Lakewood ramblers, lake homes and rentals, done right

Local know-how

Homes in Lakewood, up close

Most Lakewood houses fall into one of three groups, and each has its own weak spots. The postwar ramblers in Lake City, Custer and Tillicum sit on low crawl spaces and have shallow attics that are tight to work in, with little insulation and often electric heat. The lakefront homes on American Lake, Gravelly Lake and Lake Steilacoom are older, remodeled in stages, and exposed to more moisture and wildlife. The 1970s homes in Oakbrook have truss attics and split-level crawl spaces with tired original insulation. We inspect every space, photograph what we find and explain it in plain terms.

Rentals deserve a mention. Lakewood has a large share of them, and landlords often inherit problems nobody reported: rodents in the attic, a crawl space full of fallen batts, a bath fan that never vented outside. We work with property owners and managers to clean up between tenants, seal out rodents, add insulation and replace failing ducts or heating. The same process applies to owner-occupied homes. Rodents first, then cleaning, then the improvements, with photos at each stage. We also check what you may qualify for in available insulation rebates.