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Facts about hot water – tanks vs. tankless
Posted on January 20, 2019 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItIt is very common to have clients ask my thoughts about “upgrading” to an instant hot water tank. These tankless hot water systems are very popular right now and are commonplace in new construction. They take up less space, provide endless hot water, and are acclaimed to be cheaper and more efficient than the traditional, […]
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Love all you creative DIY-ers!
Posted on January 10, 2019 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItJumbo Drink Straw. Nothing makes a summer lemonade taste better than inserting a little umbrella and bendy straw into the glass. Incorporate relaxing sunny day memories to your house decor by installed a bendable gutter extension to the corner of your house. Add all the bends and twists you desire. Your neighbors will smile and give […]
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Basement drains are tricky
Posted on December 30, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItI’m grateful for my clients who continue to ask great questions. Here’s a recent… Hey Mike! Quick question. I was hoping you could give me advice as to what this means and how I could fix it. In our laundry room we had that funky drain that the previous owner had sprayed insulation around. I’ve noticed […]
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Rad Fads and Fun #2
Posted on December 20, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItThis fun little game continues in this post. One of the many enjoyable parts of home inspections are the variety of eras seen in the homes I visit. Some of the decor is nostalgic and interesting and sometimes makes you really wonder… So here are a few rad fads and fun to see if you […]
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It’s in the air we breathe!
Posted on December 10, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItThis time of year we are bundling up, closing things up and heating things up. Pots of soup are simmering on the oven, steamy baths are helping us relax and lots of family and friends are visiting over the holidays. And all of this is leaving merry-ness, and moisture, in the air. In a recent […]
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How lucky does this inspector feel?
Posted on November 30, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItI confess that there are many times that I see devices, appliances and other household features and I am curious. What is it? How does it work? Does it still work? What would it be like to use that? Am I suppose to inspect that? What do I tell my client if they ask about […]
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Mike’s Northwest Color Palette
Posted on November 20, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItWhile some categorize me as an A-type personality with an analytic-bent toward box-checking, I’m actually a creative. There are colors I see here in the Seattle and Puget Sound area each year. After thousands of client interactions I’ve learned how helpful it is to use understandable language. So with that in mind I want to […]
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Rad Fads and Fun #1
Posted on November 10, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItI’m introducing a fun little game in this post! One of the many enjoyable parts of home inspections are the variety of eras seen in the homes I visit. Some of the decor is nostalgic and interesting and sometimes makes you really wonder… So here are a few rad fads and fun to see if […]
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What is a whole house fan
Posted on October 30, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItThere are two types I’ve come across… On hot summer nights my good friends have an interesting solution to cooling their house. Windows are kept open but their secret weapon is engaged when they flip a switch near their bed. A large fan turns on, metal louvers installed in their hallway ceiling open, and air […]
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What in the world is that?
Posted on October 20, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use ItAfter more than a thousand homes, I still come across things that stop me in my tracks, cause me to take a second look and utter the words, “What in the world is that?” Here’s two recent ones… There’s my phone USB cord! While on a roof in Mountlake Terrace I saw a cord tied […]
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