ASHI Pushing Missouri Legislation...in 2002

[James H. Bushart]

Saved for posterity and future reference:

Bill to license Missouri home inspectors given the once-over


St. Louis Daily Record & St. Louis Countian,

Mar 29, 2002 by Mike Nixon

A newly revamped bill that is gaining support by elected officials in the Missouri legislature and members of the American Society of Home Inspectors is touted as offering increased security to both individuals purchasing homes and those making sure structures are inhabitable.

"We are looking at this as a consumer protection bill," said Pat Strader, a legislative consultant for recognized home inspectors, as she assisted in fine-tuning the language of HB1723 with the document's sponsor, state Rep. Bill Boucher.

According to Strader and Boucher, this bill would require that all home inspectors in Missouri be licensed by the state and maintain continued education and training regarding codes and standards during their careers.
"When people go out to hire a home inspector, they ought to be able to get their money's worth. By getting someone who is licensed, they are getting someone who has taken courses, has passed an examination, has done a number of inspections and has been in business for a little while," Strader said.

ASHI members have voiced support for this licensing measure and have been active participants in specifying requirements included in HB1723, according to St. Louis chapter President Steve McManee. "Given my druthers, I wouldn't be excited about paying a licensing fee," McManee admitted. "But we understand why they want it.

"We have a very good working relationship with the legislature as far as getting a bill together that works for them but also maintains the standards of ASHI as far as having a code of ethics, standards of practice and continuing education," McManee said.


Boucher, D-Kansas City, said concern over home inspectors has been raised among his constituents as well as residents in other areas of the state, bringing this issue to the forefront.

"We don't [currently] have a means of making sure we have certified inspectors," he said. "Anyone can get cards made for $15 and get into the business, and I don't think people who buy or sell homes realize that some of these folks might not have any experience at all."

Boucher confirmed that he and other elected backers of this bill called on ASHI for its content contribution, although not all inspectors in the state are among its 5,600 members, 250 of which are in Missouri, mostly in the St. Louis and Kansas City regions.

McManee said he was pleased that ASHI standards are being used as a model for this legislation. To become an ASHI member, he explained, a home inspector must first pass an extensive exam, of which 30 percent of those taking it the first time typically fail. In addition, they are required to participate in 20 hours of continuing education annually as well as fulfill other professional requirements.

"We hope that with licensing inspectors we will weed out the bad ones whether they have performed a lot of inspections or not," McManee said. "We are excited about helping [the legislature] come up with a bill that will protect the consumer."

Boucher, Strader and McManee agreed that too many so-called handymen in the state call themselves inspectors and conduct business as such without proper knowledge regarding building codes or skills to spot problems ranging from the threat of termites to dangerous electrical systems.

"A home is the biggest investment a person will make, and it is important that when they move into that home they feel good about that purchase," Strader said. "I don't think anyone is clamoring to be licensed, but they would be willing to live with a bill that is reasonable."

Home inspector and ASHI member Mark Oldroyd said he would support licensing based on the fact it offers greater protection for both the consumer making a purchase and the inspector who could be held legally accountable by missing a critical matter when looking over a new or existing home.

While the final language of the bill has yet to be completed, it does include a statute of limitations for the consumer to file a complaint against an inspector. The bill makes it a class B misdemeanor to conduct business as an inspector without state licensing. And it requires not only initial testing and annual training updates but states that licensees would have to retain for five years all documents pertaining to inspections they had conducted.

The bill would establish the Missouri Home Inspection Commission, which would administer training and licensing. The commission would also have the authority to refuse licensing, suspend or revoke licenses, conduct investigations into consumer complaints and take disciplinary action against an inspector if needed.

It has not been determined what kind of fee inspectors would have to pay to become licensed in Missouri, and additional details of the bill are still being finalized. Yet sponsors hope it can be presented before House members this spring. The bill has an effective date of Jan. 1, 2005.

Copyright 2002 Dolan Media Newswires

Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

[Paul Sabados]

Thanks for the humorous reminder. SSDY, and the beat goes on. Yet on the other hand, none of them feel the need for a Statewide mandatory building codes and inspections system to make sure at least a few percentage points of completed new construction is safe. Oh no that would be too much of a burden to put on contractors and where on earth could all of those rural counties find someone who was qualified to code inspect, let alone finance them.

Over the last few years, each attempt has been ratcheted upwards, next year should be a douzie! But of course we all know that in advance

Paul

[James E. Braun, CMI]

It failed, just like the bill will do that Dirty Harry is pushing with the leaders of the Missouri Asoociation of Realtors now. I think ASHI is ashamed and embarassed of their member Harry. Most members in ASHI and MAR, that I have talked to, do not support this new licensing bill. It looks like Harry might of got MAR **** on his nose for no reason at all.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Cool, this message board will not let me use the word ****. Awesome!

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

I just realized that we have 3 past NATIONAL Presidents of ASHI that live and work in St. Louis; this Steve McNamee from St. Louis is currently one of ASHI's 11-13 National Board of Directors; and there are 2 more of ASHI's National Board of Directors living in Kansas City that teach at Tom Lauhons home inspection training school (Midwest Inspection Training Institute) outside Kansas City in Leavenworth Kansas.

Whats the law of averages on that line-up.

[Tracy Schoop]

It could be that the more experienced individuals or inspectors just belong to ASHI. Dan, you belong to ASHI for what reason?

Dan, jealousy is a terrible thing. If you don't like ASHI I would simply quit.

Licensing in MO would be the best thing to happen to the Midwest area of the country. Put everyone on a level playing field and let the battle begin.

[dharris]

Licensing in MO would be the best thing to happen to the Midwest area of the country. Put everyone on a level playing field and let the battle begin

I hope your computer does not have virgin ears.
.. The fowl language , virus's and suggestions against your private parts via private posts, e- mails you are subject to getting with posts like this will put it in terminal shock

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[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Tracy -

I'm sorry, but I don't know whether to address you as a girl or guy since you don't belong to NACHI and I don't see a profile - help us out on this.

About 23-24 years ago when I first joined ASHI, there was nothing else.

Many of the most experienced or well qualified inspectors in my area have dropped out of ASHI to join other groups. Real shame.

What part of licensing do you think would put us on a level playing field?

I'm gonna have a heart bypass. Since all doctors are licensed they're all equal - right. Do I want the sharp licensed doctor kid with 1 surgery and schooling under his belt - OR - do I want the licensed doctor surgeon with schooling and 28 years experience under his belt & never lost a patient?

We're not gonna be equal ever .................

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dbowers

We're not gonna be equal ever .................

We will, in the mind of the consumer.

Every home inspector in the state...passing the same state criteria...equally competent and equally qualified.....with nothing to inquire about except who has the lowest fee.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

I don't know Jimmy. In my area when buyers call me saying their house is moving or heaved 3" and the Builders engineer said don't worry lets wait a year or so to see if it comes back down. Their attorney has told them they need somebody to throw at the engineer, builder, city, etc and gives them our names as the Head Dragon Slayer - They don't usually ask how much, just how soon.

And for Dragon Slaying there isn't a level playing field.