NAE, HIA and InterNACHI partner to help low-income buyers find the best inspectors.

[Gary Farnsworth]

The biggest compliment is when a real estate agent, who you have worked with in a past inspection, calls you to inspect the home that they are purchasing.

It is sad that most all homes are being sold AS IS, and are not getting our attention to repairs needed.

Just think of all the jobs that we could create if home inspections were mandatory before the home is even marketed. Agents, companies, government officials, and office brokers nationwide have it backwards.

Re-habbed homes are for eye-candy only. I have more problems inspecting these homes than vacant ones. Inspections should be done before closing; not after the fact.

[Doug Edwards]

I think this is a fantastic idea. This may preclude the buyers from either having no inspection at all or having to go with the cheapest inspector in town who might be on site for 45 mins and that includes the time it takes him to fill out the four page report on notebook paper. Good job!

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by rharrington

James, come on ..... get on board here, the fees will be fair.

My fees are fair, and going up in 2012. I'm not interested in having anyone else define what a "fair" price is for me --- nor do I wish to participate in a program that only offers "fair" prices to certain people and presumably "unfair" prices to others. In my opinion, this simply adds to the misperception of the home inspection as a "commodity".

Every inspector is paid exactly what he is worth, without exception, 100% of the time --- no matter who his client is.

Good luck with your project.

I do have a couple of questions, though.

Since it is the presumably "good" inspector willing to donate his time for lowball fees as his means of participating with your program ... who is it that donates the actual cash to pay them?

How much money is in the fund, so far, and how is it managed?

Who manages the money that is donated and who takes how much donated money off the top to cover their "expenses" while these presumably "good" inspectors are performing inspections for lowball fees for people who can afford houses, but not home inspections?

[William C. Chandler]

I'll take a stab at it. I need all the help I can get at the Pearly Gates.

[Michael Gearhart]

Originally Posted by rhensel

I am in. Doesn't matter the price. The greatest thing about life is the ability to share what God has blessed me with.

Giving back is just part of any successful business. Count me in.

Like your attitude We need more people to give when you are able Thanks

[Emmanuel J. Scanlan]

Originally Posted by jbushart

My fees are fair, and going up in 2012. I'm not interested in having anyone else define what a "fair" price is for me --- nor do I wish to participate in a program that only offers "fair" prices to certain people and presumably "unfair" prices to others.

Every inspector is paid what he is worth, without exception, 100% of the time.

Good luck with your project.

I do have a couple of questions, though. Since it is the presumably "good" inspector willing to donate his time for lowball fees as his means of participating with your program ... who is it that donates the actual cash to pay them? How much money is in the fund, so far, and how is it managed? Who manages the money that is donated and who takes how much donated money off the top to cover their "expenses" while these presumably "good" inspectors are performing inspections for lowball fees for people who can afford houses, but not home inspections?

These are all very good questions and well worth answering from the creators of the program. I too have questions.

1. From the HIA WEB page http://www.hiahelps.org/CURRENT-SPONSORS.html of current sponsors there are none listed. Are there even any funds in the program now to pay for inspections?
2. On the HIA How To Apply page (http://www.hiahelps.org/HOW-TO-APPLY.html) you do not provide the forms for people to apply. I expect it is the "Form 990" that is from this page http://www.hiahelps.org/FORM-990.html. Yet on that page this is written "We are happy to announce this exciting new program has begun in 2011 and the Form 990 for this first year will not be available until 2012.". The forms for Inspectors to sign up are on that page though. Is this organization even prepared to offer these "Free Inspections" or are you just fishing for Inspectors right now?
3. From the Inspector Participation Page (http://www.hiahelps.org/Inspector-participation.html).
   • "Follow HIA’s reporting and documentation requirements when conducting inspections and submitting reports.". And from that same page "Each inspection service provider referred by HIA generates a full home inspection report, for presentation to the buyer (or other party for whom the inspection is provided) and delivery to HIA along with its invoice for payment.". As well as this statement "Adhere to applicable state and local regulations pertaining to the home inspection process." It appears that HIA will act as a "Referral" service and we will only turn to them for payment of the inspection. In that instance the buyer is our client and not HIA. How does HIA plan to handle States such as Texas that have a required and promulgated reporting form and required SOP that is vastly different from INACHI? Will your people be fully cognizant of the Texas Laws and Rules to ensure that report form was properly completed?
   • "Produce comprehensive computer-generated reports.......". None of the HI associations mentioned provide a comprehensive SOP to perform an inspection to the depth that is apparently expected to protect these people who can afford a home but not a home inspection and as such follow-on maintenance requirements. Who is going to define "comprehensive"? Will the specific definition be available as a guide to Inspectors to know what is explicitly required so their request for payment is not denied?
   • "Pass a national background check.". What background check service is HIA planning to use? How much are they planning to charge the Inspector for this? How are they going to use the results and why do they require them? Is HIA going to make this requirement even for people who already maintain Federal background checks for other licenses they hold? Are the results of any background check going to be made fully accessible to the Inspector regardless of the results?
   • "Are they located in the service area of the property being inspected?". Who is defining the service area and what are they? How are the service areas determined (what criteria are used)?
   • "Have they been in business for at least 3 years and have completed at least 300 residential inspections?". How does HIA plan to verify how many inspections the Inspector has performed for States such as Texas that have strict confidentiality laws? In Texas I can only give HIA the number of inspections and no specific information regarding the client or home.
   • "Do they have a solid and good reputation in the communities they serve?". How does HIA plan to verify this? Will they only look for publicly available records or information to indicate other than a good and upstanding community member? In other words will an Inspector qualify under the presumption "No news is good news"? Or does HIA have requirements that Inspectors be judged against?

The question was also asked before, and not answered, as to how HIA plans to establish what is a "normal fee" for an inspection in a particular area?

[James E. Braun, CMI]

I do not mind performing a few low paying inspections for people who are less fortunate. I do a lot of low paying work in mold for real nonprofits already. If the details work out okay, count me in.

[Patrick Carter]

I'm with JB and Emmanuel on this one... I will be curious to see what the answers are...

[James L. Keilson]

I would need to know what the Fair prices in my area would be. I am all for helping the less fortunate, but their are limits since time is not unlimited. I need more details and specifics please.

Jim

[James Eubank]

I vote YES for this idea. For several years I've worked with a local NeighborWorks organization to provide inspections as a required part of the purchase program. To say the least, I've met some amazing people and seen some real improvements in peoples' lives. Honestly, money can't buy that sort of investment in a community's future.

So I say let's see how this develops. People who are willing to help others, even if it affects their "bottom line," will get involved. Others won't get involved and that's ok. If the requirements for me as an inspector become too onerous, too picky, too expensive, too time-consuming, whatever, then I can always decline the inspections.

[Terry a. Russell, jr]

I would defintly be intersted in helping out here in the detroit area.