Second open symposium on home inspector licensing in ontario

[George A. H. Luck]

Terry, you miss the point.

Nobody choses his G.P. because he has been in the medical field longer than the doctor down the hall. Nobody sends their kids to a particular teacher because he has been teaching for 25 years while the newly minted teacher has not in fact just the opposite can be the case. Nobody asks the plumber how many toilets he has plunged before he . . . . . never mind .

The public perception is that every home inspector will be licensed and that license represents the standard acceptable inspection. All home inspectors will be on the same level playing field. Additional training, experience, years in the field etc will not matter as the public will have been trained to accept the license as the industry standard. The question that every consumer will ask is why pay more for inspector 'A' just because he has more years of experience or more training in plumbing when all inspectors will supply the recognized, government backed, standard, acceptable inspection? Marketing will have little to do with it. The only choice will be value for dollar. Why pay inspector 'A' more for the same regulated inspection that can be had from inspector 'B' for less ( including a movie pass, Tim Bits and a car wash )

And let's not forget that licensing does not guarantee a better inspection and there are no data to support that false assumption.

[James H. Bushart]

Good points, George.

A reality check is in order here.

Your insurance company gives you a list of doctors to choose from. All of them, in the eyes of your insurance company, are equally qualified and competent.

What effort do you put into selecting which Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist to see to take care of your earache?

Do you visit, call or research each doctor...his age...his years in business....his credentials? No. If they were not qualified, you conclude, they would not be in this book to choose from.

Because they are in the book, you already know that the price is right. Your insurance company is recommending them.

What's left?

Whose office is the most convenient to get to.

As Nick points out, licensing becomes an equalizer that increases the need for marketing.

[jumpleby]

The meeting of the granfatherd!!!!!!!!!!

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by jumpleby

The meeting of the granfatherd!!!!!!!!!!

John,

Grandfatherd's have there says ...

[Claude Lawrenson]

1) So putting the talk of licensing - what can home inspectors offer that provides independent review, and no weasel clauses, and assure a highly accurate home inspection for consumers?

2) Does certification and education have any significance?

3) Does belonging to a home inspection association have any significance?

4) Does grandfathering have any merit? Or is that just another rumour used to perpetuate more disturbing misconceptions about the real background of those you point fingers at?

5) What is your suggestion on how the home inspection industry should be regulated? Or is there no need for regulation?

Thanks in advance....

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by clawrenson

1) So putting the talk of licensing - what can home inspectors offer that provides independent review, and no weasel clauses, and assure a highly accurate home inspection for consumers?

Herein lies the fallacy that the rest of your arguments are based upon.

Where are the consumers clamoring for independent reviews of home inspectors?

What piece of legislation ever proposed or passed has ever "assured a highly accurate home inspection for consumers"?

There are no such things.

In that there are no such things, the efforts behind addressing them are disingenuous.

[George A. H. Luck]

1) So putting the talk of licensing - what can home inspectors offer that provides independent review, and no weasel clauses, and assure a highly accurate home inspection for consumers?

Are you implying that licensing will provide any of these? It seems that with the present low failure rate the accuracy of a home inspection exceeds most industrial standards and therefore negates the need for an independent review unless a ruling in the courts is needed. Independent review is the courts job after all.

2) Does certification and education have any significance?

Education certainly does. As far as certification is concerned who do you propose to grant it; a self appointed body of 'industry leaders, Realtors and politicians'?

3) Does belonging to a home inspection association have any significance?

The significance of home inspection associations can only be measured in terms of the resources that that are made available to the membership.

4) Does grandfathering have any merit? Or is that just another rumour used to perpetuate more disturbing misconceptions about the real background of those you point fingers at?

Your meaning is unclear. Perhaps you would like to ask the question without trying to frame it in your own perspectives? Although it is apparent that you fear 'grandfathering' and are intent upon reducing the years of experience of some inspectors to the level of ' newbees' who have attained the minimum qualifying license.

5) What is your suggestion on how the home inspection industry should be regulated? Or is there no need for regulation?

There is no proof that the industry needs regulation. There is no popular demand in the market, although PHPIO is trying to make it appear otherwise. There are no data supporting anything but a minuscule failure rate which would be the envy of most industries. We do not need a system of licensure that provides no benefit to either inspector or client.

Thanks in advance....

You're welcome!

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

PHPIO regrets that it has been forced to postpone the Licensing Symposium in Peterborough. Unfortunately, some of the key participants have scheduling conflicts that are impossible to overcome.

PHPIO thanks those who have registered and those who have expressed interest. We will reschedule this event for some future date.