My Safe Florida Home Program Questioned

[Joseph T. Burkeson, CMI]

In a Tampa Tribune front page article it appears that the program is in trouble again much to no ones surprise. It is being reported that a high number of discrepancies are being documented between the initial inspection report and the follow up quality control check, one such instance contains 123 differences between the June inspection and the August review, excerpt is posted below, click the Tampa Tribune link for the full article.

Program's Worth Questioned

By JOHN W. ALLMAN, The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 14, 2007
Discussion Forum: Are You Surprised By The Discrepancies?
TAMPA - A My Safe Florida Home inspector says your house can withstand hurricane-force winds.

Should you feel safer? Maybe not.

State officials have touted the My Safe Florida Home program for offering free inspections to determine the strength of a house and making recommendations about ways to better fortify.

To date, more than 98,000 homeowners have received free inspections. Nearly 3,000 are being re-inspected as part of a quality-assurance review to ensure inspectors are getting it right.

A random sampling of 72 sets of reports from across the state, however, found widespread discrepancies between the two inspections, calling into question the program's accuracy and worth.

Among The Tampa Tribune's findings:
•At least 20 discrepancies were found in every set of inspection reports reviewed, when window and door measurements were counted. Six reports contained more than 100 discrepancies.
•Some of the reports are so different, it appears the two inspectors viewed different properties. Without visiting each home, there is no way to know which report is accurate.
•The errors also call into question the training that inspectors receive from the state. In some cases, the state says, the errors are training-related. In other cases, the state says, inspectors simply got it wrong.

The state Department of Financial Services, which oversees My Safe Florida Home, is quick to defend the program. Many of the errors are minor, officials say, and don't affect the overall report's findings. Inspectors are still learning, they say. The program is still in its early stages.

Consider, however, the inspection reports for Robert Dammers' spacious Carrollwood home. They contained 123 discrepancies between his first inspection in June and his re-inspection in August.

The two inspectors disagreed on things such as the year the home was built (1965 and 1963), whether rebar was in the walls, and the number of window and door openings (34 and 27) and skylights (zero and two).
Some discrepancies, such as the year built, have no effect on whether the house can withstand a hurricane.

But rebar helps a house withstand hurricane-force winds. And inspectors are supposed to carry a device that helps them detect rebar in the walls. The Tribune's review found 31 examples where inspectors differed on rebar.
Chris Thomas, president of Thomas Enterprising, one of the 11 inspection firms hired by the program, said there are some items that are 'critical to the report.'

One of those is whether the walls are reinforced with rebar.
'I'm outraged,' Dammers said. 'What is either of the reports worth? Which one do we believe?'

The state is examining all of the re-inspections, and a report is expected this month.

Some discrepancies are expected, said Tami Torres, special programs administrator.

The state allows for this, for example, by giving inspectors 12 inches leeway when measuring window openings or 200 square feet when determining the building footprint, which tells how much of a house is under the roof.
But the Tribune found window measurements that varied by as much as four feet and building footprints that were off by almost 1,000 square feet.

'There are going to be instances where training is the issue,' Torres said, 'versus they just completely missed a roof type, for example.'

There is also good news for home inspectors who are performing Insurance Discount Surveys privately for their own clients. Out of the 98,000 home that have been inspected 72% were eligible for insurance discounts averaging $181 which is above the set inspection price of $150.

Originally Posted by From the Article

The state has been pushing those discounts, which average $181 statewide, as an alternative to the matching grant. Officials say 73 percent of participants, or more than 71,000 people, have received a discount.

Home inspectors who are currently not providing Insurance Discount Surveys are missing out on another stream of income and a way to distinguish yourself as a low cost problem solver within your community.

Home inspectors who provide this service do not use the same form as the My Safe Florida Home program, instead the form for private inspections is the OIR-B1-1802, Office of Insurance Regulation document OIR-B1-1655 lays out who is eligible to perform these inspections, from the document it is assumed that an IRC B1 certificate that confers the title of building inspector on inspectors who pass the B1 exam should suffice.

Originally Posted by From the OIR-B1-1655

Most homeowners will need a licensed or certified professional (general, residential or building contractor, building inspector, a registered architect, engineer or certified building code official) to inspect the home to identify potential mitigation measures and legally verify improvements. There may be other inspection professionals available, for a listing of Individuals and/or Inspection Companies meeting these qualifications contact your Insurance Agent.

Assurance Check LLC, has made the OIR-B1-1802 electronic and available for everyone to use who qualifies, don't miss out on adding insurance inspections to your services, it may mean the difference of having a bad or not so bad year as a Florida home inspector.

[Mathew Hawley]

I spoke with a lady who had a MSFH inspection and she said the inspector did not even go into the attic. I am glad to see some quality control inspections are being conducted.

Private inspections are the way to go and the money is better. ICC Boot Camp is very helpful in preparing for the ICC exams. The Ace Educator software is GREAT.

[William E. Siegel]

I didnt think there were 123 points on the inspection report.

Thats like taking a true false test and getting all the answers wrong

[Greg Bell]

It is amazing that they still don't tell people that the report is a public record. Many people are going to save $150 now that will cost them thousands in the future.

[Richard L. Bennett]

This is real simple

Repair your home

You live there - screw the insurance companies - They will lower your rate if you show them that you tied the home down as per their specs -- contractor statement works ok

The rest of us are sort of small actors in the process

If we make a $$ ok but the real winners are the clients - contractors - and the insurance companies -- not the inspectors

Right now we are looking like *****es -- Thank goodness the state is watching us

And I hate the state


rlb

[gporter]

Wow.

[Greg Bell]

Richard,

Once again you make a post that I can't understand. What is it that you are trying to say?

That inspectors are dumb for going after this business.

That homeowners are dumb because it is so simple.

That insurance companies are dumb for having these requirements.

That it is all messed up by the state.

How are we looking like an *****?

[Greg Bell]

Gary,

Why would you give me a red box and not add your name to it?

It is intersting that you made a post at 4:41 am and I got a red box at 4:42 am.

[Scott Byrnes]

It would be great if we can get NACHI inspectors qualified to do this report the same way Nick got the 4 point insurance form approved. I've already forwarded the form to Nick and he has someone working on it.

[Joseph T. Burkeson, CMI]

I think I kinda almost sorta understand some of what Richard said... and I agree. Being a home inspector is personally rewarding when you get a opportunity to really help people, without that sense of purpose about what we do its only just a job.

At one time I thought that working for FEMA was really a privilege and a way for me to give back to the community, well I was wrong and I don't do that anymore. Same goes with the My Safe Florida Home Program, when I first heard about it I thought it was a good thing, now we see it was just another poor decision in regards to spending tax dollars.

I get the idea what Richard was trying express is that this is another government boondoggle that is now making home inspectors look bad and I agree, we should cut ourselves free of this mess before it comes back to haunt us. But, who am I kidding there will always be those inspectors who will go out and whore our profession for $50-$75 wind inspections because it is better than working at Wal-Mart. Red boxes encouraged.

[Greg Bell]

Boy it appears that we have a lot of cowards on the board.

Another red box with no name. What a puss.

[Greg Bell]

If that is what Richard meant then I totally agree.

[Richard L. Bennett]

Greg - Joe

Yes

rlb

[Greg Bell]

Thanks Richard,

I agree 100%

Thanks Doug

[gporter]

No greg. I can't give you anything since I gave you a greenie 2 weeks ago