working on all the trees in one community and seeing the long term outcome of our work.

What credentials and certifications do you have?
Certifications:

• International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist.  Certification number RM-451A.
• Pacific Northwest ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor. Certification number 264.

Credentials:

• Member International Society of Arboriculture
• Member American Society of Consulting Arborists

I am also a member of Plant Amnesty and head of the Tree Programs Committee.

Symbiosis Tree Care
206-841-3158
kurtfick@gmail.com
Photo of Kurt removing a fir tree.  While healthy in appearance, this tree suffered from decay in the base of the tree.

Because we're so active in the marketplace, we continually come across the best service providers -- businesses you can trust.  425Realty.com enthusiastically endorses Kurt Fickeisen and his company, Symbiosis Tree Care.

Be sure to visit our online "Referral Directory!"  If you have a suggestion for a great service provider to include in our Referral Directory, email Greg at gregperry@working-for-you.com.  All service providers and businesses will be researched before inclusion.

If you have any tree question for Kurt, just leave it in "comments".  We'll pass it on and get an answer for you!

Consumer Issues (pt. 3: Radon)

Radon is naturally occurring, odorless, and colorless gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Because radon is a gas, it can enter buildings through openings or cracks in the foundation. The radon gas itself decays into radioactive solids, called radon daughters. The radon daughters attach to dust particles in the air, and can be inhaled. The inhalation of radon daughters has been linked to lung cancer.  According to the EPA, Radon is the second leading cause of Lung Cancer (behind smoking) attributing to 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year. 

Check out this almost scary video:

FOR THE HOMEOWNER:

How can I tell if I have radon in my house?

Test it.  Testing is the ONLY way you can be sure of the radon levels in your home.  You can buy simple Radon testing Kits from your local home improvement store.  There are also professional Radon Services available.

What can I do if I have elevated levels?

Fix your home if your radon level is 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases may be reduced.  Here are some things you can do:

Seal:  Caulk and seal your cracks and spaces leading from your basement or foundation.  This will make it harder for Radon to move into your living area.  Also, lay a 6m vapor barrior over the dirt in your crawl space. 

Ventilate:  If you have a crawl space under your house, make sure the vent covers are clear.  This will promote the flow of fresh air in and out of your crawl space clearing out any potential gasses.

THE GOOD NEWS!
Radon is a naturally occuring hazard that is easily dealt with as long as you know you have a problem!  Also, according to the EPA Radon Heat map... the eastside has a low predicted average screening level of Radon: 

Legend:  Zone one Bad, Zone Three good

(Map is NOT to be used in lieu of testing or for real estate purposes)

For more information visit the Environmental Protection Agency website about Radon.