Experience Only! ? ! ?

[Blaine Wiley]

I doubt there are very many inspectors with 25 years of experience who are contually doing it wrong.

I would imagine there are may more with 2 years or less that make mistakes. That would only be common sense.

FREA's actuaries certainly agree with that, as their new inspector rates are much higher.

It is funny that those with less experience take one side, and those of us with more take the other!!

[James H. Bushart]

Experience is a factor that, if you have it, you should flaunt it for marketing purposes. It is also a factor that those pushing for legislation who are looking to eliminate competition will pick the year below their level as a minimum qualifier. These can be expected.

But I am reminded of the younger man in the suit and tie who argued that his generation is smarter because they have the computer and the experience of using it. The man of my generation agreed that we did not have it, or the experience....which is why we had to invent it.

It's all relative.

[mporras]

Originally Posted by bwiley

I doubt there are very many inspectors with 25 years of experience who are contually doing it wrong.

I would imagine there are may more with 2 years or less that make mistakes. That would only be common sense.

FREA's actuaries certainly agree with that, as their new inspector rates are much higher.

It is funny that those with less experience take one side, and those of us with more take the other!!

Yes, that is why I say SOME inspectors. If a guy has been doing it right for 25 years (25 years is just a number...it could be 10 or 15 years...and I don't mean only inspecting, I mean building etc.)...that is powerful, but there are many guys who have been doing it "a while" that are doing it wrong. I know this for a fact... I have seen it with my own eyes. All I'm saying is, if you are new to the business, you can compete with a guy that has been doing it "awhile" if you are knowledgeable and observant. BTW, this brings up another point...being observant and careful makes up for a lot. An inspector may have experience and knowledge, etc., but if he has poor eyesight, or is not observant...that can be a problem.

[dhelm]

Originally Posted by bwiley

I doubt there are very many inspectors with 25 years of experience who are contually doing it wrong.

I would imagine there are may more with 2 years or less that make mistakes. That would only be common sense.

FREA's actuaries certainly agree with that, as their new inspector rates are much higher.

It is funny that those with less experience take one side, and those of us with more take the other!!

What surprises you about that? I have had the opportunity to read many reports by "experience" inspectors, many with no formal training. That experience is just as Bushart stated. There are many out there who do less than thorough inspections (and I'm not talking about nitpicky stuff) and stay in business because their referral rate is high from less than ethical realtors.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dhelm

There are many out there who do less than thorough inspections (and I'm not talking about nitpicky stuff) and stay in business because their referral rate is high from less than ethical realtors.

And the sadly funny and ironic thing about this is...these are the fellas who will be grandfathered if your (pardon my expression) "consumer protection" home inspector licensing law passes in Washington.

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by jbushart

And the sadly funny and ironic thing about this is...these are the fellas who will be grandfathered if your (pardon my expression) "consumer protection" home inspector licensing law passes in Washington.

Exactly. And the hungry, more careful, "newbie" inspector will be run out of business. Then the people who lobbied in the law will have in place just who they wanted. Those that will play the game.

[Blaine Wiley]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

Exactly. And the hungry, more careful, "newbie" inspector

That is a general assumption that can not be quantified.

I ask you all to look at some of the basic questions asked by "more careful, newbie inspectors" on this very bb. Many of the questions are basic, were covered in class, and are the basics of the job.

While I do applaud those who ask the questions because they recognize the need to know. I am also somewhat troubled that the same people are getting paid for their "knowledge and expertise" in doing the inspection.

Again, we were all new once, all did our first inspection, all did or will do our 100th and so on. It will be interesting to see how many of those here who have done 100 or fewer inspections, or have been in business less than a year or so, are on the other side of the discussion when you've done thousands of inspections. Licensing does not solve this issue, and yes, some claim it will. Licensing just makes the newbie and the 25 year inspector have the same piece of paper, and pay the same fee.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Interesting topic, and Blaine that was well said.

Being book smart and a newbie will only get you on the same page as the 25 year old inspector as Blaine pointed out, when licensed.

Having been in Construction for over 40 years, you could not imagine how many book smart people I have met that had a license to do Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC ,(for examples only) were absolutely useless in the field of such trades.
The comment of being observeant is a tool that all should have but unfortunately, not all do.

Compare the observeant, book smart, and the experienced, well sadly enough, I would have to say it is not compareable.
The later might catch up quicker due being book smart, but will not excel as one with 25 years experience.

JMHO

Marcel
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[klott]

Originally Posted by bwiley

That is a general assumption that can not be quantified.

I ask you all to look at some of the basic questions asked by "more careful, newbie inspectors" on this very bb. Many of the questions are basic, were covered in class, and are the basics of the job.

While I do applaud those who ask the questions because they recognize the need to know. I am also somewhat troubled that the same people are getting paid for their "knowledge and expertise" in doing the inspection.

Again, we were all new once, all did our first inspection, all did or will do our 100th and so on. It will be interesting to see how many of those here who have done 100 or fewer inspections, or have been in business less than a year or so, are on the other side of the discussion when you've done thousands of inspections. Licensing does not solve this issue, and yes, some claim it will. Licensing just makes the newbie and the 25 year inspector have the same piece of paper, and pay the same fee.

Blaine I wish you had not said that, because now those newbies you refer too will be afraid to openly ask questions for fear of being judged or labeled. I'd bet a dollar to a dime that there are some newbies in nachi that are better inspectors than you, me and a lot of others,some of these kids have 1000 GB RAM. Experience does not automatically make one better. But sometimes worse.

[Blaine Wiley]

Right here, Ken: While I do applaud those who ask the questions because they recognize the need to know.

This bb has been here to share information for years, and even very experienced cromudgeons like me are more than willing to share our knowldege, for free.

Just don't ask us for help, then tell us our experience doesn't mean much in the same breath.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bwiley

Just don't ask us for help, then tell us our experience doesn't mean much in the same breath.

Did that happen?

[Blaine Wiley]

Is the thread not downplaying or somewhat disparaging experience.

"And the hungry, more careful, "newbie" inspector". This thought is what I refer to. You won't get to be a 25 year inspector unless you are careful. The more you learn, the more you realize how much more you need to learn.

Sorry, one of my hot buttons

Again, I think it will be fun to see the change in mindset as those who haven't done 100 yet approach 5 or 6 thousand, if they get there.

[klott]

Originally Posted by bwiley

Right here, Ken: While I do applaud those who ask the questions because they recognize the need to know.

This bb has been here to share information for years, and even very experienced cromudgeons like me are more than willing to share our knowldege, for free.

Just don't ask us for help, then tell us our experience doesn't mean much in the same breath.

Blane I think you took me wrong I know how valuble experience is, I was just trying to say don't intimdate the newbies. Sorry if I offended you. Ken

[James H. Bushart]

I don't see the thread downplaying experience as much as I see it pointing out that experience...in, of and by itself...is not necessarily a foolproof indicator of quality or proficiency.

No one can argue that each inspection is a new opportunity to (1) learn something new and (2) apply and sharpen skills we already have. It only makes sense that the more we learn new skills and apply old ones, the better we will be as inspectors. That is too obvious to debate.

What is debatable is this. I have done 1,000 inspections and you have done 250 inspections. If the two of us were to inspect the home at 100 N. Main Street, I will undoubtedly do a better inspection/report than you...strictly by virtue of my greater experience.

Would you agree?

[klott]

Originally Posted by jbushart

I don't see the thread downplaying experience as much as I see it pointing out that experience...in, of and by itself...is not necessarily a foolproof indicator of quality or proficiency.

No one can argue that each inspection is a new opportunity to (1) learn something new and (2) apply and sharpen skills we already have. It only makes sense that the more we learn new skills and apply old ones, the better we will be as inspectors. That is too obvious to debate.

What is debatable is this. I have done 1,000 inspections and you have done 250 inspections. If the two of us were to inspect the home at 100 N. Main Street, I will undoubtedly do a better inspection/report than you...strictly by virtue of my greater experience.

Would you agree?

Yes I probably would If I knew more about you, or I might not, it would depend on how well of a job you do.