NACHI attorney warning!!!

[Paul W. Abernathy]

not saying that...I am talking a totally different thing here.....it is painting a picture that a HI should not obtain additional education like ICC and so on for fear of increased liability so it means some will not obtain it.

I think adults know when and when not to use information that is risky for them or atleast they should know this.

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by gbell

How about a link to the actual court case. I can't help but believe that you and Joe F have another motive in mind here.

Don't think that because you want to keep everyone at the lowest level and dumb as dirt that they won't be sued.

Coming from someone who's bread and butter is on the line, it is expected.


Blaine, James, Doug, and anyone else I can't remember right now are all making right on, excellent posts! Very smart. There is a reason we are told to learn from our elders, not speaking of old people but those in our profession many years.

Some newer inspectors have taken gambles on certain things that older, wiser inspectors just sat back and watched, and now they are going to get burned for all the money and time wasted.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

If anyone got that impression from me I apologize as that was not my intent, because I am a firm believer in getting additional training and information. My own office bookshelves are full of training tapes, DVDs, books and training aids on HI and construction. I have amassed hundreds of training websites on the office computer. I have stacks of training certificates gathering dust, but I do not try to pass myself off as anything other than a Home Inspector. I too believe getting all the training and information you can benefits you, your customers and the other HI you interact with. Our local NACHI chapter has training every month. We don't call in the big dogs but we have local tradesmen give lectures or come in the enlighten us as to their profession and how our business affects them and vice verse. We often get clarifications from them on proper identification of discrepancies, laws regarding their professions, etc.

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by dedwards

If anyone got that impression from me I apologize as that was not my intent, because I am a firm believer in getting additional training and information. My own office bookshelves are full of training tapes, DVDs, books and training aids on HI and construction. I have amassed hundreds of training websites on the office computer. I have stacks of training certificates gathering dust, but I do not try to pass myself off as anything other than a Home Inspector. I too believe getting all the training and information you can benefits you, your customers and the other HI you interact with. Our local NACHI chapter has training every month. We don't call in the big dogs but we have local tradesmen give lectures or come in the enlighten us as to their profession and how our business affects them and vice verse. We often get clarifications from them on proper identification of discrepancies, laws regarding their professions, etc.

I didn't get that impression at all. You are a wise man Doug, and your posts reflect that.

[Greg Bell]

Yes Wendy I do have a financial interest in such a statement. Fortunately Home Inspectors are not the only market for our product. Just to set the record straight my bread and butter is doing inspection work not training.

I agree with what most of the others have said (each person has to do what they feel is right).

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by dedwards

If anyone got that impression from me I apologize as that was not my intent, because I am a firm believer in getting additional training and information. My own office bookshelves are full of training tapes, DVDs, books and training aids on HI and construction. I have amassed hundreds of training websites on the office computer. I have stacks of training certificates gathering dust, but I do not try to pass myself off as anything other than a Home Inspector. I too believe getting all the training and information you can benefits you, your customers and the other HI you interact with. Our local NACHI chapter has training every month. We don't call in the big dogs but we have local tradesmen give lectures or come in the enlighten us as to their profession and how our business affects them and vice verse. We often get clarifications from them on proper identification of discrepancies, laws regarding their professions, etc.

You said it well and I agree with all the posts Continuing Education is the way to go .
Both Char and I have done about 50 hours each for the last many years.
We have in this area about 15 Home inspectors and unfortunatly, I have not seen one at any of the CE we have been at.
Many are NACHI members and if the have been doing the CE I have no idea where it could be .
Roy Cooke
Strange how there have been no posts that I can see where those who do exceed the SOP telling us they are correct and we are wrong .

[John Cahill]

In seminars I have attended over 20 years a prominant attorney advised over and over "Do not exceed the Standards". It is true.

There are those persons who choose to exceed the SoP. Some do it to "protect the public", some do it to advertise and some do it because they are "Saviour" mentalities.

The problem I have with the latter behavior is when they start yelling "everyone needs to do it this way" and they affect an entire industry in a bad way.

The SoP should define a minimum requirement. If people want to exceed the SoP with code, safety, thermography etc then let them write an alternate OPTIONAL SoP the consumer can choose.

[Richard L. Bennett]

Mr Bell (Greg)

Your product of how to take the test is 100% a good product and if I were to want to take same I would be looking for where you and Joe were doing your next class. Please understand that as an instructor I feel that you are one of the best.

Yes, I believe that one of higher skill is held to a higher standard and this is how it should be. If I want a structural Eng or PE to look at my pole barn then I must pay more $$. No problem.

I also know if I want a light bulb replaced I do not need someone who holds a EE. (Just my wife on a ladder with me holding it) Her education and skills are in another area than that of an EE and worth more money than the EE.

I do question the need of the ICC background in the HI profession but as you say -- to each their own

If ICC were to become the LAW in Florida (and I do not see that) like it or not if I wanted to be a HI then I must become ICC or what ever the LEGAL requirements are. Yes, I might be able to go around it by working under someone else but that is not what the law would have been for.

It all comes down to - can you inspect and give your client a good picture of the property? Yes you and I can and that is what our client want.

In my market the $150,000 home is the norm and trust me they are not in bad shape. Florida block homes are good and they do not take a PE background to inspect.

One better know HVAC and electrical or one is letting the client down. ICC background will not help the client much.

I also would like to see to what extent an HI has painted a larger target on his back if he has more knowledge and equipment. It seem to me that his E&O insurance should go down because he is good.

While you and I are not on the same page in a lot of areas I want to see the facts on this issue. Not just a short sound bite of a "what if."

Enjoy the cool weather it will go away soon

rlb

[Greg Bell]

Hi Mr Bennett (Richard)

Thank you for the compliment. I agree with most of what you posted 100%.

From my own experience I know that I have been able to improve my inspection skills and give my clients a better product from the countless hours I have spent reading the code books. I agree that it is not for everyone.

I would also like to read something other than just a post from Nick on the subject. There should be no problem with posting a link to the case since Mr Cohen mentioned it in his warning.

[Nick Gromicko]

We have a member who was also instructed by his attorney to remove his P.E. qualifications from his marketing for similar reasons.

Nearly all filed complaints against home inspectors mention codes. I can hear the plaintiff's attorney now...

"Mr. inspector, my client specifically chose you to do the inspection becuase you proudly advertised that you were Code Certified. It was more than reasonable for my client to assume that since you were advertising this on your home inspection brochure that you were going to make sure everything was up to code. That is why my client chose you. Are you now telling the court that your brochure is designed to trick clients into hiring you?"

[Nick Gromicko]

Greg, I have studied every public inspection lawsuit (settled ones often don't make everything public) that I can find. I can't remember a single one of the plaintiff's complaints NOT mentioning code. Can you?

[Paul W. Abernathy]

hmmm...could the mention of being CMI just as leading? If the intent of it was to be considered advanced training beyond the basic standards?

[jmichalski]

So, no one is going to post a case related to home inspections where an inspector was sued related to his posting of code credentials or advanced education/qualifications......

OK. Just wondering if there is any fact aor case law behind the rhetoric, or simply a lot of opinion.

[Nick Gromicko]

I would think not, because the CMI logo isn't implying that an inspector is checking anything outside the SOP, it is very clear that it is a professional designation earned through education and experience. "Code Certified" most certainly does imply that one is veering from SOP and also implies that one is checking to make sure that everything is up to code. If I were a consumer, I would think so.

[Nick Gromicko]

Joe M: I challenge you to post a single complaint that doesn't mention code. Fact is, the public still thinks we check to make sure everything is up to code and an inspector with "code certified" on his brochure is going to have one hell of a hard time arguing differently.

Do you not agree?