Referral Fee from other inspectors

[kbowles1]

Mr. Bushart, why would we not WANT this to happen? I certainly feel this would be helpful to the general public overall and to our industry in general.

Kevin

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by kbowles1

Mr. Bushart, why would we not WANT this to happen? I certainly feel this would be helpful to the general public overall and to our industry in general.

Kevin

Will you be a better home inspector with the state governing you than you are, today?

[kbowles1]

Me? No. Others who see this as an easy business they can just jump into and make a lot of money? Yes.

Kevin

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by kbowles1

Me? No. Others who see this as an easy business they can just jump into and make a lot of money? Yes.

As always....home inspection legislation that effects "others" is the objective of all who favor it. You gotta love it.

[John McKenna]

Who do we, as inspector recommend to our Clients to
fix an electrical problem? "Johnny Fix-it" or a licensed
and qualified Electrician?

The licence for the Electrician will keep out "Johnny Fix-it"
and only allow qualified Electricians to fix electrical problems.
Does the licensing law make all Electrician perfect? NO,
but it's better than no licensing law at all.

If there were not so many "Johnny Fix-it" guys, that know
just enough to do great damage, then there would be no need
to protect society from them.

Some laws are created to stop harm and can also have
impure motives mingled with them at the same time. To
point out the impure motives and forget the good would
not be balanced.

I think our society needed less laws in the past because
we had a higher degree of inward moral fiber being instilled
into our children. As we loose this moral fiber, then our
society calls out for outward controls to relieve the pain
of our declining moral values.

If there were not so many "Johnny Fix-it" guys wanting to
advertise themselves as qualified to fix your electrical
problems, there would be no need to create a law to
filter them out.

I know laws will not change hearts, but some laws do
have a benefit. If not, then just tell your Clients to call
"Johnny Fix-it".

As a Profession becomes more complex (ie... electricians,
home inspectors, etc...) the greater the harm can come
to the consumer who hires an imposter.

No, I don't like some laws. But sometimes the other option
becomes too painful to bear. I have met many many
people who want to inspect houses, and I can see that
the consumer would be greatly harmed if we opened
the door for them to run loose.

There is complaint against every law... but there is
a benfit too. Our country is a country of law. Some
are applied for good, some of them stink. But the rule
of law is the greatest idea man has ever had for the
benefit of society. It's a constant balance and the
debate on how to apply those laws will never end.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Who do we, as inspector recommend to our Clients to
fix an electrical problem? "Johnny Fix-it" or a licensed
and qualified Electrician?

I live and work in a state that does not license electricians...or other contractors or builders. Interestingly enough, this is okay with the Missouri Association of Realtors.

I live and work in a state that does not have or enforce building codes in more than half of its counties. This, too, seems to escape the interest of the Missouri Association of Realtors.

No...their priorities can be found in their commissions derived from the sale of the house. This is something that must fall under their control, according to them and their lobbiests, since it is their income at stake with every transaction.

There is nothing about protecting the "consumer" that motivates their desire to control home inspectors through legislation...much as the realtors do in your state, John.

Our Attorney General handles consumer complaints. In the last five years, there have been (are you ready for this?) zero complaints filed against home inspectors. Would you like to know how many thousands have been filed against real estate salesmen, builders and contractors during that same period?

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, in 1991 - of all of the licensed professions in the state - real estate agents outnumbered all of the others with criminal records. As a result, today they get background checks before licensing...but they are still licensed in spite of their record. They just serve a "probationary" like status for a while, first. These people think they should govern US!

As for the other political force behind these attempts at turning marketing plans into law, you will find ITA/Kaplan (with their promises to certain ASHI members to be hired to teach when they fill their classrooms with state mandated licensing students) as the other player.

No where in all of this will you find the consumer.

In fact, at the same time they were attempting to indenture us under HB 978, the Missouri Association of Realtors proposed another bill (HB 324) that would have given them immunity from prosecution for lying to a potential buyer about the proximity of a known sex offender to the house they were trying to sell him. These are the priorities of the Missouri Association of Realtors.

All real estate salesmen are not as greedy and as crooked as the association they have lobbying for them, but apparently enough are to empower this group.

[jravert]

The govt is too scary, and claim to know what is best. I do not trust them. Jim AAA Home Inspection

[kbowles1]

Originally Posted by jbushart

As always....home inspection legislation that effects "others" is the objective of all who favor it. You gotta love it.

Not at all Mr. Conflict. I am always for it. I obtained my SC license and had to jump through their hoops to get licensed but was willing to do so to show my conviction to the industry and the profession. But if you wish to cast your unfounded judgements on me, as you do with all the others, feel free to do so as I have come to see on these boards that there is none mightier than you. (does the addition of the smilies mean that this was supposed to be funny?)

[Brian C. Hoagland]

Do I want bad legislation and oversight -NO. Does the general public need a form of verification their inspector is of sound moral character and not a prior criminal, has minimum educational requirements and meets an established continuing education protocol, well yeah why not? Elevates our position as a recognized profession.

[kbowles1]

Originally Posted by bhoagland

Do I want bad legislation and oversight -NO. Does the general public need a form of verification their inspector is of sound moral character and not a prior criminal, has minimum educational requirements and meets an established continuing education protocol, well yeah why not? Elevates our position as a recognized profession.

Great post Brian. Thank you

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

A finders fee for a home inspection?
I can't believe it. Personally I would have told him to go **** himself and keep his inspection but that's just me.
It's not like we charge thousands for a home inspection and can give $100-200 as a referral fee.
</IMG></IMG>

[John McKenna]

We don't get that many complaints about home inspectors in
Texas. But I kind of like it that Johnny-fixit can't go out
and become a home inspector tomorrow.

BTW... it's hard to file a complaint in states when there is
no law broken and no license or standard to go by.

Here is an interesting article abou the MO inspector law
http://www.krcg.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=33382

[ccurrins]

Originally Posted by jbushart

I live and work in a state that does not license electricians...or other contractors or builders. Interestingly enough, this is okay with the Missouri Association of Realtors.

I live and work in a state that does not have or enforce building codes in more than half of its counties. This, too, seems to escape the interest of the Missouri Association of Realtors.

No...their priorities can be found in their commissions derived from the sale of the house. This is something that must fall under their control, according to them and their lobbiests, since it is their income at stake with every transaction.

There is nothing about protecting the "consumer" that motivates their desire to control home inspectors through legislation...much as the Realtors do in your state, John.

Our Attorney General handles consumer complaints. In the last five years, there have been (are you ready for this?) zero complaints filed against home inspectors. Would you like to know how many thousands have been filed against real estate salesmen, builders and contractors during that same period?

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, in 1991 - of all of the licensed professions in the state - real estate agents outnumbered all of the others with criminal records. As a result, today they get background checks before licensing...but they are still licensed in spite of their record. They just serve a "probationary" like status for a while, first. These people think they should govern US!

As for the other political force behind these attempts at turning marketing plans into law, you will find ITA/Kaplan (with their promises to certain ASHI members to be hired to teach when they fill their classrooms with state mandated licensing students) as the other player.

No where in all of this will you find the consumer.

In fact, at the same time they were attempting to indenture us under HB 978, the Missouri Association of Realtors proposed another bill (HB 324) that would have given them immunity from prosecution for lying to a potential buyer about the proximity of a known sex offender to the house they were trying to sell him. These are the priorities of the Missouri Association of Realtors.

All real estate salesmen are not as greedy and as crooked as the association they have lobbying for them, but apparently enough are to empower this group.

The problem here is not with the licensing, it is with who control the license. In most states it is the government, by the people, for the people. In Your state it is the Realtors Association, that is the problem.

[rwhite6]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Do you plan to allow this to happen?

Sorry. I haven't been back to this thread for a day or two, I guess.

Didn't know a question had been put to me.

Jim, I read daily and with great interest the debate here and on other HI discussion sites regarding HI licensing.

Personally, I would prefer not to be regulated in the slightest. Having worked in the private sector as a kind of liaison between my executive management and the FDA (big honkin' regulators with real live kill your company enforcement power), Ihad a revulsion to gvernment engendered within me.

I can also see the point of licensing and a set of minimum standards. Some companies that that enforcement agency rode hard and put up wet really deserved the workout. We who were following the rules as best as we could appreciated their efforts at those times (just as the misdiagnosed and maltreated public did.)

Until I am finished with my internal debate, that is all I have to say on this external one.