legislation pros and cons

[rwand1]

James then what is the alternative? Licencing in Canada is being proposed as the result of self regulating bodies failing to do what they promised.

Licencing only controls members qualifications, it does not limit them from marketing and no licencing to my knowledge has restricted anyone.

So I don't think your concerns or views hold any merit. Self regulation maybe fine when its first set up, but after awhile special interests seem to infiltrate resulting in lack of accoutability.

[Greg Veal]

Licensing? Ahh!

I'm so looking forward to my livelihood being controlled by a beauracrat, who has no idea what we do, how we do it, except what he is told by some underlings, getting misguided information from hand picked sources who probably have less than pure agenda's.

The shame of it is that we as an Industry are unable to police ourselves, which is the problem with most consumer related services (ie: R/E, MEP, Appr's, etc.) in the General Sector we work in.

I just love the fact that my Government (a Rep. Democracy) is so willing to protect me from myself. I always sleep better, DON'T YOU ??

Lest we forget the revenue for our Licensing/Education/Training/FINES/etc that we will be contributing to our General Coffers for the betterment of our lives.

Damn, I certainly am cynical this am ??????

[rwand1]

Well in Canada everyone involved with realestate transactions is licenced. The only profession not licenced are Home Inspectors. This licencing has not restricted anyone from marketing their services whatsoever.

If self regulating bodies are going to dictate my livelihood they will have a fight, because if anything the self regulating body in Ontario has continually shown they will throw the rules out the window to suit their needs. This ranges in denial of services, deanial of due process, denial of free speech, denial of freedom of association, denial of minutes of the directors meetings and decisions, denial of financial info, and denial of good governance and accountability.

Regardless of what has transpired in the USA, Canada has its own problems brought on as result of special interests and egos which have fractured the profession in Canada. No one to blame for that except those that have failed to grasp their responsibilities and standard of care owed the members.

The blame rests solely on the shoulders of the self-regulating bodies who through there lack of actions has fractured the industry in Canada. So much so that large companies have thier fingers in the pie.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Unfortunately we the Canadian home Inspector have very little information from this self appointed group.
The odd bit of information slips out .
From what I have received they hope to implement their National Certification early next year.
They seem to feel they have the complete support of thew Government and it is going ahead as they Planned .
There was to be a big realease at the CAHPI Calgary conference but nothing has been released to the non members on what was said or what the future is .
Past experience has shown that OAHI/CAHPI does not follow rules and if this is what we can expect from the secret self appointed group then this could not be nice.
Roy Cooke

[Greg Veal]

The Northern Tundra sounds like a pretty tough place to work (weather & regulation wise).
Maybe the grass is greener, south of the border, Temporarily.

However, y'all will have to enter the country "legally", as we are having a slight immigration/migration problem here and some folks are a little sensitive these days.

WSB (welcome south brother)

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

Brian,

you know what they say about lies, damned lies and statistics

Interestingly 55% of the real estate community in none licensed states believe that inspections protect them, whereas in licensed states that jumps to 67%. Cause or effect?

Regards

Gerry

Perception Gerry..........Licensed HI's are percieved to be professional.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Perception Gerry..........Licensed HI's are percieved to be professional.

Exactly. Without licensing, a consumer must compare a home inspector with another by looking at a variety of factors (experience, training, etc). With licensing, no more need to shop. All of them are equally competent and equally qualified.

ABC15 of Arizona reports that licensing has been able to keep inspection fees lower than the national average, since the only factor they can compete with is price.

Licensing solves nothing.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Exactly. Without licensing, a consumer must compare a home inspector with another by looking at a variety of factors (experience, training, etc). With licensing, no more need to shop. All of them are equally competent and equally qualified.

ABC15 of Arizona reports that licensing has been able to keep inspection fees lower than the national average, since the only factor they can compete with is price.

Licensing solves nothing.

Slab on grade, stucco, relatively new, no crawl space, no basement, no earthe quakes, no hurricanes, no tornados, no snow, homes will do that to averages James. Averages are funny like that.

Non licensing also solves nothing also James. Why does one feel a need to solve things???????

[Brian E. Kelly]

James, now I am currious, how does a consumer compare HI training and experience? Does the HI forward some of Nick's "Certificates"?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Non licensing also solves nothing also James. Why does one feel a need to solve things???????

My HI neighbors in Illinois pay hundreds of dollars to the state per year for renewals for licensing that solves nothing.

Nonlicensing is free, and provides the same result.

You do the math.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

James, now I am currious, how does a consumer compare HI training and experience? Does the HI forward some of Nick's "Certificates"?

I suppose that most of your inquiries in the licensed state of Arizona, where all home inspectors are licensed and - as you stated - are "perceived" by the consumer as being professional and competent, they only inquire as to your price.

Around here, consumers call or email with questions like "How long have you been doing home inspections?" or "Can you provide me with someone I can talk to who has hired you?" in addition to how much the inspection will cost.

That is how, where the profession has yet to be socialized, a consumer can compare apples to apples.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by jbushart

I suppose that most of your inquiries in the licensed state of Arizona, where all home inspectors are licensed and - as you stated - are "perceived" by the consumer as being professional and competent, they only inquire as to your price.

Around here, consumers call or email with questions like "How long have you been doing home inspections?" or "Can you provide me with someone I can talk to who has hired you?" in addition to how much the inspection will cost.

That is how, where the profession has yet to be socialized, a consumer can compare apples to apples.

My of the inquires I field are of the "When can you do the HI" nature, as I have already cultivated my "Professional HI Reputation".

Being Licensed has nothing to do with comparison shopping. The same questions still apply. And if you enjoy debating the "Walmart" shoppers on the phone, no one is asking you to stop.

It is just that right or wrong, the consumer perceives Licensed Professionals as, well, Licensed Professionals, as opposed to a guy with a truck and a ladder.

I believe that HI licensing is inevitable, it is just a matter of time. I do not have to worry about it as it is the reality here. But from afar, it seems like Don Quixote to me and a waste of effort and resources, that could be better spent elsewhere.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

It is just that right or wrong, the consumer perceives Licensed Professionals as, well, Licensed Professionals, as opposed to a guy with a truck and a ladder.

No argument. Perception is truth, in the mind of the consumer.

100 licensed Arizona home inspectors, standing shoulder to shoulder, are all perceived as professional. They are all perceived as being equally competent to do my home inspection. Now, since all of you are good, professional home inspectors...which one of you can I get for $150?

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by jbushart

No argument. Perception is truth, in the mind of the consumer.

100 licensed Arizona home inspectors, standing shoulder to shoulder, are all perceived as professional. They are all perceived as being equally competent to do my home inspection. Now, since all of you are good, professional home inspectors...which one of you can I get for $150?

Probably the one you deserve James.

And you will get the same kind of car, steak, surgery, haircut, vacation, education, mail order bride, erectile implants, ..............................etc.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Probably the one you deserve James.

And you will get the same kind of car, steak, surgery, haircut, vacation, education, mail order bride, erectile implants, ..............................etc.

No, sir.

Your list supports my argument. Automobile manufacturers and sales people are not licensed and are not perceived to be equally competent - thus, one must look at a variety of factors before selecting one. Likewise, the cook that prepares my steak will not stay in business long if he does a bad job. The market has a way of dealing with poor providers of quality food products. The same with travel agencies and those who sell women in the black market. Erectile implant salespeople and manufacturers will do little business after the first couple of media published explosions.

Your list includes only two providers (education and haircut) that require a state license. Surgeons are required to be "board certified" and come close. As to the rest, I would not perceive them as being "equally qualified" as I would you and all of your fellow licensed Arizona inspectors.