Certified Master Inspectors (CMIs) in a dozen states & provinces, many NACHI members.

[rwand1]

Nick said,

Ray, the reason I don't have much to say about Canadian associations is that I don't see them doing anything wrong. What is it that I, as a political activist for the industry, should be aware of regarding Canadian associations?

I generally am not interested at all in how they treat their own members, that is their choice. Here in the states we have a couple associations that offer absolutely no membership benefits, at least none in comparison to www.nachi.org/benefits.htm but that is their decision and if their members are goofy enough to pay for nothing in return, more power to 'em.

You do have a good point there. I guess I don't see the issues as so clearly, my vision is clouded.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by gromicko

The site www.certifiedmasterinspector.org is sure climbing the search engine rankings fast (naturally, without us doing any search engine optimization). If you type certified master inspector in www.google.com it comes up first. Typing certified inspectors (another phrase commonly used by consumers) still yields NACHI.org first with www.InspectorLocator.com close behind. Not too shabby for a site that has been up only a couple weeks.

I feel the CMI is the best thing to happen to the Home Inspection Industry recently.
CMI will continue to lead and many wish they too could get this to add to their Accomplishments

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by tallen

I just don't like the way it's set up.

Marketing is the name of the game, after all.

Todd I agree Marketing IS the name of the game so I made my own designation SMI (Senior Master Inspector) Does not require anyone's permission, its free,and there are no rules. I am a senior Citizen, have 40 years of Trade Experience with 10 years of home inspections so who in my local area can dispute that I am not a SMI That is the way I market myself????


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[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by cbottger

Todd I agree Marketing IS the name of the game so I made my own designation SMI (Senior Master Inspector) Does not require anyone's permission, its free,and there are no rules. I am a senior Citizen, have 40 years of Trade Experience with 10 years of home inspections so who in my local area can dispute that I am not a SMI That is the way I market myself????
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If you like it great but to me it looks like you are swimming against the current.
I did a google search and all the first page for Senior Master Inspector where for water ,boats navy ,and ships.

Originally Posted by rcooke

I feel the CMI is the best thing to happen to the Home Inspection Industry recently.
CMI will continue to lead and many wish they too could get this to add to their Accomplishments

I did a google search for certified Master Inspector and the first page is all about home inspectors .
I am happy with the CMI and how well it works for us .
We are starting to pull a lot of our advertsiing as we are getting more business then we want or need.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by rcooke

If you like it great but to me it looks like you are swimming against the current.
I did a google search and all the first page for Senior Master Inspector where for water ,boats navy ,and ships.


I did a google search for certified Master Inspector and the first page is all about home inspectors .
I am happy with the CMI and how well it works for us .
We are starting to pull a lot of our advertsiing as we are getting more business then we want or need.

Roy I have nothing at all against CMI I don't use the internet for any of my business don't have the need have all the inspections that one person can handle without it. If I was wanting to expand or hire more inspectors I would probally jump all over CMI. It makes no business sense to me to pay for a title to just have one unless there is a return on the investment I don't invest not that I would consider the fee of CMI much of an investment. I pay more than that for just one tool.

You stated you are getting more business than you wanted or needed can you definitely state that is a result of your CMI designation or the advertising of another means.

I am as far as I can tell I am the only SMI in the whole world that should make me at the top of the heap
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[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by cbottger

Roy I have nothing at all against CMI I don't use the internet for any of my business don't have the need have all the inspections that one person can handle without it. If I was wanting to expand or hire more inspectors I would probally jump all over CMI. It makes no business sense to me to pay for a title to just have one unless there is a return on the investment I don't invest not that I would consider the fee of CMI much of an investment. I pay more than that for just one tool.

You stated you are getting more business than you wanted or needed can you definitely state that is a result of your CMI designation or the advertising of another means.

I am as far as I can tell I am the only SMI in the whole world that should make me at the top of the heap
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There is no way I know of what advertising works the best for me .
I do thinks CMI, with how I have gone and others who have reported the same thing most certainly helps considerably.
Being the top of the heap ( as you say ) of one is not much different then all other inspectors who are at the top also.
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I do remember seeing any posts made by a CMI state they are sorry that they applied for it.
The only ones who say it is not worth the effort are those who do not have it .

[James H. Bushart]

Since the designations, themselves, are strictly for marketing purposes...it only makes the best sense to go with the one that can net you the best results.

I would have to argue that CMI is the most recognizeable of all other inspector designations.

In a licensed state, where are home inspectors become certified by the state as all being equally qualified and competetent, I can see where this designation would be essential. I can even see how laws written to restrict "home inspectors" providing "home inspection reports" can be sidestepped by "Certified Master Inspectors" providing reports on "property and system evaluations".

The more I read on the other obscure message boards about how much they hate this designation...it becomes increasingly apparent to me how very credible it is.

I am working to achieve this designation for myself.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Since the designations, themselves, are strictly for marketing purposes...it only makes the best sense to go with the one that can net you the best results.

I would have to argue that CMI is the most recognizeable of all other inspector designations.

In a licensed state, where are home inspectors become certified by the state as all being equally qualified and competetent, I can see where this designation would be essential.

The more I read on the other obscure message boards about how much they hate this designation...it becomes increasingly apparent to me how very credible it is.

I am working to achieve this designation for myself.

Exactly ask any person who has no idea what a home inspector is give them five different names and include Certified Master Inspector as one of theme ask them to rate who they feel might be the better Inspector.
CMI wins all the time when I have done it.
If perception is the only thing that puts me above the other HIs then it is the best way to go .
Welcome MR B hope to see you as a CMI member in the future .

[Nick Gromicko]

One of the reasons we spent years of our time and went to all the legal expenses and trouble of forming the non-profit MICB to administer the "Certified Master Inspector" professional designation, applying for and being awarded IRS Tax Exempt Status, applying for and acquiring the Federal Certification Mark registered at the US Patent and Trademark Office for "Certified Master Inspector" and then creating a clear set of requirements for it.... is so that when a plaintiff's attorney asks you how you became a "master inspector" or "senior master inspector" or whatever (as has been done several times in lawsuits against inspectors already) you don't look like a total jackass and say... "uh... I just made it up".... WRONG... and say good bye to your house.

The work we did above cost us well into 6 figures... and we don't even charge annual dues. Do yourself a favor and apply for it legitimately.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by gromicko

One of the reasons we spent years of our time and went to all the legal expenses and trouble of forming the non-profit MICB to administer the "Certified Master Inspector" professional designation, applying for and being awarded IRS Tax Exempt Status, applying for and acquiring the Federal Certification Mark registered at the US Patent and Trademark Office for "Certified Master Inspector" and then creating a clear set of requirements for it.... is so that when a plaintiff's attorney asks you how you became a "master inspector" or "senior master inspector" or whatever (as has been done several times in lawsuits against inspectors already) you don't look like a total jackass and say... "uh... I just made it up".... WRONG... and say good bye to your house.

The work we did above cost us well into 6 figures... and we don't even charge annual dues. Do yourself a favor and apply for it legitimately.

Nick I am not putting down CMI I am sure it has its benefits for someone in a market where the inspector is competing with a thousand other inspectors.

I have an open field for a hundred miles in ANY direction and advertise myself as the most experienced HI in north central Okla but only on the telephone as this is what closes the deal for price shoppers. I don't need titles to promote my business, CMI SMI or any other one, Just experience, in the Navy we called it TIME IN GRADE.

I would have no problem looking an attorney in the eye and stating my qualifications they stand on their own merits and have done so in the past.

[klott]

Charley, the attorney is not the one to convince, the jury will decide you mislead the plaintiff with your self promoting designation. You are taking a big chance that everyone will see it the way you do. IMO

[John Bowman]

IMO this will be a great program and everyone should jump onboard. My talks with the CMI Program President in Toronto confirmed and eliminated a lot of ifs ands or buts for me.

I am truly excited about its future and impact on the industry.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

[quote=cbottger]

Just experience, in the Navy we called it TIME IN GRADE.

I would be careful about that self esteemed knowledge. We are only Generalists as far as Home Inspections go. Experience is defined by a whole lot of mistakes.
Don't appear as you made to many. ha. ha.

My stance on Time in Grade would be more defined as School of Hard Knox.
Lawyers can and will put you down in a Heart Beat, before you can say boo.

Better be ready to show some sort of License or Professional Certification on whatever you are trying to defend in whatever case. The defending Lawyers are very well versed on Construction Law and can and will tear you apart if need be.
The CMI Certification will enhance one's ability to prove to the Courts that you have gone the extra mile to achieve and will and should be respected for whatever it is worth. It is not an achievement nor a Certificate of Achievement given to any sidewalk Inspectors and will in no doubt be perceive in that manner.
The CMI Designation is something that one should be Proud of and is not a piece of paper like one may think. Hard work and Experience is there to back it up and this Association is there also to enforce that.



Marcel
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[rwand1]

Nick opined,

One of the reasons we spent years of our time and went to all the legal expenses and trouble of forming the non-profit MICB to administer the "Certified Master Inspector" professional designation, applying for and being awarded IRS Tax Exempt Status, applying for and acquiring the Federal Certification Mark registered at the US Patent and Trademark Office for "Certified Master Inspector" and then creating a clear set of requirements for it.... is so that when a plaintiff's attorney asks you how you became a "master inspector" or "senior master inspector" or whatever (as has been done several times in lawsuits against inspectors already) you don't look like a total jackass and say... "uh... I just made it up".... WRONG... and say good bye to your house.

The work we did above cost us well into 6 figures... and we don't even charge annual dues. Do yourself a favor and apply for it legitimately.

Nick I could not agree more! All very valid points!

Cheers,

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by Gromicko

Do yourself a favor and apply for it legitimately.

In the event that a CMI should find himself named as a defendant in a lawsuit, early in the discovery process he can expect to be asked to provide the documentation necessary to prove his eligibility for the designation.

While the body awarding it will accept your word, the courts will not and "pity the fool" who finds himself without the necessary documentation. This allows the charge of "fraud" to be added to the lawsuit which allows for unlimited punitive damages.

Adding these designations to your marketing is certainly something that one must take very seriously. You can bet your adversary will.