NACHI vs. ASHI

[Mike Mer]

I was going to post this in the misc. discussion, but I could not post there.

First, I do not want to step on any toes. I am new to this site as many of you know. I am trying to get into the HI industry. I have noticed on many posts that there is the appearance of some "issues" between NACHI and ASHI. I do not know what the issues are, but for someone like me, I am trying to find the best association. Please correct me if I am wrong. I guess my question is this; can one be a member of both? Why is there an issue between the two?


Thanks
Mike

[Nick Gromicko]

There is no longer an issue with being a member of both. I was a member of both at one time. ESOP recently ruled it to be fine.

There are many differences between the 2 associations most notably in the areas of membership requirements (www.nachi.org/membership.htm) or lack of them, association activity, (www.nachi.org/whats_new.htm), internet domination, member benefits (www.nachi.org/benefits.htm), message board and site size, and business tools to help you succeed (www.nachi.org/success.htm).

[Troy Farmer]

Hey Mike Welcome You can be a member of both if you like.
But don't get caught up in all the political crap. I stay out of it!!!
NACHI has done wonders for me personally in the business, and it will only get better if you utilize all the tools they offer you. If you want more in depth info as to how NACHI can help you then call me.

And you are a full member with NACHI not a candidate.

I chose with no third party influence when making my decision to join an association, that is of course why I'm here today, to try and make a difference for those few people I can

Good Luck, Happy Reading To The Many Other Posts You're Going To See

[Nick Gromicko]

The big "political crap" really occurs over licensing. ASHI is known for pushing very MINIMUM standard licensing and the very MINIMUM "everyone passes!" NHIE. The problem with licensing is that it holds out no one, lets in everyone (all equally licensed), causes a school to open on every corner dumping hundreds of new inspectors into our markets each waving their freshly printed license, and nearly triples the number of inspectors that exist... almost overnight. InterNACHI generally takes a hands-off position to licensing unless it is association-biased as we did in Canada and Georgia recently with our repair of proposed legislation.

Other than that, and a few pot shots back and forth, InterNACHI and ASHI agree on almost all major issues (the mini-association out of Minneapolis is the lone hold out). These issues InterNACHI and ASHI agree on are: Inspectors performing repair work on their own inspections (both prohibit), purchased-praise, preferred vendor schemes (both prohibit), and ASTM (both anti).

[Troy Farmer]

Nick why is Nachi anti ASTM? When we supported it during our commercial Course??
What has changed

[Nick Gromicko]

ASTM's commercial Standards of Practice is a disaster. It's nothing more than an open scope of work permission form (if you and your client pre-agree to it, fine by ASTM). The problem with that is that an SOP has to say something and require that you do something... otherwise it's not an SOP, meaningless, and gives the inspector nothing to point to in defending a lawsuit. An inspector can't abide by a nothing.

ASTM needs to rename the document as it is not an SOP at all.

Stick with the inspection industry's only Commercial SOP: www.nachi.org/comsop.htm

[jrichards]

Mike,

If you are just starting, join NACHI. Nick does a lot for the members here. Many of the members here are also very helpfull.

After you reach the 250 inspection mark join ASHI. But only if the ASHI propaganda has penetrated the real estate offices so deep that the first question the agents ask is "Are you ASHI?" I have seen other ASHI inspectors point out ASHI candidates to some agents, and explain the difference in experience. If your an ASHI rookie, you're looking to lose out on inspections to full ASHI members.

John Richards
www.InspectJacksonville.com

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jrichards

Mike,

If you are just starting, join NACHI. Nick does a lot for the members here. Many of the members here are also very helpfull.

After you reach the 250 inspection mark join ASHI.

Once you have made it to 250 inspections, you will have established a reputation in your market with 250 buyers or sellers, 250 - 500 real estate salespeople, and their friends.

You then will be looking for an association that offers you a benefit. ASHI is not that association, since your credentials at that point are already established.

If there is a better association than NACHI at that time, who has an even larger internet presence, join it. If not, stay NACHI. ASHI "credentials" are only meaningful to newbies needing to establish a foothold. You will already be there when you hit 250....especially in this market.

[Nick Gromicko]

Also, I think it is pretty well known in real estate circles, that I regularly offer my expert testimony on behalf of any consumer who was steered by a real estate agent toward any no-entrance-requirements-whatsoever associations like ASHI if the consumer is willing to also sue the broker for negligent referral.

I also email and mail out more ASHI applications than ASHI does to teach agents how to avoid not just ASHI members but all online-application-diploma mills where you just send in a check and Shazam! http://www.homeinspector.org/join/ap...n/default.aspx It's also part of my approved real estate course http://www.nachi.org/whateveryagentn...ctions2006.htm that I teach. We need to put an end to these "Give us your credit card online and Shazam, you're an inspector!" orgs.

If you are a consumer reading this and have been steered toward a patty-cake member of such an association, email me: nick.gromicko@nachi.org It's my job to keep the inspection industry clean and I'll help you (at no cost) sue the fake inspector and the agent who referred him/her. Note, I don't help anyone sue other inspectors. I only help sue diploma-mill-association members who were referred by a real estate agent if the consumer is also willing to sue the broker for negligent referral.

[Mike Mer]

Ok, lots of info here. Thanks for the input.

I will say from my own experience on this forum that you all seem knowledgeable and helpful. The site is easy to navigate and I there seems to be plenty of educational material. The only negative I can say about ASHI, since I have no experience with them. is that I went to their site to join their forum and I can't even figure out how to join it.

I think I will stay with you guys.

[Troy Farmer]

Welcome aboard