New Washington Education provider

[Stephen W. Stanczyk]

Received notice from the state today that World Inspection Network (WIN) is now approved for the initial home inspector training.

Now in the past I believe that WIN always trained their own inspectors that were part of their franchise system. I had heard they were seeking approval so they could continue with that avenue.

I don't know if they will be offering classes to other inspectors. But then if you balked at the $3500 cost for the Bellingham course you can always opt for the WIN training. I heard the franchise fee was only $60,000.

Options, options, options.

[kpierce]

Originally Posted by sstanczyk

Options, options, options.

I had a similar offer recently. It was a big, steamy, sloppy pile of horse sh!t with a side of maggots. I couldn't decide if I wanted it on a green plate or red. Options, options, options.

[Stephen W. Stanczyk]

Kevin,

It only gets worse. I was at a meeting of the Washington Association of Property Inspectors last Thursday evening. Two of the members were at the May 7th public hearing that the DOL held.

Once again, Rhonda Myers was stating that September 1st was the drop dead date for everyone to get their license. It was pointed out what was said on the website and she reiterated again about the drop dead date for everyone.

This is getting real old. The DOL can't seem to get their act together over anything. I sent another letter that night but of course it was not answered yet.

I bet dollars to donuts that come the last week of August, this whole thing gets delayed. I will be taking the test in 2 weeks but I will wait until August 31st and then drive to Olympia to get my license. They don't get a dime any sooner than required.

Washington State Department of Licensing : Incompetence at its best.

[kpierce]

Originally Posted by sstanczyk

Kevin,

It only gets worse. I was at a meeting of the Washington Association of Property Inspectors last Thursday evening. Two of the members were at the May 7th public hearing that the DOL held.

Once again, Rhonda Myers was stating that September 1st was the drop dead date for everyone to get their license. It was pointed out what was said on the website and she reiterated again about the drop dead date for everyone.

This is getting real old. The DOL can't seem to get their act together over anything. I sent another letter that night but of course it was not answered yet.

I bet dollars to donuts that come the last week of August, this whole thing gets delayed. I will be taking the test in 2 weeks but I will wait until August 31st and then drive to Olympia to get my license. They don't get a dime any sooner than required.

Washington State Department of Licensing : Incompetence at its best.

LMAO! Rhonda is still saying that? What the fukc ever. I don't care either way.

[Mike O'Handley]

Originally Posted by sstanczyk

Kevin,

I will be taking the test in 2 weeks but I will wait until August 31st and then drive to Olympia to get my license. They don't get a dime any sooner than required.

Oh you're such a kidder, Stephen. Your license was issued on August 17th. Hope you didn't bruise your chest pounding it like that.

Washington State Department of Licensing : Incompetence at its best.

I dunno. I'd say that Ms. Myers should get a commendation or something for what she's had to put up with for the past two weeks.

Just this past week was kind of rough on her. It began when the Seattle P.I. online paper and the Seattle Times both erroneously reported on Monday that Tuesday was the deadline for all home inspectors in the state to be licensed. That's when inspectors started showing up at her office at the Department of Licensing in Olympia. The lobby of the help counter was so crowded at times that they stood shoulder to shoulder. Then, one by one, if it was impossible to get it all done for them by COB that day, they blew their stack at everybody and everything. One guy was so threatening that a male co-worker got up, went over and stood next to her desk until he left.

She did manage to do some remarkable things to help some of them make it though. There was one fellow that came in about a week before the deadline who told her flat out that he'd been in the business for many years but didn't think he could pass the tests. She reassured him that he could and sent him on his way. Well, she heard from the guy a day or two later in a voice mail that he had failed. She contacted him and urged him to try again and told him she was confident that he would. She told him not to think too hard about the questions and just do his best. He showed up on the 1st with a huge grin - he'd retaken the test and passed it. Because he'd applied and taken his first test before the deadline, they issued him a license.

She said that another guy called from the far eastern end of the state all in a tizzy on the 31st claiming that he'd never heard anything about licensing until he'd talked to another guy who'd just gotten licensed. She had him fax her his test application paperwork and had then gotten on the phone and gotten him into the last open chair at the Yakima test center that day and faxed the approval directly to them. He drove to Yakima, paid for and took the tests, then grabbed his pass cert and hand carried it all the way to her office in Olympia in order to get licensed before they closed the office Monday afternoon. He made it and was licensed. She could have simply said that there was nothing she could do for him but she didn't.

She said that was pretty much the way it has gone the last ten days up to the deadline. She worked in the office some nights until 8:30 pm and had folks faxing and in some cases even express-mailing their stuff to her to make the deadline. In the end, it looks like just over 420 persons will have made it under the wire.

Since the deadline passed though, it's been inspector after inspector showing up trying to get some kind of exception. Unfortunately, the RCW doesn't have any provisions for an exception to policy so her hands are tied unless the Director, who has broad authority under the RCW, opts to allow exceptions.

Kudos to Ms. Myers for putting up with all of the rude comments and unprofessional behavior that she's been subjected to over this and maintaining her professionalism.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike O'Handley, LHI
Your Inspector LLC.
Kenmore, Washington
Wa. Lic. Home Inspector #202

[Mike O'Handley]

According to the folks at WIN Home Inspections, they will be offering CE classes to non-franchisees.

What they want to charge for that is their business.

ASHIWW is having a fall seminar at Cedarbrook in a couple of weeks and they are trying to get it approved for CEU's. If they are successful it will be a pretty good deal. That's a terrific venue for training. The difference between member and non-member price is going to be about $40. I can handle that, I suppose.

I understand though, that this year the short order cook and gourmet breakfast has been eliminated from the program. Too bad, that guy made killer omelets.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike O'Handley, LHI
Your Inspector LLC.
Kenmore, Washington
Wa. Lic. Home Inspector #202