  SmB$_6$, a so called Kondo insulator, is recently discussed as a candidate
material for a strong topological insulator. We present detailed atomically
resolved topographic information on the (001) surface from more than a dozen
SmB$_6$ samples. Atomically flat, {\it in situ} cleaved surfaces often exhibit
B- and Sm-terminated surfaces as well as reconstructed and non-reconstructed
areas {\it coexisting} on different length scales. The terminations are
unambiguously identified. In addition, electronic inhomogeneities are observed
which likely result from the polar nature of the (001) surface and may indicate
an inhomogeneous Sm valence at the surface of SmB$_6$. In addition, atomically
resolved topographies on a (110) surface are discussed.
