So many people are starting to use videos in their blogs and on their websites that I figured as a home inspector there might be some instances where video might be useful. In general I think it has its limitations. For one thing----videos take time. People can certainly obtain more information by reading about something, than they can by watching it on video----given the same amount of time. A video of someone sitting and talking is a waste of most people's time I would think----unless they are doing impersonations that rely on ones being able to see their facial expressions, or they are in motion "doing" something.
Another type of video (if you can even call it that) is the type that is merely zooming in-and-out and back-and-forth on the same still picture. This is NOT VIDEO in my opinion----and seems like a waste of time for everyone involved.
With home inspection videos, I think it is important to use it in a way that isn't really about any house in particular, but instead provides insight, or is educational in a way that video might accomplish better than still pictures can do. For example a video of crawling around in a difficult crawl space might be interesting, as a way to communicate what inspectors do---I will have to work on that one----whereas information about Anobiid Beetles found in a crawl space might better be communicated with still photos and the written word.
Seattle has incredible greenbelts and parks---all within the city limits. My first "step" into using video is about one such Greenbelt bordering a property I inspected a few weeks ago.
Since I have no ability to edit the videos tha I can take with my digital camera (and I sure know this one can use some editing), my first attempt had to be shot "start-to-finish" in one go. With videos I think there is some responsibility to not put out something that is going to keep someone captive. So feel free to walk out at any time. Unlike speed-reading, speed viewing is difficult.
So, here is my first walk into video----and don't pay any attention to Raven----just because she "flew" out. 
Charles Buell
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all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
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Nine years before I came to Seattle to live (the first time), KCMU was cranking out cutting edge music. Music has always been very important to me. Gary Woltal's recent blog about the importance of music and all of Steve Smith's, blogs about musicians of the NW got me thinking about this radio station and what it has meant to the music scene in Seattle since 1972 (and to me as well).
I credit this radio station with keeping me up to date with all the newest "important" sounds from around the country and the world. This is where you get to hear the music that becomes "popular" or "mainstream" later on---sometimes years later.
The station changed its call letters a few years back and is now KEXP----90.3FM.
Having "been there" during the great music of the 60's, I am definitely NOT one of those people that believe there has never been anything done worthwhile since. If you think that there is no more Led Zeppelin, or Allman Brothers Band, make sure you check out My Morning Jacket below.
Now (for several years actually)----anywhere you go in the world, you can hear this station on the WEB. They, almost daily, have some live band in the studio. It is just an awesome way to keep caught up with the music scene; and, guess what------it is commercial free. COMMERCIAL FREE! Look at it this way. The "worst" song they play is better than the best commercial on any other radio stations. Also they have tens of thousands of archived music----especially the live studio stuff.
So if you want to hear music by:
King Missile (careful with this one if you offend easily),
----give KEXP a listen.
I will leave you with this one:
Chris Botti on trumpet.
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed) all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
Home Inspector (4yrs)--33 years design/build general contractor. Adjunct professor: Bellingham Technical College's Residential Home Inspection Course. Full Member both ASHI & NACHI. WSDA licensed.
I had been designing and building homes for 33 years when I decided to become a Home Inspector. With all of my years of building experience and taking the 160 hour Residential Home Inspection Course at Bellingham Technical College, it is difficult to immagine what kinds of inspections the buying public is getting in the State of Washington---where inspectors are not licensed (Thanks to the efforts of Senator Spanel, and Govenor Christine Gregoire's signature this is about to change.)and the majority of inspectors don't belong to any of the National Home Inspection Associations. I have a dream of seeing home inspections taken to a higher level. While setting "minimum" standards is important, providing something of lasting value to the home buyer is what I am interested in. Providing the kind of information necessary to aid in the decision making process is not difficult, and adding the kind of information that turns the home inspection report into the beginings of an "owner's manual" creates something of lasting value. Because I use a lot of pictures in my reports, people have often commented on how easy it is to communicate the issues to the seller, and as a result I very rarely ever get calls from sellers looking for clarification----or to refute my findings. The whole process is about communication and information----"too much" is never enough.
I am a Certified Member of ASHI and I see membership in at least one of the major associations as a "minimum" requirement when choosing an inspector in Washington State----in addition to the State's requirement to be a licensed Structural Pest inspector if reporting on wood destroying organisms or conducive conditions.
While members of the major Associations (and other associations for that matter) will argue the merits of their Association over the others, I find that they all have their good points. Buyers need to understand that membership requirements in all of these associations set "minimum" standards for the profession and that most inspectors exceed those standards. The important thing is what kind of report does the inspector provide and how clearly is it written, how well does it describe the issues, and how clearly does the report define the course of action regarding those issues.
I provide my client with a very detailed and thorough report on the condition of the home---some have commented on the report being like an "Owners Manual." I consider it the beginning of one. Along with all the major concerns, the buyer will also find useful information as to the age of appliances and Model and Serial Numbers.
Click here to see a Sample Report.
One area of concern for many home buyers today is MOLD. It has almost become a "four letter word" (wait a minute----it is a four letter word). No buyer's education and information about Mold is going to be complete without the information provided by Caoimhin Connell. For some great information please see his link below: Health Effects of Moulds (Molds): State of Knowledge Caoimhín P. Connell http://www.forensic-applications.com/
Forensic Industrial Hygienist
Much of my home construction has been involved with Super Insulated, Energy Efficient Homes. I have been a dealer of composting toilets, installer of wood foundation systems, and installer of air and water solar heating systems.
I won a New York State Energy Reserch & Developement Award ($10,000) in 1979 for a super-insulated duplex house built in Oswego, NY. My interest in energy efficient housing continues today and, because of my years of experience, I am able to assist my buyers with their questions about how efficient the home they are buying is or help them with their questions of how to improve the energy efficiency of the home. I was into "Green" before it had been given a name. Now I can help people sort through the various approaches to building homes (and even assist with some of the confusion surrounding what it means to be "Green").
Because my entire carrier as a builder was "Design-Build," I am able to also assist buyers with questions they might have regarding remodeling. For example questions about whether walls are bearing walls or not, or the feasibility of adding a second story, are all questions I routinely hear from buyers, and am able to assist them with. It is all I did for 33 years. I designed and built dozens of homes, and additions to homes, over those years----including designing and building most of the cabinet work in those projects----so I am very familiar with the processes and requirements of all of these areas. In the early years of my career I was building in areas where I was allowed to do electrical and plumbing as well (they still had to be inspected of course). So I able to give much more in-depth information regarding these areas as well.
As a builder of energy efficient homes in the 70's, the Syracuse University, School of Architecture would routinely tour my homes and even monitored some of them for documentation purposes for periods of time. One of my more curious areas of interest was the use of wood foundations in the overall design of super-insulated homes. These systems designed by Weyerhaeuser for use in the perma-frost of Alaska were well suited to creating very energy efficient homes.
I curretly teach part of the (160hr) Residential Home Inspection Course at Bellingham Technical College in Bellingham, WA. Link to the course: Residential Home Inspection Course
I LOVEteaching. It is such a great opportunity to give back all the stuff I have learned over the years. It fits with my general life philosophy of "giving everything away---to make room for more." Blogging for me is an extension of this philosophy, another way to give back to the community.
Founder of Sparky's Plumbing, the ActiveRain Group where everything is shocking and all wet!
Below are some of my favorite blogs----please enjoy. I promise, that if you tour through the archives, that I will entertain and hopefully educate you about the homes we all live in. Sometimes, no doubt, you will see things similiar to your own homes---sometimes things you will be fortunate to never see.
Anybody got 10 bucks I can borrow?
Beware of Having Sex on Granite Countertops!
Has anyone ever asked you to, "Pull the Plug?"
Should Agents sleep with their Home Inspectors?
Finding the "Better-than-the-average-bear" inspector.
Why is there a BARGE on my roof?
Scared the BEE-GEEEZEZ out of me!
What do you mean there are "SECRET" tunnels under my lawn?
Doggone it!-----Bet I'll be in the "Dog House" over this dog!
The Inspector goes to a Pajama Party!
How many chickens will fit inside a cow?
Instead of providing dozens of references from past buyers, I have selected just a few testimonials that typify the kinds of things that I hear back from buyers.
Charlie,
I would like to once again thank you very much for your outstanding work on the inspection of the xxxxx Street house on our behalf.
Our expectations of the inspection you performed were exceeded. The detail and quality of your report will be used by us as a goal for other inspectors we have the chance to do business with in the future. I can not imagine that there was a single thing you didn't cover! We will use your report as guidelines on what we need to do immediately to the house, over the course of the next 6 monts as well as ongoing maintenance. Your added background information and photos not only illustrated the issue but educated us as to the correction. Your willingness to share your impressions and knowledge via phone was greatly appreciated. We both feel this was the best money we could have spent!
Please feel free to use my name and have any potential customeers contact me for a reference. I am more than happy to tell them what a professional, knowledgeable, thorough inspector your are!
Thank you for your outstanding work!
Zan Murzello
Hi Charles,
Thank you so much for this great and very professional inspection. I have reviewd the information aen will be using this to negotiate our terms with the seller. Your discovery of the issues on this place has shined a new light to this property:)
Thanks again for your help,
Andres
Thank you so much Charlie--- I am so glad I had you to do this inspection-- you did an excellent job and discovered things I would never have thought of and I so appreciate your expertise. I feel so much more confident going into this purchase knowing exactly what's going on.
Thanks so much,
Mary Lee
After finding a house that we loved, we had to finalize the details for the sale. For the inspection process we chose Charles Buell Inspections since our friends spoke highly of him. Dealing with the stress of making the biggest purchase of our lives, Charles' calm demeanor and thorough examination of the house and lot put our minds at ease. We felt confident that all of the negative and positive aspects of the home were brought to our attention on sight. Twenty-four hours later we received a detailed 84 page summary of his findings which included pictures to clarify the issues being discussed. We were impressed! In fact this inspection report has been almost like a homeowner's manual, which we've used while updating our home. We have now used Charles for both our home and business inspections, and would definitely use him again in the future!
Glenn Soja
Leah Mitchell
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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