Diploma mill ASHI unleashes another consumer mass murderer onto the general public.

[Nick Gromicko]

We rely on home inspectors to catch problems that aren't always visible, though several metro homebuyers say an inspector they hired missed significant problems that ended up costing them thousands.
“It's been a nightmare, it doesn't feel like a dream house,” says Koren Gross.
After home inspector Tony Stiles of BrickKickers gave a house at 206th and Maple in Elkhorn a passing grade, buyers Steve White and Koren Gross found holes in his report. “Take his word for it, the house is in good shape and it's not,” says White.
Stiles’ report passed the roof, citing one layer of shingles. The new owners got a second opinion. “There's two layers,” said Larry Stafford of Certified Home Inspectors. “In my opinion these shingles are defective. They're no good.” That was a $5,000 roof replacement mistake.
In a response to the Better Business Bureau, the home inspector said he knew there were two layers of shingles on the house, but because of a computer program, he inadvertently punched the number one on the written report.
Six On Your Side talked to two other homebuyers claiming errors in Stiles' home inspection reports. “He reviewed the skylight and chimney on the report, but we don't have a skylight,” said Micah Yost.
Stephanie Coughlin had minor gas leaks. “We asked the MUD technician about it and he said the home inspector should have probably caught it.”
Stiles claims the gas leaks happened during moving after his inspection and for the others, partial refunds of the inspection fee were offered and not taken. “There's no government licensing or regulation for these people and that's just crazy,” said Yost.
In an e-mail response, Stiles claims 2,000 inspections with only three complaints, but BrickKicker kicked out his company and the Better Business Bureau did the same. “Revoked his accreditation in the Better Business Bureau and issued an “F” rating on his company,” said Jim Hegarty with the Better Business Bureau.
Steve and Koren are stuck with unexpected repair costs they could have negotiated with the seller had the home inspector reported the problems. “If we'd known there were these problems we would never have bought it,” said Steve.
“Most of the time I was in tears,” said Koren. “It's been really hard."
Like the roof, the original home inspection report had a hidden layer of mistakes. Stiles declined to comment on his franchise being pulled by BrickKicker Incorporated.
There is a national association for training and registration of home inspectors that homebuyers can check before hiring one. It's called American Society of Home Inspectors. It does have Stiles listed as an associate, but one who has not yet met the requirements for top level status.

Read the entire story here.

ASHI, a known U.S.-based, diploma mill that unconscionably allows anyone to join as an associate using ASHI's 30-second, online application that requires nothing but a valid credit card encourages its come-only-with-cash members to go out and perform a certain number of unqualified inspections for poor, unsuspecting consumers as the only way to achieve full membership. ASHI's highest "certified" membership level isn't much better and relies on passing one beginner's exam (NHIE), once. This is the same exam required by some states to license newbies fresh out of school. In the case of ASHI member Tony Stiles, diploma mill ASHI didn't even require that of him.

Real estate agents and consumers should check the ASHI site to make sure their inspector is not a member or financial supporter of this U.S.-based, diploma mill called ASHI.


For the best InterNACHI inspector in your neighborhood, visit www.InspectorSEEK.com

[Bob Elliott]

From what I can tell his biggest mistake was not going through with BBB arbitration as he agreed to.

The phantom skylight issue is a good reason for not using a pre-formatted template as many of the guys do even here I bet.

The format involves pre-loading a report as all good and then changing only where there are issues to save time..

[Gary Farnsworth]

There is not one mention of the, or any, real estate agent involved. How did the TV station get a list, or information, about the "two other home buyers"?

Lots of holes in this article. Did the buyers take the recommendation of their agent? Did they ask questions before hiring the inspector? Who was this other inspector? Were the shingles defective, or just "no good"?

No professionalism all the way around, from the TV station to the writer.

Someone upset someone. Hmmmm.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by belliott

The phantom skylight issue is a good reason for not using a pre-formatted template as many of the guys do even here I bet.

The format involves pre-loading a report as all good and then changing only where there are issues to save time..

Agree. My software alerts me to each and every inspection item that I have not answered (once all unanswered items are answered, I know that I've covered all inspection items per the SOP). If I had a pre-loaded template, that feature would be useless.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by belliott

The format involves pre-loading a report as all good and then changing only where there are issues to save time..

I never heard of that. That is insane.

[ldapkus]

Nick,
Weren't you an ASHI member a few years ago?

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jbushart

I never heard of that. That is insane.

Not to mention names but some of the best inspectors here use that format and Billy just posted with his new template thread that he uses that method.
Great time saver I was thinking of going to, but the fact of the matter is that I list all materials under each component so I would not really save time since in a town like Chicago their is to much variation.
I am now convinced not to ever use that format.
Pre loaded tips even look bad if you have one on something like checking filters on the furnace and they have a boiler.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by belliott

Not to mention names but some of the best inspectors here use that format and Billy just posted with his new template thread that he uses that method.
Great time saver I was thinking of going to, but the fact of the matter is that I list all materials under each component so I would not really save time since in a town like Chicago their is to much variation.
I am now convinced not to ever use that format.
Pre loaded tips even look bad if you have one on something like checking filters on the furnace and they have a boiler.

Regardless of who is doing it...they are courting disaster. Pure laziness, in my opinion. People are not paying for inspections....they are paying for accurate, thorough and unbiased inspection reports. As this article demonstrates (and as many other similar errors that have been made by those taking this shortcut that have so far gone undetected), the preparation of the report is NOT where you want to cut corners. Even the often used phrases that you cut and paste have to be re-read and considered for modification before including it.

Licensing solves nothing.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Originally Posted by gfarnsworth

There is not one mention of the, or any, real estate agent involved. How did the TV station get a list, or information, about the "two other home buyers"?

Lots of holes in this article. Did the buyers take the recommendation of their agent? Did they ask questions before hiring the inspector? Who was this other inspector? Were the shingles defective, or just "no good"?

No professionalism all the way around, from the TV station to the writer.

Someone upset someone. Hmmmm.

MAR's lobbyist Sam Licklier lined up (what he hoped to be) a home inspector horror story right, after the home inspection bill was introduced, several years back. The reporter saw right through what MAR was doing. You seldom see a reporter that smart. Sad but true.

[Russell J. Hensel]

I think that whole report was BS. I am not saying he was right, but something seems fishy.

[Nick Gromicko]

Nick,
Weren't you an ASHI member a few years ago?

Yes, like many, I wasn't able to qualify to join InterNACHI at the time. Diploma mill ASHI let me join online in 30 seconds with nothing more than a valid credit card.

ASHI: Click, pay, shazam!... you're an inspector.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Unfortunate,
My software reporting (used previously) always defaulted to Poor / Defective...

An Element had to be Inspected to be properly rated
Missed Elements were automatically Defective unless toggled to an alternative..

[Russell J. Hensel]

Nick, I can get a person who has never completed an inspection to become a member of NACHI in 1 day...want to bet?

[Nick Gromicko]

Russell, you work in a state that hasn't completely gone through licensing, so you haven't quite thought it out. Everyone has to have their first client... even you had your first client. Once licensing is adopted, it is impossible to require fee-paid inspection experience, because acquiring that experience would be illegal. Furthermore, no association or government agency can follow you around to make sure the experience you acquired isn't experience doing it wrong. So I forgive ASHI for not requiring any inspection experience of their applicants. What I don't forgive is that they not only have no experience requirement, they have no entrance exam, no quizzes, no courses, no promises... nothing... no entrance requirements whatsoever. Just a 30-second online application that asks for nothing more than a valid credit card.

We had a legally blind person join ASHI just for laughs and we didn't have to commit a fraud or cheat to do it. He was able to join legitimately, because he had a valid credit card. That is all that is required.

www.nachi.org/blind.htm

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

Nick,
Weren't you an ASHI member a few years ago?

So wasn't Ben until 2004!!