Licensed inspector ad campaign.

[Nick Gromicko]

Correct. In licensed states... all inspectors carry the same minimum standard license. But that doesn't mean that all inspectors are equal. Some go above and beyond the bare minimum required by law.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Licensing commoditizes inspectors. The ad is designed to remind consumers that not all inspectors are equal just because they carry the exact same license. Some inspectors fulfill requirements above and beyond the bare minimum that is required by law.

I agree with Nick.

This campaign forces you to ask the question as to how the public...on the first day of licensing in (God forbid) Missouri...a consumer is to be able to look at the brand new bicycle (license) and be able to tell the difference between a 20+ year Dan Bowers and Wendy with her new flashlight.

It does dramatize the "dumbing down" effect that licensing has. Not every licensing law has had the decades to mature as Texas (while still lacking in many regards, itself).

[John Onofrey]

...and "Blue Falcon" is being kind and non-pornographic.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Not every licensing law has had the decades to mature as Texas (while still lacking in many regards, itself).

Fine...then don't run that ad anywhere it can be seen in Texas and I'm good to go with it.

[Nick Gromicko]

Excellent point. Texas is probably the most striking example of commoditization. Highest requirements (roughly 6 times the average licensed state), yet one of the lowest average fee structures. Do Texas inspectors charge 6 times everyone else? Nope.

[John Onofrey]

The ad is offensive and a disgrace.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Excellent point. Texas is probably the most striking example of commoditization. Highest requirements (roughly 6 times the average licensed state), yet one of the lowest average fee structures.

Exactly...and Texas should serve as a warning to those unlicensed states who are unprepared to oppose a licensing effort. This is the end result of real estate commission control over the home inspection industry.

It's amusing listening to our dear Canadian friends arguing for entry level standards that match an inspector with 15 years in the business. What do they think the public is going to expect to pay an entry level inspector?

[Nick Gromicko]

Jim Bushart writes:

I agree with Nick.

This campaign forces you to ask the question as to how the public...on the first day of licensing in (God forbid) Missouri...a consumer is to be able to look at the brand new bicycle (license) and be able to tell the difference between a 20+ year Dan Bowers and Wendy with her new flashlight.

It does dramatize the "dumbing down" effect that licensing has. Not every licensing law has had the decades to mature as Texas (while still lacking in many regards, itself).

Bingo.

[Michael R. Boyett]

yet one of the lowest average fee structures.

Is that a personal opinion or is there empirical data to back it up? If so, then I'd love to have access to it to use to debate TREC when it comes to the new SOP requirements.

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Exactly...and Texas should serve as a warning to those unlicensed states who are unprepared to oppose a licensing effort. This is the end result of real estate commission control over the home inspection industry.

So we should belittle new inspectors to prove this point?

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Excellent point. Texas is probably the most striking example of commoditization. Highest requirements (roughly 6 times the average licensed state), yet one of the lowest average fee structures. Do Texas inspectors charge 6 times everyone else? Nope.

I raised my prices, while living in Texas, and nothing stopped me.

I am making approx. 6 times more than the guy that wishes he
could be an inspector with just a 20 hour home study course.

Also, remember that Texas lowered it's standard in 1997 and flooded
the market with newbies. They just increased it in recent times to
correct this mistake. A flood of newbies will indeed lower prices.
I agree with that.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by jonofrey

So we should belittle new inspectors to prove this point?

It gets crazier by the day around here John......

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by mboyett

is there empirical data to back it up?

The answer is no, but you knew that already.

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by dduffy

It gets crazier by the day around here John......

Ya think?!

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jonofrey

So we should belittle new inspectors to prove this point?

I don't see it as much as belittling inspectors...as it is in belittling a concept; that being that a license is an assurance of quality.

I am reminded of the ASHI chapter in Arizona a few years ago who, to demonstrate this same point to the public about licensing in Arizona, set up a house with a TV producer that they had pre-inspected. One by one, the producer called in licensed home inspectors and out of five, all but one had missed several "major defects" found in the pre-inspection.

That, to me, is belittling inspectors.