New service for members who discover foundation issues.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

I do not direct clients to people by name, so it does not appear that
I am feeding them money. I recommend certain types of specialist,
but not by name.

OK, but your original post read:

In Texas we cannot recommend anyone that makes money
on the repairs, because it can be considered a conflict of interest.

That certainly gave me the impression that there was something that forbid the practice of recommending others while I am not aware of any such prohibition. I see now that your statement is based on your personal or company philosophy. That's all fine and great just so we agree that it's not based on any state legal requirements.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

[quote=whandley;477351]Hey Jeff;

You're an ex-police officer, no? The Illinois Governor was arrested with approval of a grand jury for less evidence than is floating around this website. The direction of this association and its business practices are degrading on a daily basis.

Novice and or unknowing inspectors who involve themselves in some of these NACHI programs are going to need a good insurance policy and legal representation in the not to distant future.

Guys! Don't turn yourselves into the likes of subprime mortgage lenders who sold anything and everything to their clients with little or no regard for their well being. Clients hire us to protect them, not be carpet baggers selling them worthless products and services. The down side liabilty to you can be enormous no matter what Nick says.[/quote]

But Nick is trying to protect you folks from cradle to grave.........sounds like a commie organization.

Why would he "have" to protect HI's so much........maybe the #'s of overnight "certified" HI's with little or minimal construction, HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, building science knowledge (and being experienced in only one is just a beginning) are becoming a liability for "his" system!!!

Change the model, Nick!! ..........Oh!!! but that would mean HI's might have to work and wait up to 2-3 years (and not OVERNIGHT!!!) to be "fully" certified as is the case in many other orgs.

[dharris]

Originally Posted by dbucknavich

How about the whole National Jewish Health offer? It was so confusing I still don't know all the details. Something about selling our customers an empty box, thats right, an empty box. With this empty box, that cost our client money ($40 or so), they could them fill the box, for a fee of like $200 more dollars, with an attachment for an allergen screen. The client would then perform the test themselves. The National Jewish Health people would then compensate us, the inspector, after the test is completed, by the client. Confused? Me too. One of many offers, one of many. I can do the same (minus the whole box ordeal) for $75. Everything after is profit. That guy couldn't answer half of my questions that night. But he is INACHI endorsed, and so the fish will bite.

Yet there will be many to jump on, in an effort to justify the $289 membership fee. The fee isn't that high, so don't try to hard to justify it. If it walks like a duck, it is a freaking duck. Too good to be true? Yup.

Not trying to be negative, just trying to be a good member, and look out for other members. Stay away until its proven, but what is likely to happen, is that it will be forgotten long before the proven part happens.

But Dylan. If I remember correctly I think the box has the nacho logo on it.
Can you think of any better and FREE way to market to the mail man..

[Bobby Hamilton]

Originally Posted by rspriggs

I've finally got it all figured out.
The same handful conspire with Nick all week to come up with some really hot debateable topic.
It gets launched on Fri PM's to keep the MB actively posting thru the weekend.
Side bets are taken by all players to see how many posts will tally up in the thread in, say, 48 hrs.
Sun PM, a pre-arranged victory / truce is declared, someone else drops out of NACHI membership, and condolence letters go out to the (former) member, along with a poll on Mon AM, "Should GoodOleBoy XYZ be reinstated to NACHI?"

I'm in, what's the point spread?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

One thing is certain though, unless the expert loses the suit against him/her, the inspector can't lose for negligent referral.

There are many reasons to do it.

There is one unlikely scenario that you wouldn't want to have happen and that is:

1. There is a problem.
2. The expert didn't pick it up.
3. The expert and inspector get sued.
4. The expert was shown to be incorrect.
5. The expert loses.
6. The plaintiff proves damages.
7. The plaintiff proves that your referral was negligent (proves that you knew something about the expert that should have caused you to not refer him).

Like I said, the likelihood of good outweighs the unliklihood of bad, IMHO.

There is no advantage to me, the inspector...financial or otherwise....for me to refer the "expert" for further evaluation. None.

On the other hand, there is risk....especially in a program like the one you describe where, not only do I call and personally arrange the consultation, but also provide the photographs from which he will make his call....that I have inherited the accountability for the end result.

Again, I gain nothing.

You...on the other hand....depending upon your financial arrangements with the provider of this service...will gain. I doubt that there will be too many more than the usual handful that will risk everything to gain nothing...to help you make a buck.

May I ask again....who are these "experts" (for independent evaluation of their qualifications and reputations) and how are they paid?

[dbucknavich]

Originally Posted by jbushart

May I ask again....who are these "experts" (for independent evaluation of their qualifications) and how are they paid?

After asking several times, I don't think we're getting that answer. But alas, don't fear the kool-aid, just drink it. For Master Nick has brewed it, and it shall be good.

[dbucknavich]

Do I even need to mention IBS, who was allowed to prey upon NACHI members a couple years back at meetings? They promised the world with phone answering, web sites, and marketing material. And with nick's bright shiny smile standing behind them, the members ate it up. Come to discover this company had barely started, wasn't able to produce any of the promises, wouldn't answer a phone or call a member back, and made people wait months for a refund- if they got one.

So Nick allowed an unproven company to speak at the meeting and prey upon the attendees, without verifying their ability to provide business needs. Unbelievable. Only a couple more weeks until my name is off the NACHI roster for good too.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dbucknavich

Do I even need to mention IBS, who was allowed to prey upon NACHI members a couple years back at meetings? They promised the world with phone answering, web sites, and marketing material. And with nick's bright shiny smile standing behind them, the members ate it up. Come to discover this company had barely started, wasn't able to produce any of the promises, wouldn't answer a phone or call a member back, and made people wait months for a refund- if they got one.

So Nick allowed an unproven company to speak at the meeting and prey upon the attendees, without verifying their ability to provide business needs. Unbelievable. Only a couple more weeks until my name is off the NACHI roster for good too.

This is why the membership, as a whole, should object to Nick's implementation of his "preferred provider" system.

In real home inspector associations, all vendors pay the same fee in order to access the members. They must them compete....with quality and price...on an even playing field. Members benefit.

If this is an honest deal...Nick will tell everyone who these "experts" are so that the members can find more about them, their services, and their reputations. He will also be up front as to how these "experts" will be paid.

If this is, as you say, "business as usual"....it will just be another "benefit" on the long list of unused "benefits" and be used strictly to attract unsuspecting newbies who will never read this thread.

We will know which it is in a few days.

[Who Now]

http://www.imolin.org/images/imolin/schemeng.jpg

[jvogan]

That is the real question....tell us who these SEs are, and let us do our homework on them. I, for one, would REALLY like to know who they are, and the fact that Nick isn't saying who, really makes me wonder?????? The Peter Tafeen Structural Engineering Network???

[George A. H. Luck]

I.B.S.

I was one of the lucky members who won the services of this company at a NACHI meeting.

Neve heard a word from them.

Probably not a bad thing.

[dbucknavich]

Originally Posted by jvogan

The Peter Tafeen Structural Engineering Network???

Hey now!! Peter Tafeen is innocent, Nick said so. Man, I am really acquiring a taste for kool-aid.

[Joe Farsetta]

If I see a crac k in a foundation, I note it in the report. I describe it, and follow with standard verbiage rergarding the possible seriousness of foundation cracking, in addition to the fact that I do not know the cause. I go on to tell the client to seek the services of a licensed professionall engineer if they wish.

When I say licensed professional engineer, Ii mean licensed in the state where the property is located. Offering opinions on structural issues is generally reserved for engineers and architects.

Where significant cracking is noted, most engineers will want to perform a careful visual inspection, aliong with measurements. In some cases, follow-up inspections of these cracks are performed at fixed intervals.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jfarsetta

I go on to tell the client to seek the services of a licensed professionall engineer if they wish.

As of yet...in spite of his many posts...Nick has yet to show an advantage to the inspector to do anything else.

Where is the "benefit"?

[dbucknavich]

Originally Posted by jbushart

As of yet...in spite of his many posts...Nick has yet to show an advantage to the inspector to do anything else.

Where is the "benefit"?

Hidden somewhere deep...in someone else's pocket. Not mine, that's for sure....maybe my lawyer's...but not mine.