InterNACHI files for "Certified Commercial Inspector" Federal Certification Mark.

[Nick Gromicko]

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f53/international-association-certified-home-inspectors-files-certified-commercial-inspector-federal-certification-mark-27903/#post345830

[mnahrgang]

Hey Nick.
To be certified, does that mean that we can not do a commercial inspection to ASTM specs?

Why I'm asking is because the only times I've had clients request any sop at all it's been specifically ASTM.

If the only way I'll win the bid is by using the ASTM specs, then I would hope that I would have the freedom to do so.

[James H. Bushart]

I'm not reading that option in Nick's post, Mark.

It is the right of the certifying agency to create conditions such as this to set them apart from others.

These are the choices we make as businessmen.

You and I, because of our code of ethics, are forced to turn away the customer that wants an inspector to come and do a report that will help him break his contract. I could just as easily resign my membership and open up a "specialty" niche marketing scheme to brand myself across the country as the "deal buster", but not as a member of a reputable HI association.

[mnahrgang]

Originally Posted by jbushart

I'm not reading that option in Nick's post, Mark.

It is the right of the certifying agency to create conditions such as this to set them apart from others.

These are the choices we make as businessmen.

You and I, because of our code of ethics, are forced to turn away the customer that wants an inspector to come and do a report that will help him break his contract. I could just as easily resign my membership and open up a "specialty" niche marketing scheme to brand myself across the country as the "deal buster", but not as a member of a reputable HI association.

Jim,
If you click on the link in Nicks post, he mentiones in that post...

"The Mark will be reserved and protected for commercial property inspectors who agree to abide by www.nachi.org/comsop.htm"

So my question to Nick is even though I agree to "abide" by Nachi's comsop, would I still be able to do an inspection to a different sop (ie ASTM) should the client request it?

This does not seem to be an ethics question. And comparing to being asked to do an inspection to kill a deal seems to be apples and oranges.

[Nick Gromicko]

Correct. ASTM doesn't have a commercial SOP (although that is what they call their Scope of Work permission form).

To use the new Federal Certification mark and professional designation and enjoy the benefits that come with it (marketing, insurance discounts, etc), one will have to agree to abide by the only Commercial Standards of Practice in print: www.nachi.org/comsop.htm on every commercial inspection.

[mnahrgang]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Correct. ASTM doesn't have a commercial SOP (although that is what they call their Scope of Work permission form).

To use the new Federal Certification mark and professional designation and enjoy the benefits that come with it (marketing, insurance discounts, etc), one will have to agree to abide by the only Commercial Standards of Practice in print: www.nachi.org/comsop.htm on every commercial inspection.

So how would you suggest working around this? Typically when someone wants you to do things in a certain way, they dictate it, not the other way around. You don't tell your boss how things are done, the boss tell you. The customer is always right, even when they are wrong.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

The customer is always right, even when they are wrong.

I think this takes you back to my original post.

We all have choices.

Going after the customer you want will preclude you from this designation. That's all.

[mnahrgang]

Originally Posted by jbushart

I think this takes you back to my original post.

We all have choices.

Going after the customer you want will preclude you from this designation. That's all.

Jim, No disrespect, but I'm asking Nick. In this instance you are my competition, therefore your opintion of what I can or can not due with this designation does not carry any weight.

I would like Nicks take on working around this situation. Because I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm all for NACHI, and what it stands for, but the minute it gets in the way of my business, I'm out of here.

[Nick Gromicko]

InterNACHI members need not use the new professional designation if they don't want to. Abiding by www.nachi.org/comsop.htm is not a membership requirement (like abiding by www.nachi.org/sop.htm is). It is a requirement only for those who wish to enjoy the benefits of the new Federal Certification Mark. If you don't want it, you may disregard this thread. Members need not avail themselves of everything we have going on.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Mark...before you decide on how to proceed it might be beneficial to determine how the iNACHI COMSOP differs from ASTM 2018. You might be able to abide by the iNACHI COMSOP, take advantage of the Certified Commercial Inspector designation and still provide an ASTM 2018 compliant inspection. Is there anything in the iNACHI COMSOP that prohibits using ASTM 2018? I doubt it. Is there anything in the iNACHI COMSOP that contradicts ASTM 2018? I doubt it. I and many others in licensed states have a similar issue in that I am bound, residentially, to use my state's SOP but I must also abide by iNACHI's SOP to meet membership requirements.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by mboyett

Mark...before you decide on how to proceed it might be beneficial to determine how the iNACHI COMSOP differs from ASTM 2018. You might be able to abide by the iNACHI COMSOP, take advantage of the Certified Commercial Inspector designation and still provide an ASTM 2018 compliant inspection. Is there anything in the iNACHI COMSOP that prohibits using ASTM 2018? I doubt it. Is there anything in the iNACHI COMSOP that contradicts ASTM 2018? I doubt it. I and many others in licensed states have a similar issue in that I am bound, residentially, to use my state's SOP but I must also abide by iNACHI's SOP to meet membership requirements.

Mike, there is a huge difference here.

ASTM has a provision that basically reads that, whatever the client and inspector agree to include and exclude in an inspection is within the standard.

No doubt, the NACHI SOP complies with it, but the reverse is not true. Ours is much more structured.

[Michael R. Boyett]

The reverse does not need to be true...In order to use the Certified Commercial Inspector desgination you must abide by the iNACHI COMPSOP...I could and then exceed that by further complying with ASTM 2018, right? Also, doesn't the iNACHI COMSOP allow for the exclusion of certain areas with the client's consent? If not, then it should.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by mboyett

The reverse does not need to be true...In order to use the Certified Commercial Inspector desgination you must abide by the iNACHI COMPSOP...I could and then exceed that by further complying with ASTM 2018, right?

Not necessarily.

[mnahrgang]

Originally Posted by mboyett

Mark...before you decide on how to proceed it might be beneficial to determine how the iNACHI COMSOP differs from ASTM 2018. You might be able to abide by the iNACHI COMSOP, take advantage of the Certified Commercial Inspector designation and still provide an ASTM 2018 compliant inspection. Is there anything in the iNACHI COMSOP that prohibits using ASTM 2018? I doubt it. Is there anything in the iNACHI COMSOP that contradicts ASTM 2018? I doubt it. I and many others in licensed states have a similar issue in that I am bound, residentially, to use my state's SOP but I must also abide by iNACHI's SOP to meet membership requirements.

That's what I was asking. I'd like to take advantage of the designation if possible, but not if it precludes me from meeting the needs and demands of a specific client.

If they are compatable, then there is no issue.

[Michael R. Boyett]

I find the idea analogous to how I manage my residential business every day. Since I live in a licensed state then my first allegiance is to the state SOP and, then second, to the iNACHI SOP. One does not exclude the other and I can't see why that same approach cannot be used when dealing with the iNACHI COMSOP and ASTM 2018. Now, JB doesn't agree with that but I have not seen any specifics to support his position as yet; perhaps we will later. Also, you have to remember that iNACHI leaders feel ASTM 2018 has no business being a commercial SOP or any other type of guideline for that matter and that the iNACHI COMSOP trumps everything else. Those of us in the real world know better. I don't do enough commercial, maybe 20% of my work, for this to be an issue but I see where it could be and I'll drill down on it if/when the time comes but I already have a pretty good idea how I will proceed.