FL NACHI at 1,450 members now larger than all other FL trade associations combined.

[dharris]

[quote=jbushart]Licensing, alone, is not the blame for low fees...but it does nothing to raise them, Neither does it ensure a qualified home inspector.

Gaud damm bushy we partially agree on something..
The funny thing is I have yet to see any other AZ inspectors agree with your unsubstaniated BS against licensing..

I don't recall reading anywhere licensing ensures a quality inspector. I can say at least the inspectors here and other states that have licensing the inspectors had to provide proof that they at least completed minimum HI training, along with other verified requirements and proved that minimum knowledge to the state, opposed to being certified by simply taking an on line quiz and paying 289.00 for certification to an individual, with a proven by public records questionable back ground providing HI related services to the public.


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[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dharris

at least the inspectors here and other states that have licensing the inspectors had to provide proof that they at least completed minimum HI training

Ah...and there's the rub. Thanks for pointing it out.

Once meeting these "minimum" requirements established by state politicians to be licensed, these licensed inspectors are considered to be equally competent and qualified with all other licensed inspectors. This is the gripe that your boys are making in their televised sting operations.

The consumer, in choosing between three licensed inspectors who have the state's certification of meeting the requirements to inspect a house, will look at what next? Of course, in your solitary active brain cell, the consumer will choose the ASHI member but when you are off the message board, you know that isn't true. It's the equally qualified, licensed inspector with the lowest fee. If this were not the case, you would be charging a hell of a lot more than you are, danny boy.

[dharris]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Ah...and there's the rub. Thanks for pointing it out.

Once meeting these "minimum" requirements established by state politicians to be licensed, these licensed inspectors are considered to be equally competent and qualified with all other licensed inspectors. This is the gripe that your boys are making in their televised sting operations.

The consumer, in choosing between three licensed inspectors who have the state's certification of meeting the requirements to inspect a house, will look at what next? Of course, in your solitary active brain cell, the consumer will choose the ASHI member but when you are off the message board, you know that isn't true. It's the equally qualified, licensed inspector with the lowest fee. If this were not the case, you would be charging a hell of a lot more than you are, danny boy.

Like you I am not a fan of licensing, with current times of internet marketing and instant on line certifications I'll take enforcement of the minimum by the state any day over competing with inspectors that never had a day of HI training, printed their own business cards, purchased a flashlight and paid 289.00 for a non verified bogus certification.
At least with enforcement by the state the public gets the minimum inspection and the individual inspector has the opportunity to exceed that minimum, thus more work , referrals, and higher fees in the long run.

My active solitary brain cell has a silent partner that recognizes that customers will often chose an ASHI member over other inspectors due to the advanced quality CE provided by ASHI and inter org referrals.


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[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dharris

with enforcement by the state the public gets the minimum inspection

Truer words were never spoken. I wonder if the public, in licensed states, realize that.

I think we would have a consumer uprising that could repeal a few of this insane laws on the books and keep some bills from becoming law, if they did know that - no matter what they paid - licensing provides them nothing but the minimum inspection.

Hey, with that outstanding ASHI marketing edge, why the low inspection fees?

[dharris]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Truer words were never spoken. I wonder if the public, in licensed states, realize that.

I think we would have a consumer uprising that could repeal a few of this insane laws on the books and keep some bills from becoming law, if they did know that - no matter what they paid - licensing provides them nothing but the minimum inspection.

Hey, with that outstanding ASHI marketing edge, why the low inspection fees?

Are suggesting that there should be a public uprising and repeal of minuium building codes and state workmanship standards???

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dharris

Are suggesting that there should be a public uprising and repeal of minuium building codes and state workmanship standards???

No, sir. Read my post again. I mentioned nothing in regard to building codes and state workmanship standards.

The "minimum inspection" guaranteed by a licensed state is much like the guarantee of care a hospital must give to all who enter, in order to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid...another set of state controlled programs.

You see, the state will guarantee "minimum care" to anyone coming into an emergency room...that is, their life threatening condition will be "stabilized" and they will be sent back out the door. Minimum acceptable state standard for health care. The state's "SOP", if you will. Now, to those able to pay....insurance or otherwise...there are such things as cures, treatments, and other life sustaining measures to enhance the quality of their lives. These are what the "market place" demands and what most are looking for when they go to a hospital.

If people knew that the "minimum inspection" was what their laws were guaranteeing....they may actually get involved and fight such stupidity, instead of sitting back and let a few home inspectors and real estate agents decide what is best for them.

[Doug Edwards]

Unfortunately, it is often the case where the new inspector is low balling his prices to get the numbers of inspections up and/or to stay alive that forces the experienced inspectors to lower their prices. In which case both end up on the ****** end of the stick. Much like the chicken or the egg conundrum. I believe what many of us who are opposed to licensing have issue with, is the argument put out by many (not all) that licensing will raise this mysterious, and magical bar when in fact it does not. Too many think it will make the competition go away from fear of having to take this dreaded 6 grade level test. Truth is that in most cases the "bar" actually gets lowered to the lowest common denominator, CEUs become rote exercises where people end up going thru the motions of attending classes with little or no real value to them or their customers. But, hey, they got their ticket punched. Meanwhile, good experienced inspectors who have done the time, sought out viable training, spent the bucks to keep current and proactive end up looking just like the 90 hour wonder who graduated last week but has a truck full of new and exotic gadgets that do little to enhance the quality of their inspection. Those are the same guys you see on ALL the bulletin boards asking someone how to write their reports, with pictures of a water heater and wanting to know what it is. One of things that attracted most of us to Home Inspections in the first place was the dream of working for ourselves without interference from bosses, setting our own schedules, spending more time with family and yes, perhaps a few dollars in our pockets. To then turn around and want government oversight over every element of our business is insane. Look around! They haven't done such a good job with any other project they took on. The country is going to hell in hand basket because of too much government interference. I worked for the government for 26 years, believe me, you do not want them to run your business. They could manage to screw up an anvil.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dedwards

One of things that attracted most of us to Home Inspections in the first place was the dream of working for ourselves without interference from bosses, setting our own schedules, spending more time with family and yes, perhaps a few dollars in our pockets.

Inspectors have tried to use legislation as a marketing tool..."selling" themselves as "professional". It didn't happen.

They tried to use legislation to reduce or eliminate competition...it had the opposite effect.

They tried to use legislation to "raise the bar"...but the "minimum" became the standard. The bar was actually lowered.

They tried to use legislation to increase their fees...and it had the opposite effect.

The consumer got nothing, the inspector got nothing, the state collected fees. Licensing has solved nothing.

Look at poor dan. There he sits in a licensed state with all of his experience, his ASHI membership, his ASHI lead generating activities...all of the ASHI prestige that his money could buy...and he is still only able to collect $275 for a 2000 sq ft home.

Licensing solves nothing.

[Greg Bell]

Bravo!!!!

Great post Doug.

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Look at poor dan. There he sits in a licensed state with all of his experience, his ASHI membership, his ASHI lead generating activities...all of the ASHI prestige that his money could buy...and he is still only able to collect $275 for a 2000 sq ft home.

Licensing solves nothing.

First off... Doug you hit the nail right on the head.

Jim,

No doubt in my mind that is the same fate that Florida will suffer if licensing passes here. Licensing has proven time and time again to be the worse way to regulate the home inspection profession.

[dharris]

Look at poor dan. There he sits in a licensed state with all of his experience, his ASHI membership, his ASHI lead generating activities...all of the ASHI prestige that his money could buy...and he is still only able to collect $275 for a 2000 sq ft home.

Licensing solves nothing.[/quote]

Bushy have you done anything productive today
Heck don't worry about poor me Since the last time I posted @ 8:30 AZ time I completed 2 inspections ,scheduled 3 inspections, took a 1 hr lunch and spent 1.5 hrs reviewing a new inspectors report..ahh yes another competitor..

[Nick Gromicko]

But did you fulfill any of your states required continuing education? Oh... I forgot... your state doesn't require continuing education. ASHI licensing at its best.

[dharris]

Originally Posted by gromicko

But did you fulfill any of your states required continuing education? Oh... I forgot... your state doesn't require continuing education. ASHI licensing at its best.

I spent a 1/2 hr reading the daily episodes of as nachi turns.. Does that count if I were a member and recorded it on your CE log that nobody verifys