I'm typing this from the Florida Home Inspector licensing meeting in Tallahassee.

[Nick Gromicko]

We're talking about grandfathering this morning. Contractor's Association wants all home inspectors to get a contractor's license first.

I think I showed the board that contracting and inspecting are two different disciplines. A summary of my presentation:

1. Contracting experience is useful to home inspectors, however, if all the inspectors at the meeting looked back at their last few inspection reports, they will find that most of the defects they uncovered were of systems that were installed properly and up to code.

2. InterNACHI produces enormous advanced courses, but none of the courses teach anyone to install anything. They teach how to inspect.

3. Knowing how to install an HVAC system properly is useful, but different than knowing how to inspect that HVAC system 20 years later.

[James H. Bushart]

Fight the FABI agenda....that "building inspectors" are the only persons qualified to be home inspectors.

Let the board know how poorly contractors perform in real life. Our threads have demonstrated how some HVAC guys actually perform a service call on a home inspection. One and a half hours of a two and a half hour inspection is often what a former contractor will devote to their area of expertise. This is not a home inspection.

Further, how many "bad" contractors who couldn't cut the mustard would take advantage of a free pass to inspect homes?

I'm gonna get beat up for saying this, but I think there is enough published evidence to bear me out.

[Paul T. Punturieri]

Interesting because here in New Hampshire we just instituted licensure for home inpsectors but there is no licensure requirement for general contractors.
Maybe NH should require general contractors to get a home inspector license.

Paul Punturieri
Certified Home Inspections of NH

[Nick Gromicko]

We are now hearing from home inspectors who don't want to get a mold assessment license because of the required $1 million dollar E&O policy.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

We are now hearing from home inspectors who don't want to get a mold assessment license because of the required $1 million dollar E&O policy.

Do the realtors in Florida who sell these houses without mold assessment have a mandatory million dollar E&O policy?

[Douglas Wall]

We are now hearing from home inspectors who don't want to get a mold assessment license because of the required $1 million dollar E&O policy.

Amen

[Nick Gromicko]

We're now talking about what the requirements for grandfathering (mold) should be.

I just finished arguing that a mold inspection (or assessment) requires a holistic view of the home due to the fact that mold could be caused by plumbing leaks, roofing leaks, structural issues, foundation issues, the exterior, etc. (all stuff home inspectors are best suited to inspect).

And therefore, in lieu of the fact that you can't join IAC2 without first being a member of InterNACHI (which has courses on plumbing, roofing, structural, foundation, moisture intrusion, green building, etc.), IAC2 members should be grandfathered.

[Nick Gromicko]

Talking about background checks. Appears to be only be an issue for severe, recent, crimes, but nothing decided on of course.

It also appears that contractors who already have had a background check in FL and fingerprints taken, will have to do the check again so as the department can have a look at recent history.

[Nick Gromicko]

Meeting should end early. I'll be driving to Jacksonville now.

[Nick Gromicko]

I presented 4 times today. I'll start a new update thread on Thursday assuming I can get online from the Jacksonville meeting.

[Nick Gromicko]

If you have any particular questions about any issues that were brought up today, I took good notes, so just ask.

[John Shishilla]

Thanks Nick!

[Douglas Wall]

Thanks Nick, for the updates, after waiting three years for this to happen, any news is good news.
Doug, John, Rob, Greg and the boss

[Ed Bancroft]

Thanks nick, go get em

ed

[PAUL J. MAGRONE]

Thanks Nick. Question, isn't Grandfathering something that would have to be part of the Bill? Can the DBPR impliment Grandfathering? What does your gut tell you about Grandfathering existing Home Inspection Companies here in Florida? I thought that had to be addressed in the Bill. I am confused on that part of it.