Go Bags

It's almost that time of year again. With all of the dry weather we've been having and with fire  season almost upon us here in Oregon, what better time to think of our emergency plans and go bags? Here are some practical go bag tips to help get you started (just keep in mind every family and their needs are different, so make sure to plan with your family in mind).

What's a Go Bag?

Simply put, a go bag is something with emergency supplies that can easily be grabbed upon leaving your home. Typically, they are in backpacks. It will include everything from food and water to a change of shoes or clothes. Each member of the family should have a go bag, when possible, that they can safely carry.

Keep It Light

When we think of emergency situations, it can be easy to stuff our go bags full of everything we can think of, but keep in mind it is supposed to be quick to grab and light enough to be carried. We've heard of friends whose packs were so heavy that they almost keeled over when it was put on their backs. 

The Essentials: Food and Water

At the top of the list are food and water. It is recommended to have three days of food and water for each person in your household. We found the food and water to be one of the trickier things to plan since both can take up considerable space and weigh quite a bit. Here are a few suggestions to meet that challenge.

For food, ration bars can be a good fit, literally. They often take up very little space and have a  long shelf life. There are a lot of different brands out there, so be on the lookout for one that will fit your family's dietary requirements. Do they taste good? Maybe. You can always buy one to sample if you are unsure. One pack we tried had the taste of bland lemon shortbread cookies. You won't crave them, but they will do for an emergency.

The next challenge was water. We went with the emergency water packets and a water filter straw. If you choose to go with traditional bottled water, be sure to check it periodically for leaks.  

Other Essentials

A change of clothing and shoes, if possible, is helpful to have in a go bag. Pick items that fit well and are comfortable for you. In our area, it's good to have versatile pieces of clothing since the weather can, at times, change quickly. 

Toiletries should also be in your go bag. The basics, like a bar of soap, hand sanitizer, or sanitizing wipes can fit in a relatively small space. Prescriptions and medications your family may need should also be included in your emergency kit. 

Other helpful items to include are a hand-crank NOAA radio (some even have cell phone charging ports built right in), waterproof matches, a whistle to call for help, flashlights with spare batteries (store the batteries in a separate container to prevent them corroding in the flashlight), and a first aid kit.

Again, with all of the items, these are only suggestions, and you will want to make sure that they are appropriate for each member of your family. For more help on how you can be prepared for an emergency, check out ready.gov. 

We hope everyone stays safe and healthy,

Bear Creek Home Inspections

Kitchen Essentials

Moving out on your own for the first time or know someone who is? Moving out on your own can be intimidating and, one of the things that can be a challenge is having the right kitchen equipment ready for your new home, but with so many gizmos and gadgets, what will be the most beneficial for the long haul and not just yard sale fodder? Here are a few things that we think are essential. 

Good Knives

Some Well Loved Knives

Everyone needs knives, and they should be seen as an investment. A good set of knives can last you a lifetime if cared for properly. Our best advice is to buy the nicest you can afford and don't aim for quantity, aim for quality. A full block of knives might look good on the counter, but only some are needed. A chef's knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife. Bonus tip: keep your knives sharp and take the time to learn proper cutting techniques. It will make cooking less of a chore.

Spatulas 

We love spatulas in every shape and size. From large ones to help clear out a mixing bowl to small ones to get that last little bit of peanut butter out of the jar, spatulas can save money in the long run, since less gets left behind in a jar or bowl. For instance, that last little bit of brownie batter left in a bowl in the sink could have been another bite of brownie!

Stand Mixer

A true workhorse in the kitchen. Want to mix up muffins, make whipped cream, knead some dough, or even grind meat? A good stand mixer can help! They can be expensive, but they are worth it. Besides the more you cook at home the less you will eat out, and that's sure to save money.

Food Processor 

A food processor doesn't need to be expensive. There are inexpensive ones that work well. They are perfect for making pesto, tapenade, hummus, chopping up nuts, grating cheese and carrots, and slicing vegetables. Like the stand mixer, it's another workhorse that can save time and money. Some things that are expensive to buy, like pesto, can be made relatively inexpensively, and quickly with a food processor. 

Pressure Cooker/ Slow cooker

It seems like not that long ago you had to buy these things separately, meaning even more gadgets in the kitchen taking up space, but now there is the luxury of having just one machine to do it. We use ours a lot to cook dried beans. 

A Good Nonstick Skillet

We have tried to go cheaply here, and we suffered for it. Buy the best nonstick pan you can reasonably afford and take care of it. It will save so much time and frustration when you cook. It's not so much fun having to compensate for a crummy pan while cooking. We know, we've tried.

Those are just a few things we feel are essential in a kitchen. So whether you are moving into a place of your own or need to buy a gift for someone who is, you can't go wrong with the essentials.

Bear Creek Home Inspections

Best Places to Visit in Southern Oregon

This month, even though admittedly the weather is getting colder, we thought we would make some recommendations for things to see and do in your new or prospective hometown. We have lived here for decades so, hopefully, some of this might be useful. With that said, let's hit the road!

Crater Lake 

Crater Lake In September

This one might seem obvious, but it is worth seeing. It is beautiful in the winter (be sure to be prepared for heavy snow) and the summer. Some people tend to walk out to the rim and walk along the path, go to the gift shop or the lodge, and then go home. There is so much more to do here though. There are amazing hikes that can take you down to the water or high above the lake. If hiking is not quite what you are in the mood for, be sure to try and drive around the rim. It's well worth it. One word of caution if you visit, please respect the barriers. Too many times, we have seen people scramble over them to get "better" pictures, not stopping to think that one false move could end up in being airlifted to the hospital or much worse. Be safe and have fun! To learn more: www.nps.gov

Umpqua National Forest

Waterfalls, waterfalls, and more waterfalls. We have lived in Southern Oregon for most of our lives and only just recently made the trip to this beautiful stretch of road not far from Roseburg. The most famous of the falls is Tokotee falls. While this is the one most people go to first (and you really should see it), some of our favorites are Lemolo falls and Clearwater falls. Clearwater is an easy hike and is very pretty. It's even easy to get to the top and explore the pools up there. Very rewarding for not a lot of effort. Lemolo is one where you drive through some rough-looking forest thinking perhaps you should turn around, but hold on, the falls will more than make up for it. There are two separate trails for Lemolo. The one we always end up on will take you past lovely pools and multiple cascades. It has a view of Lemolo falls from above. This one is called the north trail #1414.10. To get to the bottom of the falls, try the other trail (which we have yet to try) Lemolo Falls Trail #1468. To learn more: www.fs.usda.gov

The Oregon Coast 

One of the first things you should go see. Driving from southern Oregon, you will get the bonus of driving right through the Redwoods. From there, we recommend heading for the Port town of Brookings, where you can pick up supplies and snacks. Then head north on Hwy 101 for spectacular views and hikes. One of our favorite hikes is Cape Ferello. This hike feels like a hidden gem. If you go, be sure to hike out onto the bluff and explore. You will get a panoramic view of the coastline and get to see all kinds of birds and plants. We even saw strawberries growing there. It's a special place, and being there, you get to feel the weather shift around you. When the sea mist blows over it, it makes you feel as if you were on a ship. Be sure to bring a few chairs or a blanket too. It's a great lunch spot and one where we rarely see other people. One word of caution, however, stay well away from the edges. Cliff sides can be fragile and can crumble. Enjoy your view at a safe distance.

We hope you've enjoyed this quick list of places we love to visit time and again.

From all of us here at Bear Creek Home Inspections, Welcome Home!

Moving to Southern Oregon, Helpful Hints

You’ve made your decision, you are moving. To Southern Oregon, no less! From us here at Bear Creek Home Inspections, welcome! We know moving to a new place can be daunting, and it can take a little while to adjust. Here are a few tips about Southern Oregon that might help make life a little easier.

The Weather

For the most part, the weather is relatively mild in Southern Oregon, but the summers can be hot and dry. Because of this, be prepared for fire season. Think ahead and make sure you have an emergency go-bag for your family and also some extra air filters for your home. When there are fires in the area, the air filters in your house can get dirty a lot faster and you’ll want to be able to replace those as needed to keep your inside air healthy. 

The Rules of the Road

Oregon has a few regulations that may take a little while to get used to. These are a couple to look out for.

-Do not try to pump your gas. This is something you already may be aware of if you have visited Oregon before, but just in case you forgot, Oregon is only one of two states that do not allow self-serve. While there are pockets in the state where self-serve is allowed (sometimes only at specific times of the day) for the most part in Oregon, it is still not allowed. 

-U-Turns, this one can trip a lot of people up. U-turns are allowed in Oregon but only under specific situations or where there is a sign saying they are permitted. See the driver's manual here for the official word on u-turns. It could save you a traffic fine.

The Towns

We think we will do another article next month with places to go and visit, but here’s a quick rundown of the towns in Southern Oregon:

Medford- This is the largest of the towns along the i5 for our area. You will likely get most of your everyday shopping done here.  It has stores like Target, Wal-Mart, Fred Meyers, along with other strip mall places like Trader Joe’s and Marshall’s. There are also two hospitals in Medford, and they aren’t far from each other: Providence Medical Center and Asante Rogue Regional.

Ashland- Home of the Shakespeare Festival. It's also a pretty town to visit. It has the best park in the area, Lithia Park, and plenty of cute shops where you can find everything from kitchen goods to old vinyl records. It also has some grocery stores that cater to those who prefer organic and natural foods.

Jacksonville- Lovely old-timey town. A wonderful place to get a cup of coffee and enjoy strolling down the main street.

Central Point- A sort of bedroom community. Some small shops and a few grocery stores. The expo fairgrounds are here.

Grants Pass- A medium-sized town where, like Medford, you will find everyday shopping places.

The Oregon Coast

The Coast

One of the best things about living in Southern Oregon is the coast. From Medford, it is only a couple of hours to the port town of Brookings. When you go, keep these things in mind:

-Oregon beaches are free and open to the public. It seems amazing, but some of the best stretches of coastline you can see are free to the public thanks to the Oregon Beach Bill, and many are easy to reach. Please, keep in mind this does not mean you can trespass on private property to get to the beach. To help start you on your free beach adventure, stop at Crissey Field State Recreation Site’s visitor center. They have lots of helpful information and friendly volunteers to get you on your way. Also, in our opinion, some of the cleanest public restrooms around.

-Lookout for the bug stations. If you decide to head out to the Southern Oregon Coast from the Rogue Valley,  you will likely, temporarily, cross the California border. This means you could be stopped at, what we affectionately call, the bug station (technically called the California Agricultural Inspection Station). Many are familiar with these stations along the California border. Be aware, and don’t take along a ton of fruit that you would be sad to lose. You may find that the stations are open sporadically, but you still don't want to risk losing a lot of fruit or vegetables, or even plants, if you happen to get stuck at one. We lost a tasty orange this way, although they let us keep a banana another time. For more information about these stations, click here for the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

We hope you enjoyed these helpful hints for Southern Oregon. Stay tuned for our next article about places to see and things to do in your new home town.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Bear Creek Home Inspections

Do I Really Need a Home Inspection?

This question naturally comes to mind for any prospective home buyer. Real estate is selling so quickly some may feel a home inspection will only hurt their chances of securing a home. Keeping that in mind, is it ever a good idea to skip the home inspection?

The Good (Maybe)

In this real estate market, buyers are doing whatever they can to make themselves more attractive to a seller. Being willing to forego the home inspection might put them first in line.

The Bad (Could be Very Bad)

Well, it looks ok from the outside…

We've all heard the term money pit when it comes to homes, and if you decide to forego a home inspection, that could be just what you are getting.

For example, our family went through this very same thing. We were a young family and looking to buy our first home. We found one we liked and decided not to have a home inspection performed. We paid for that decision. After purchasing the house, we found some serious problems. There was a broken water pipe leaking gray water into our crawl space, our electrical panel was known for starting fires, and our HVAC ductwork had pulled free of its restraints and was lying on the ground, allowing rodents to make their way inside. These were all issues that we could've at least been aware of if there had been a home inspection. It may have even allowed us to negotiate with the seller at the time. Instead, it was all on us to correct, and there was no recourse.

The Ugly

The risk of not having a home inspection done could make sense for you in the short term but hurt you in the long run. A home is a big investment. It could be the biggest one you ever make. Is it worth the risk to buy a home without an inspection and hope that the house is all that the seller promises?

The other issue is safety. Think back to our faulty electrical panel. What if it had started a fire? Health and safety should always be a top priority, especially when it comes to where you live.

An Ounce of Prevention...

For the reasons, we discussed the old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is certainly true. An informed home buying decision is one that you will never regret.

If you have never had a home inspection done, please see our article: “Home Inspections, What to Expect”.

Happy House Hunting!

Bear Creek Home Inspections

Housewarming Gift Ideas

Know someone who will soon be making their dream of homeownership come true? It's a pretty special time in a person's life, might be a good time to start thinking of a good housewarming present. Here a few ideas we hope might help!

Flowers could be nice too…

-Cleaning Supplies

It's all too easy for things like cleaning supplies to be lost or used up when you are in the process of moving only to arrive in your new home and discover you don't have what you need. That's why we think a basket of cleaning essentials is always welcome. Try to keep it simple with products that don't have a lot of harsh chemicals or fragrances. That way, if they have chemical sensitivities, they can still use the cleaning supplies.

 -Dinner

Sometimes cooking is the last thing a new homeowner might want to do. It could be as simple as making them a special meal or a gift certificate to a restaurant you know they like.

 -Kitchen Items

Who doesn't like something new for the kitchen? The great thing is it can be simple, like a great spatula or something personalized for their new home. One website we like for kitchen items is uncommon goods. They have a wide range of unique kitchen items. There's almost always something interesting to see on their website. A word of warning, don't buy anything too large or decorative unless you are sure they will love it. It can be hard to get a present, like a big, framed picture. It may not go with their decor or suit their taste.

 -Gift Cards

A fun idea might be to get gift cards or certificates to shops that are close to their new home, places like the local nursery, or hardware store. By keeping it local, it might just help them to connect to their hometown.

 Those are just a few ideas to get you started.

Happy shopping!

Bear Creek Home Inspections

Moving Tips

The home inspection has come back; everything cleared through the bank. It's time to get packing. 

Moving is one of those things that can cause excitement and at the same time anxiety. Here are a few field-tested tips to help ease the pain of moving.

Do it in increments

Most jobs are easier when they are broken down into smaller increments or sections. Moving is no different. Once you know you are moving, start packing up. Look around at the stuff that you aren't using. For instance, knick-knacks are a joy to look at, but could you do without seeing them for a little while? If so, why not pack them now? It can be surprising to see just how much you can pack up right away. If you do it now, your future self will thank you.

Evaluate

Moving is the perfect time to get rid of things you don't want or need. Since you will have to sift through these things anyhow, it's good to take a few moments to decide what stays and what goes. Have boxes handy for the stuff you want to donate or sell. This way, you can easily get rid of these things before you ever move. It can be very liberating moving to a new home with just the stuff you want. A big bonus: you get to unpack less or, at the very least, have not so many boxes clogging up closets.

Label

Labeling can seem tedious when you are in a hurry, but it will save a lot of time in the long run. One thing we like to do, rather than write directly on a box all of its contents with a marker (which can run out pretty quick if there are a lot of boxes), is to write the contents of the box on a piece of notebook paper, then tape it on the box. Be sure to, also, write on the box the room it belongs to in big letters so the movers can easily see where it goes. Having the box in its proper room along with a nicely written list of its contents will save time when unpacking and make it easier to prioritize which boxes get unpacked first.

Free Boxes

Moving can be expensive, so look for freebies whenever possible. Mainly, we are talking boxes. There are plenty of companies who would not mind passing on boxes that are heading for the recycler. Ask around. Sometimes the company you work for or even some of the stores you shop at may be more than happy to share with you. It can't hurt to ask.

Pizza

Pizza is the food of choice when it comes to moving. Throw in some root beer, and you have a meal you truly earned after a day of hard work.

Those are just a few tips for the big move. We hope that all goes well for the big move!

Bear Creek Home Inspections LLC

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Home Inspections, What to Expect

Buying a new home can be a stressful process full of many steps. You go through so much narrowing down of your options and now it is time for the home inspection on what could potentially be your dream house. But what might happen on such an inspection and what is the home inspector looking for? 

 First things first, here’s a basic list of the four categories that they will be looking for:

1. Serious defects such as structural issues.

2. Issues that could lead up to more serious problems, like a leak for instance.

3. Anything that would prevent you from purchasing, insuring, or inhabiting the home.

4. Safety hazards.

 Just looking at the categories above it’s easy to see why a home inspection is so important.

 The major building components are inspected with these categories in mind. This would include components such as the roof, exterior, cooling system, heating, garage (if applicable), electrical, attic, insulation, ventilation, bathrooms, doors, windows, interior, kitchen, laundry, basement, foundation, crawlspace, and plumbing. Again, looking at this list it’s easy to see why a home inspection is so important. You certainly do not want your dream home turning into a nightmare, or if you’re looking for a fixer upper it’s at least nice to go in with as much information as possible. To see what our inspection reports look like, please, click here for a sample report.

 We hope that this will, at least, take some of the guesswork out of what a home inspection involves. If you are in the process of buying a home why not contact us and see how we can help you on your journey to homeownership. At Bear Creek Home Inspections we offer professional inspections along with a quick turnaround time to make your life just that little bit easier.

 Happy House Hunting!

Bear Creek Home Inspections