Licensed inspector ad campaign.

[James H. Bushart]

John McKenna does not get it. This ad is not designed to "enhance" the NACHI member.

It is to call attention to the object...in this case, a bicycle....that represents a license.

It is an ad designed for consumers in unlicensed states, where certain special interests (led by ASHI chapters) are attempting to promote the idea that a license is the answer to the consumer's "problem"...that being the absence of a "license".

The license...like the bicycle...solves nothing.

When Wendy quits her job as a motel front desk clerk and runs out and buys herself a bicycle in Kansas....by way of getting fingerprinted and taking the required courses and buying the required insurance...how is the consumer able to distinguish her and her new bike from the 20 year veteran and his new bike?

That is what the ad campaign is aimed at. Not the inspector...but the frivilous and confusing "credential" invented by the people who sell tests and sell classes and convince legislators of their need to mandate them.

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by jbushart

John McKenna does not get it. This ad is not designed to "enhance" the NACHI member.

It is to call attention to the object...in this case, a bicycle....that represents a license.

It is an ad designed for consumers in unlicensed states, where certain special interests (led by ASHI chapters) are attempting to promote the idea that a license is the answer to the consumer's "problem"...that being the absence of a "license".

The license...like the bicycle...solves nothing.

When Wendy quits her job as a motel front desk clerk and runs out and buys herself a bicycle in Kansas....by way of getting fingerprinted and taking the required courses and buying the required insurance...how is the consumer able to distinguish her and her new bike from the 20 year veteran and his new bike?

That is what the ad campaign is aimed at. Not the inspector...but the frivilous and confusing "credential" invented by the people who sell tests and sell classes and convince legislators of their need to mandate them.

That's an interesting concept Jim. If only consumers were intelligent as you are! I don't think many will get that. Perhaps your comment should be added as a footnote to the ad so that consumers will really understand the meaning of the f@cking bicycle.

I think the ad references "Little Billy", not Bill or William, but Billy. Typical a name reserved for a child.

Billy just got his license

Then it goes on to ask:

Would you trust an Inspector that just got his license?

This clearly is a statement that attempts to discredit newly licensed inspectors.

Sorry if I don't buy into your elaborate meaning of the true intent of the ad.

How many seconds does an ad have to convey a message to a consumer on average? I forgot, help me out here.

[Michael Larson]

What does a bicycle have to do with an HI or any other license?

Where inspectors are licensed, being licensed is a lot like being up-to-code. Which is considered "safe" by current standards.

It is so minimal that if it were any less it would be outright illegal. This is just crazy Nick speak. It's an opinion and not a helpful one at that.

InterNACHI's membership requirements are above and beyond what a new inspector is required to do to get licensed.

Finally a positive statement for INACHI members

Visit www.InspectorNOW.com for the best inspectors in the world.

Maybe this should be the first statement.

BTW-if I was Billy, I'd be P.O.ed

[Michael R. Boyett]

Originally Posted by jbushart

It is to call attention to the object...in this case, a bicycle....that represents a license.

When I looked at the ad I couldn't for the life of me understand why a license might be needed to ride a bicycle. The metaphor was not apparent and/or I'm just shallow.

That is what the ad campaign is aimed at. Not the inspector...but the frivilous and confusing "credential" invented by the people who sell tests and sell classes and convince legislators of their need to mandate them.

But rather joining INACHI and being listed on InspectorNow will solve that issue? Don't tell me you've done a 180 and now think that the unverifiable, undocumented list of INACHI 'requirements' substitutes for credibility.

[rmaday]

LOL, this thread is too funny.

BK - chapstick!?

How about instead of a bicycle, there are two licenses (side by side) - with the pictures (and any additional distiguishing characteristics) covered.

Then (text)-

Which one would you hire?

Then (below) reveal the pictures to show a pimply faced "kid" on one and a grizzled old man on the other.

On each license can also be the credentials, the kid with very few, the old guy with many, many, many initials after his name.

(just be sure the older guy has the NACHI cert)

Maybe take requests from members to be the second picture.

BTW, the above is my intellectual property, available for licensure (even to those who are opposed to licensing.

Apologies to anyone suffering from pimples.

All of the above is me just having fun (except the intellectual property part), I hope no one gets their panties in a bunch.

[John Onofrey]

I dunno Rick,

My 22 year old nephew will run circles around most inspectors. He's like a friggin mountain goat on roofs and like a python in attics and crawl spaces.

I don't see the need to belittle any Inspector in an ad such as this.

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

I am teaching an IR class in Houston next week. Come on by and you
can attend the class at no charge. Free. Let me know.

Thank you for your generous offer John. I certainly could use an education in infrared thermography.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

It is the bicycle that first threw me off. Bicycle to me seems young. Being young does not necessarily mean incapable inspector. There is an old man in my area that inspects houses and he is not a very good inspector.
I can see where Nick is going with this but the general public are not that smart when it comes to choosing a home inspector. If we could replace the bicycle with something else that represents licensing this ad would work better. I do not know the answer, but I bet somebody else does.

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by jbraun

If we could replace the bicycle with something else that represents licensing this ad would work better. I do not know the answer, but I bet somebody else does.

Thank you James. I do, how about an ASHI logo?

[Erol Kartal]

Another attempt to generate membership revenue by degrading others. It will never end.

[Nick Gromicko]

Lot's of good points. I'm going to work on tweaking the copy (text) this weekend.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by mboyett

When I looked at the ad I couldn't for the life of me understand why a license might be needed to ride a bicycle. The metaphor was not apparent and/or I'm just shallow.

But rather joining INACHI and being listed on InspectorNow will solve that issue? Don't tell me you've done a 180 and now think that the unverifiable, undocumented list of INACHI 'requirements' substitutes for credibility.

No sir.

Let me repeat, again...to be clear.

You have a 20 year veteran, fully tooled, fully trained and experienced home inspector who belongs to no association at all.

You have a 23 year old single mother who quits her job at the Kansas City Inn, gets her fingerprints taken, graduates from the required courses, buys her $10,000 insurance policy and a flashlight.

They both have a license.

The public, through their tax dollars, are paying for some kind of assurance, here. They want to believe that the holder of each license is equally competent and qualified to perform his job....leaving only his fee as a variable. This misconception is, what I believe, the ad is targeting.

[Michael Larson]

James,

Is thread/add campaign about licensing or the qualifications of INACHI inspectors ?

The bicycle is still goofy and sends an incomplete and confusing message to the general public IMHO.

Let's see what Nick comes up with.

[dbucknavich]

Originally Posted by gromicko

I don't see how members from Arizona, a licensed state that has ZERO continuing education requirements, can possibly complain about this ad.

Licensing tricks consumers into thinking that all licensed inspectors, being equally licensed, are equal. And so in having been tricked by their elected officials into thinking they are comparing apples to apples... the consumer then goes price shopping.

The basis for a consumer thinking inspectors are equal usually resides in the fee, unfortunately. A cheaper inspector is more qualified in some eyes, because he is more affordable. No one has ever asked me if am nachi certified. I tell them what I've done to educate myself, and thus transfer that education to them. But sometimes, that doesn't get through and they go with the cheaper guy anyway.

If we weren't licensed, there would still be ZERO continuing education requirements, and ZERO requirements to become an inspector. With licensing, there are at least SOME requirements to begin inspecting. I seem to recall being the only student from my class to become certified. Without the required steps, all of those students who didn't make it could have just jumped right in. But no, they were weeded out. I don't see how that is a bad thing. And from what I remember, joining nachi was a lot easier than getting my certification. On top of that, licensing was started here around the turn of the century, and inspectors who had been going for years had to get licensed. Once that experienced inspector received that license, was he now "the boy with the new bike"?

That ad tells some one that because, for the simple and only fact, I am not a member of your organization, I have minimal qualifications. Yet I hold a degree in Building Safety since my certification, and once was a certified member here. Now that I am no longer a member, have I lost my credentials?

I see the ad as a bit degrading. They were concocted, or at least approved, by a man who profits if you join the organization mentioned in the ad. "Join us or be cast away" is the message I get as an inspector. But as a consumer, I could be fooled, unfortunately. It is simply organizational advertising at the expense of those not affiliated, not necessarily unqualified.

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

Originally Posted by jvogan

So is NACHI now taking a public, anti-licensing position?

One can only hope... Licensing destroys national associations and Texas is a great example, neither ASHI or NACHI can make inroads in a place like Texas. Florida could go the same way because of licensing.