Jeff Barnes publicly responds to Jim Bushart, Dan Bowers and others regarding Kansas.

[Nick Gromicko]

Don't be so sure .

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

After seeing Jeff Barnes email to Nick, we realized several things.

WE just realized recently that Jeff Barnes President of KAREI (helped realtors push licensure) has been shown as a member of the Midwest Pro-ASHI Chapter (mostly anti-licensing) off and on since 2000 (the 1st time his name showed up on sign-in rosters for monthly meetings the Wichita group would send the Chapter Secretary in Kansas City).

Midwest Pro-ASHI was patterned after ASHI's largest chapter - the Great Lakes Chapter with over 200 members in 5-6 states. The whole chapter held 3-4 quartely meetings per year at a central location - but the individual regional groups would hold monthly OR bimonthly meetings, etc. in Wisconcin, Indiana, Illinois, etc.

During the time Jeff has been a member of Midwest Pro-ASHI he has periodically attended the regional meetings where he lives in the Wichita area (10-14 ASHI inspectors), but Chapter Records DO NOT show him EVER attending one the ANNUAL 1 or 2 day educational seminars the Midwest Pro-ASHI Chapter held in Kansas City (2.5 hrs drive).

However, we're told that he is a frequent ATTENDEE of the Great Pains ASHI Chapter (helped push licensure) Annual Educational Seminars OR Chapter Meetings in Kansas City. And on his web site, he advertises:

"Wichitas most Credentialed Inspector
Great Plains ASHI Certified Master Inspector"

Also saw he's been doing Residential & Commercial Inspections since 1989. The guys that actually were doing them in Wichita in 1989 don't remember ever seeing or hearing of him till about 1999. Curious ...

Several of the Guys wondered why someone who wants to be President of the Midwest Pro-ASHI Chapter had never attended their Annual Educational Seminars BUT had time for a RIVAL Chapters Meetings.

I will give him credit for 1 thing - He's certainly Affordable at $210 for up to 2,000 sf of house - then his fee is $240 from 2,001 to $2,500.

I see you call him for a quote if the house is over 2,500 sf, which would lead one to believe most of his inspections are under 2,500 sf.

Some of us wonder why a guy that has so openly tried to work with realtors to get us pushed into licensure in Kansas, AND has so openly made known his intent to be ANNOINTED as President of the Kansas Home Inspection Copmmission for the new licensure Board, can so openly slam other groups or Associations THEN turn and tell everyone that will listen how the JEFF BARNES bill had input from all of the Associations AND "Remember guys, we're all in this together".

I'm getting to old for this kinda crap - something doesn't compute ...

[James H. Bushart]

You don't get it, do you, Dan?

The law is bad. It hurts consumers, inspectors and the entire profession. We know that. Even Nick agrees.

It is so bad that even the used house salesmen pushing the law have had to stop recommending home inspections. That's really a bad law.

And the realtors used a half-witted, ambitious wanna-be home inspector to pose as a president of a fake coalition to get this garbage pushed through. We know that, too.

But, Dan....this law is predicted to increase Kansas NACHI membership from the present number of 50 to 300 by mandating inspectors to join an association.

Bad for the industry, bad for the consumer...good for NACHI.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Jim -

KAREI is not a fake group. They exist. In April when one of the guys showed us their membership roles, they had if I remember correctly about 106 home inspectors on the list. Of those about 19 were no longer in business; retired; or 1 was deceased. Leaving around 87 members.

Of those 87 +/-, not all were ASHI - we found 7 or 8 non-ASHI inspectors.

So I think we can truthfully say they're not a FAKE coalition; they do exist; and they don't represent just ASHI.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dbowers

Jim -

KAREI is not a fake group. They exist. In April when one of the guys showed us their membership roles, they had if I remember correctly about 106 home inspectors on the list. Of those about 19 were no longer in business; retired; or 1 was deceased. Leaving around 87 members.

Of those 87 +/-, not all were ASHI - we found 7 or 8 non-ASHI inspectors.

So I think we can truthfully say they're not a FAKE coalition; they do exist; and they don't represent just ASHI.

They are a fake coalition in that they have appointed themselves to represent ALL groups and...as indicated by their refusal to communicate with members of ASHI and NAHI...they do not communicate with any group other than their own members of ASHI and only represent themselves.

This is a false attempt to appear to be a coalition of home inspectors who are not attached to any one single association. It is done to intentionally mislead legislators to believe that they are speaking for Dan Bowers.

They are fake.

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

In a democratic system, the people get what they deserve.......if KS inspectors don't care to show up because they have more important things pressing (or internal fighting among associations) then as a whole they can not ***** when it hits the fan.

For Kansas inspectors, this to me would be a wake up call to come together and start acting as some what of a collective......if you allow egos to stand in the way than you better get use to being governed by the RE board of your state..........which is exactly what is going on in NC........we have just had to put up with it a little longer.

Every year we are told how to phrase part of our report based upon what the RE board wants to hear.

Welcome to politics.

Jeff

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Jeffery -

I think maybe we have not been totally clear. Many inspectors stood up and called, wrote, went to visit legislators. Other than being allowed to speak for 1-3 minutes in a public hearing their cries went in vain.

This past year home inspectors were on the Kansas Association of Realtors (KAR) Top Priorities for their legislative agenda, The Chairman of the Commerce Committee hearing the Bill is from Wichita and a Realtor (Steven Brunk). The Trial Attorneys were also PUSHING the Bill.

The KAR held breakfasts, luncheons, etc for legislators, etc telling them THEY were the largest voting block of ANY association in the state and basically offering campaign $$$ and votes for right thinking legislators.

Combine that with the ambition of 1 individual in a certain group of home inspectors in Kansas, AND every other group got left out or ignored.

If a home inspection Association like NACHI, NAHI, KARCI OR ASHI members were not in favor of the Bill - they were out in the cold.

The Bill was written and tweaked by Jeff Barnes with KAREI / ASHI, the KAR and Trial Attorneys.

Now however, it seems real important for them to tell everyone we're all in this together, yaddi, yaddi, etc.

We Weren't ..........................

[Gary Farnsworth]

Then, lets get Nick, Dan, James, and others together to get this bill recinded. It can be done, and has been done. But, it would take money, time, and effort. I am afraid we are now stuck. What will be, will be. I am just glad that I am close to retirement.

[Nick Gromicko]

Stuck with what? What is it you don't like about this law other than the fella who pushed it through? I can get almost any license amended to your liking.

[Gary Farnsworth]

Eliminate Sec.2.

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Dan,

I have no dog in this fight however where were the other organizations when, from what I gather, a little known organization with less then 150 members, were able to convince politicians (which are naturally self serving) that they spoke for the rest of the group. (It sounds like while other groups were fighting with each, KARIE side stepped the crap and met with the right people)

The other thing you all need to realize is that the main culprit of your problems are contractors themselves. If I am correct, Kansas does not have anything in place regulating contractors.

The public is tired of being scammed and as a result they are taking it out on HI's through their state representatives.

Again, I am not in favor of Govco intervening in one's life however being that we do not live in a perfect society one must find others who can collectively work together and attack the problem where it originates, which is with contractors and code officials not doing their jobs...............otherwise you all will continue to cut each others throats and be subjected to the power and influence that the Realty Boards muster.

Jeff

[James H. Bushart]

The public played no role. In fact, the only consumer advocacy to comment on the law opposed it.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

And who supports the home builder lobbying groups the most?
You guessed it, the National Association of Realtors. Just as ASHI is kissing NAR ***** for their inspectors will get their members' inspections, the NAR is kissing the home builder associations' *****es to get their members' listings.
Heck, even the Missouri Association of Realtors fought against a bill in Missouri that would require all new constructions have smoke alarms. They claimed it would put too much of a burden on home builders.

[Jeffery L. Haynes]

Originally Posted by jbushart

The public played no role. In fact, the only consumer advocacy to comment on the law opposed it.

IMNSHO, the public always plays a role.........you and I may not be hearing from them directly......they are probably complaining to their agent who in turn places the blame on someone other then themselves (most agents know when a property is a POS)

Law and regulations (good or bad) are a direct result of someone doing something they they should not have done in the first place and another party getting involved to regulate that undesirable action......pure and simple.

When laws are poorly written or not enforced; politicians come into the picture to enact MORE (often useless) laws simply to make the public or constituents feel good so that the politician can garner more votes come November.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Actually Jeffery, the public and media did play a role.

(1) Nancy Seats, the President of HADD (Homeowners Against Defecient Dwellings) went on record and provided a letter of documentation that in over 10 years of tracking consumer complaints they had little or no complaints against home inspectors in Kansas or Missouri.

They did however have MANY complaints against builders, remodelers, real estate agents, code inspectors, etc. They were also involved in MANY criminal or civil cases against those groups in Kansas / Missouri.

(2) The investigative reporter for the Kansas City Star did articles on the PUSH for this Bill by Realtors and Trial Attorneys indicating that when the Star had researched the facts that THERE was NO factual information to back-up the Realtors / Trial Attorneys that we were incompetent, out of control or had caused significant harm by not being licensed.

(3) The BBB gave us documentation showing less than 13 complaints on file against home inspectors in our state in a 3 year period - BUT - close to 1,000 against builders, remodelers, contractors or real estate people.

It really got down to 20,000 Realtors in Kansas with an RPAC fund of several million dollars throwing promises of $$$$$$$$$$ and campaign support to legislators GOING against about 175 - 200 home inspectors, AND about 1/2 the inspectors in the state being in 1 inspector association telling the legislators they represent most ALL home inspectors in the state AND the Realtors promoting and rewarding them for being the good little home inspector group.

Not to be rude, but there it is ................ Nothing more, nothing less.