Let's not forget.. Whistler!

[rcooke]

I would highly recommend that not too much faith be put in Bill Mullens National Certification .
It was about two years ago when he was telling all how much money could be made and how many inspectors would be required to do the PDI inspections that would soon be needed .
This is just one of many disapointed home inspectors who spent a lot of money and still are waiting for their chance to make huge profits from all those $2,000:00 inspections that would come their way.
Unfortunatly like many of Bill Mullens hopes it was just smoke and Mirrors.
Roy Cooke sr.... R.H.I..... CAHPI-ONT. Royshomeinspection.com.
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Read below and weep !!!!!!!!!
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#&$&(* wrote:
As one of the attendees at the conference, I offer the following comments.

I'm sure the organizers were pleased with the turnout at the conference, however I became quite disappointed during the first day session where it became evident that the PDI inspection training session was not playing out as I and others had been led to believe it would. What I had understood was going to take place was that those of us attending this session, plus any who attended future training sessions, would be the only people capable of carrying out what was to amount to approximately 220,000 PDI inspections annually across Canada, and that this was something that was about to be inplemented in the very near future. As things turn out, the home building industry has not yet agreed to or climbed on board with this initiative; that even when (or if) they do, this is not going to be a mandatory process; that there is no restriction of any kind on who may carry out this type of inspection once it does come to be; that their are two completely separate types of inspections for which protocols are being developed (one is a Performance inspection and the other is a Contract Compliance inspection) and it will be entirely at the buyer's discretion whether any of them are carried out, and the cost will be coming out of their pocket. The session also was not an official training session but more of a discussion and information and idea-sharing exercise with no clear answer at the end of the day what exactly those of us who attended had achieved. A diploma/certificate was recieved although it was not made definitively clear just what value this diploma might actually have.

Attending the PDI course was my only reason for attending the CAHPI conference. With a rather significant cost of over $1,500 to do so, I figured that with the expectations being talked about with this new initiative, that it would certainly pay for itself. The rest of the sessions I found somewhat interesting but certainly wouldn't have considered going to Whistler for 4 days if it had not been for the PDI course being put on, not to mention the cost of leaving my one-person business unattended for that period of time.

I heard similar comments from other attendees so I know I'm not the only one who thinks there was some pretty siginificant misinformation being distributed prior to the conference about what the PDI training session was supposed to entail. I will be more careful about any similar types of training sessions such as this in the future.

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CMHC, Alan Carson and myself have been handling hot potatoes with the PDI
initiative, and due to that, the protocols and the course have been
evolving
almost daily. That is why we could not come right out and call the
'session' in Whistler a 'course'. It was a discussion and consultation
process. (I admit that the word 'course' was used often and too close to
the
actual day....................my fault) In reality, it was actually about
90% of the course.

From the feedback which we will receive in the next couple of weeks, we
will
be putting the final touches on the entire system. At that point, Alan is
creating a 'Supplemental Module' which will go out electronically to all
who
attended the PDI 'session'. Once they have studied it, there will be an
exam, hopefully administered locally in each city.

There will be no more traveling or cost to anyone who registered for the
Whistler session and actually attended. We hope to have this part done by
the end of November 2004 and implemented by the year's end. That way,
those
who attended the session will then be provided with their certificate of
qualification to perform PDI's. We obviously wanted to do the entire thing
in Whistler, and of course that was the hope and understanding we
unfortunately left with some. Alan explained this during the session.

Those who attended should not be disappointed because they will receive
their certificate once this final module and exam are completed. Their
time
was certainly not wasted since the material is primarily the same as will
be
delivered in the course. (with changes derived from the feedback) Anyone
in
the future who wishes to take the course will have to attend a full day
session and pay a full fee of at least $ 250. These courses should be
ready
to roll in the new year.

In a perfect world, everything would have fallen into place. In the world
in which we live, nothing is certain.

Alan Carson has gone far beyond the parameters of his agreement with CMHC
and CAHPI. He has redone almost everything a few times trying to satisfy
many sides.

Jim Robar of CMHC has been deftly stickhandling between CAHPI and CHBA. He
is in fact right now at one of their meetings trying to convince them of
the
worth of this project.

I myself have worked hard to bring this about. Perhaps my enthusiasm for
this incredible project caused me to be too optimistic, and this misled
some
people. However, my optimism has not waned a bit. If everyone supported
this initiative and tried to make it happen, I have no doubt it will fall
into place.

I can verify that CMHC has paid a large amount of money to develop this
course and they also poured about $ 12,000 into the Whistler session. They
are backing it as well as anyone could. On the other hand, due to the
skeptics and those who want things handed to them, CMHC has expressed
doubts
about whether or not CAHPI even wants this protocol and the opportunity.


Respectfully
Bill Mullen

[David C. Verge]

What are PDI inspections ?, and what role was CHBA expected to play ?
David Verge

[Terry Neyedli]

Pre Delivery Inspections are where the builder, upon completion of constructing a residential house, and before the owner's possession date make the final walk-through. This, hopefully, addresses any or all concerns that the purchaser may have. This process should take more than the builder will suggest (as he/she glances at the watch). A thorough PDI should last at least three (3) hours with the testing of all windows, outlets, switches, doors, heating/cooling systems, the plumbing system, entering all attic spaces-in short a full inspection.
My experience has been that you will uncover at least one item that will need to be immediately addressed.My favorite is the phanthom switch.

[rwand1]

Ontario's New Home Warranty Program
http://www.tarion.com/home/

Canadian For Properly Built Homes
http://www.canadiansforproperlybuilthomes.com/

[rwand1]

This fiasco with the PDI course and promises of thousand of inspections and thousands of dollars sounds just like National Certification project. The National and the PDI are not going to be influencing Provincial jurisdiction and the New Home Warranty Program (aka. Tarion) which is legislated by the Ontario Government. The Feds have no jurisdiction in these matters provincially. That includes CMHC.
Obviously there were enough people who bought into the scheme and had to travel to Alberta to find out that they were duped. Nice.

Fleece the flock.

[rcooke]

Please understand when the National Certification fails you more then likely will hear that it is all my fault.
You also will more then likely never get an apology ( This is the OAHI /CAHPI way never admit you are wrong or have made a mistake .
Just carry on as though nothing has happened or changed .
This is how Whistler was handled and the continuing not giving a true statement on the Finances from OAHI for many years .
Even after Two (2) financial secretaries quit and reported that there is defiantly some thing wrong with the books .
Smoke and Mirrors still is how they practice ,Lots of words Zero answers.
Roy Cooke Sr RHI ... Royshomeinsapection.com. ..... CAHPI-ON.

[Robert Francis]

I see CASH COW written all over this by the course givers and others that have a vested interest in it. Yet the government does not want to license. Mmmmm maybe the new government will see this for what it truly is.

[rwand1]

Similarities between PDI and National Certification? PDI was; get in at only $250 because later it will cost more to become PDI qualified. National Certification; get in early at only $100 cause later it will cost $1000! Nice. Whose hand is in your pocket? (TV ad)

[Robert Francis]

National Certification; get in early at only $100 cause later it will cost $1000! Nice. Whose hand is in your pocket?

I think you are a little LOW, do not forget all the courses to reach this level before the certification.

Lot cheaper if you take a college certification that is reconized, instead of a private organization.

[rwand1]

Robert,

If I was starting out again I would go the college route. Forget the inspection mills. A college diploma would certainly have more credibility to consumer then a self regulating home inspection association touting its own courses and preferred vendors. Cha ching, Cha ching. Will that be cash or charge card?