Is ASHI Going Broke?

[Tracy Schoop]

Originally Posted by prussell

Dan for your information I have seen first hand here in NH how ASHI spends it's members dues, They are call lobbyist, we have two of them here, granted most lobbyist are professionals who work for different groups at the same time, but my question to you is, if ASHIs budget is so tight and memberships are down why do they continue to throw away money at legislation.

Again Dan, remember I live in NH, have seen it first hand. If I was a ASHI member I would want to know!

ASHI National does have a political PAC for a national lobbyist, Randy Pence in Washington DC. None of the dues that are paid to national go into the political PAC. Those that want to participate do so by sending in money to join the PAC, it is called Inspect PAC. The PAC has around 500+ members in it.

Individual or local chapters do what they want. If a chapter hires a lobbyist, they do it on their own without financial help from national. This is how most associations work.

If you are wondering how a new person like myself knows all of this, my ex brother-in-law was a former ASHI president and I use to work for him in his inspection business many years back. I have kept in contact with what is going on in the profession.

The ASHI lobbyist in DC works on items that helps all home inspectors in the country, not just ASHI inspectors. The little paper from HUD that buyers sign saying that they should have a home inspection, came from ASHI and their lobbyist. The ability for a FHA home buyer to be reimbursed for a home inspection at closing came from this same lobbyist and ASHI. More is in the works that will help all home inspectors, regardless of their affiliation.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by Tracy Schoop

ASHI National does have a political PAC for a national lobbyist, Randy Pence in Washington DC. None of the dues that are paid to national go into the political PAC. Those that want to participate do so by sending in money to join the PAC, it is called Inspect PAC. The PAC has around 500+ members in it.

Individual or local chapters do what they want. If a chapter hires a lobbyist, they do it on their own without financial help from national. This is how most associations work.

If you are wondering how a new person like myself knows all of this, my ex brother-in-law was a former ASHI president and I use to work for him in his inspection business many years back. I have kept in contact with what is going on in the profession.

The ASHI lobbyist in DC works on items that helps all home inspectors in the country, not just ASHI inspectors. The little paper from HUD that buyers sign saying that they should have a home inspection, came from ASHI and their lobbyist. The ability for a FHA home buyer to be reimbursed for a home inspection at closing came from this same lobbyist and ASHI. More is in the works that will help all home inspectors, regardless of their affiliation.

Tracy, the ASHI lobbyist here in NH have no intention of working on behalf of the common good for all inspectors in NH, The bill that was drafted was a page out of ASHIs membership requirements.

If you care to see what has gone on here I suggest you go to nh.gov and navigate the site till you find quick search and type in SB212. Read this bill, I'm not sure if your an ASHI member or not but under the current real estate downturn this bill would be the last nail in the coffin for many inspectors who are struggling to hold on to their businesses.

Come back and post again after you have read the bill, I would like to talk to you further about this and what goes on in other states, I would also like to mention that the NH coalition of home inspectors are made up of mostly if not all ASHI members, this group wrote the bill under this disguise.

[Tracy Schoop]

Again, this is not national ASHI. Whatever is being done is by the local state chapter, or group. No difference if NACHI had worked to get what they wanted through the legislature.

I did look at SB 212 and it is not all that bad. A person can grandfather in fairly easy. I would say that if a person has been in business for a year to eighteen months they should be able to grandfather in under the law. If not the requirements are not all that bad. I really do not care for the 50 supervised inspections, I think 20-25 would be a better number.

My guess is the the group that got this into legislation worked very hard at doing so and that they had little opposition from opposing groups. This is my perception, but I really do not know as I do not have a dog in this fight.

Will it put some out of business, very possibly. Hundreds of so called home inspectors go out of business every week across the country, and many are in unlicensed and unregulated markets. The home inspection profession is a tough business, I have seen estimates of an 80% failure rate for new inspectors in their first year. Being a licensed profession means that you have a minimal bar or standard that you need to meet in order to get and keep a license. Some professions have higher standards than others.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by Tracy Schoop

Again, this is not national ASHI. Whatever is being done is by the local state chapter, or group. No difference if NACHI had worked to get what they wanted through the legislature.

I did look at SB 212 and it is not all that bad. A person can grandfather in fairly easy. I would say that if a person has been in business for a year to eighteen months they should be able to grandfather in under the law. If not the requirements are not all that bad. I really do not care for the 50 supervised inspections, I think 20-25 would be a better number.

My guess is the the group that got this into legislation worked very hard at doing so and that they had little opposition from opposing groups. This is my perception, but I really do not know as I do not have a dog in this fight.

Tracy, I will tell you that there was plenty of opposition and that's why the bill was referred back to committee.

Let me ask you something, why would sb212 be of interest to you as your from NM and not near NH. Just curious.

[Tracy Schoop]

Originally Posted by prussell

Tracy, I will tell you that there was plenty of opposition and that's why the bill was referred back to committee.

Let me ask you something, why would sb212 be of interest to you as your from NM and not near NH. Just curious.

It's really not of much interest to me. You are the one who told me to go and look at it, and I did. I do like to know what is going on in the country, I see NM being in line for license legislation in the next year or so.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by Tracy Schoop

It's really not of much interest to me. You are the one who told me to go and look at it, and I did. I do like to know what is going on in the country, I see NM being in line for license legislation in the next year or so.

Sorry, I didn't realise that you could find the bill and read through it so quickly.

[klott]

Originally Posted by dharris

Ken.... Where have you heard that ASHI is begging for funds?

Think about it, the only place was here from a couple of your fellow members and the owner of your org, the same members when challenged cannot provide proof to their bogus BS claims, spins and posts about ASHI and ASHI members..

Truth is I have never had a request from ASHI for funds beyond the dues that I agree to pay every year..

Fact is , unlike NACHI, ASHI is not owned by one person, ASHI is totally controlled by elected members and those elected members are held accountable [where our dues go] to the dues paying members.

Facts are the RE market has slowed down, that equals less inspectors, less HI dues, less funds to operate our org.

The end result, same as any professional run business,
less $s = reduce overhead costs to weather the storm allowing you to be there for the members for the long term..

You're right Dan, here is where I heard it, but several members belong to Ashi also, when 2 or 3 say the exact same thing I tend to believe it until proven wrong. If it was just nachi members then that would be different. I know it has slowed down for everybody regardless of which org. they belong to, that is why all of this fighting between orgs. should cease, come on Dan, you are a smart fella, you know this must look bad to new clients and agents, they will be confused and rather than pick an inspector they may decide to just bypass an inspection altogether. Has anybody ever thought, the reason why it slowed down might be our faults. There are a lot of dubious sellers and agents out there telling people that home inspections are a waste of time and money. Bottom line; there is no good, no way, in arguing. It just makes us all look bad. IMHO

[klott]

Originally Posted by Alexander M. Badler

ASHI is and always will be the best.

That is a very broad prediction Alexander, it takes years and years to be the best, but it can be destroyed in 1 minute.

[Tracy Schoop]

Originally Posted by klott

That is a very broad prediction Alexander, it takes years and years to be the best, but it can be destroyed in 1 minute.

It is all about public perception. Who do you see on morning television? Who is always mentioned in new articles? Who is working with HUD/FHA and VA? Who is has more experienced inspectors with many years under their belt?

The answer to all of the above questions is ASHI. They are not going to go away. They might face a reduction in size, but the loss will be mostly from the ranks of the newer members or inspectors. NACHI will also face a loss in members, the major difference is that a very large number of the members in NACHI are newer inspectors. If ASHI pears down it will become a stronger more unified organization with the largest percentage of experienced inspectors in the profession.

[Peter C. Russell]

Tracy, I was a candidate member in 1994 and have see it peak, but now appears to be in a downward trend.

[dharris]

Originally Posted by klott

That is a very broad prediction Alexander, it takes years and years to be the best, but it can be destroyed in 1 minute.

Ken ... you may be correct with a privately owned org or company.

Kinda hard to destroy the commitment to our profession of over 6,000 inspectors, that have a voice, on the direction where our profession go's in 1 min..

Real easy when you have a hand full of individuals, and one official spokes person representing you [heck one of them even has a criminal record that may prohibit him from getting a state lic,] committed to keeping an on-line quiz as the only qualifier to be marketed to the public as a certified inspector...

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by dharris

Ken ... you may be correct with a privately owned org or company.

Kinda hard to destroy the commitment to our profession of over 6,000 inspectors, that have a voice, on the direction where our profession go's in 1 min..

Real easy when you have a hand full of individuals, and one official spokes person representing you [heck one of them even has a criminal record that may prohibit him from getting a state lic,] committed to keeping an on-line quiz as the only qualifier to be marketed to the public as a certified inspector...

Dan I see you have made over 600 posts on the NACHI site this year it is obvious you like it here .
Can you tell us how many posts you have made on the ASHI site and how about other BB do you make as many posts there?
It would be very interesting to see the comparision .
Thanks Cookie

[klott]

[quote=Tracy Schoop]It is all about public perception. Who do you see on morning television?The three stooges. Are you referring to the staged inspections set up by ashi to deceive the public into believing ashi is the only reputable choice available?(You know, kind of like the ol rocket strapped onto the gas tanks of chevy trucks, that CBS tried to pull on the public?) Is that what you mean?Who is always mentioned in new articles? Paris Hilton Who is working with HUD/FHA and VA? A lot of Nachi inspectors.Who is has more experienced inspectors with many years under their belt? Nachi, of course!

The answer to all of the above questions is ASHI. I don't believe that anymore than you do. They are not going to go away. I hope not, how will people know Nachi is best if they don't have the worst for comparison. They might face a reduction in size, No doubt. but the loss will be mostly from the ranks of the newer members or inspectors. AH!, the muslim strategy! NACHI will also face a loss in members, Some.the major difference is that a very large number of the members in NACHI are newer inspectors. Let's look at this for a moment, you say Ashi is losing New inspectors, and then you say Nachi is new inspectors, so by your own admission, Ashi's loss is Nachi's gain! Yes a very large number of Nachi inspectors are former Ashi inspectors. That is truly telling, don't you think? If ASHI pears down it will become a stronger more unified organization with the largest percentage of experienced inspectors in the profession. I can't argue with that, if you have 100 inspectors and 98 are old guys, you will have 98%.[/quote] By your own admission, the future of Nachi looks bright indeed, while Ashi will have only a few older experienced inspectors, Nachi will have those, plus a whole new generation world wide. New, strong, young inspectors with the knowledge and training to stay abreast of all the new technologies coming down the pipe. Young, smart, innovative and modern, to service the needs of modern buyers and sellers. I get excited just thinking about it, don't you? Please don't misunderstand me, I do appreciate all of the T.V. publicity for Nachi that Ashi is paying for, the general public is not as dumb as you think they are, they see the set ups and it makes them wonder who is it, that you are trying to make look so bad, it makes them wonder, who is it, that they are afraid to even mention their name, then their curiousity get's the best of them. They start to investigate, they ask questions, they hear the word Nachi, then, then they come to Nachi.org, and when they see the first page, they stare in awe, then they start going thru the pages until several hours have passed, then they sit back in their chair and shake their head back and forth, all the while mumbling poor ashi, poor ashi, those poor ol' guys don't stand a chance, I will help them, I will give them an inspection ! Right now! .................................................. .................................................. ...... NAH! HONEY!, do you have the number of that Nachi guy we heard about? YOU know! that Certified Master Inspector! No, no, it's not on the refrigerator, look in the Rolodex, under professionals!

[klott]

Originally Posted by dharris

Ken ... you may be correct with a privately owned org or company.

Kinda hard to destroy the commitment to our profession of over 6,000 inspectors, that have a voice, on the direction where our profession go's in 1 min..

Real easy when you have a hand full of individuals, and one official spokes person representing you [heck one of them even has a criminal record that may prohibit him from getting a state lic,] committed to keeping an on-line quiz as the only qualifier to be marketed to the public as a certified inspector...

Dan, you know as well as I do, one mistep, one racist remark, bad publicity can bring a company to it's knees in a flash! Sorry, I have to go sharpen my crayon, it's getting kinda dull!