Originally Posted By: jbushart
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Posted on Sun, Aug. 28, 2005
Inspecting inspectors: Move afoot to regulate home inspection industry By Linda S. Morris TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER Someone with a few tools, a flashlight and little else can call themselves a home inspector in Georgia. While many inspectors are certified and have the experience and credentials to do a thorough job, a person with little or no experience can give an opinion about the condition of a house, commonly the most significant financial investment people make. A national group of home inspectors is hoping that will change. A group called the American Society of Home Inspectors wants to get laws passed which would create certain standards and licensing requirements for home inspectors. "We are presently writing the bill up at this time and we've contacted a lobbyist," said Shannon Cory, president of the Georgia chapter of American Society of Home Inspectors, based in Atlanta. "We are going to be actively trying to promote this for our state." Cory also owns Rainbow Home Inspection Inc., and he works for Inspection Training Associates, which teaches inspectors. He said there are about 400 home inspectors in Atlanta alone and while he didn't have a statewide figure, his organization has 280 members throughout the state. He said the push behind wanting regulation of the industry is to help the profession have standards clients can count on. "We are trying to get builders to be licensed because real estate agents are licensed, appraisers are licensed, and if we're licensed that just makes us better professionals," he said. "If everyone has to meet the same standard, then there should be no problems." Home inspectors most often are contacted by people planning to buy a house. "An inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from roof to foundation," according to the American Society of Home Inspectors' Web site. "When problems or symptoms of problems are found, the inspector may recommend further evaluation or remedies." During the 1999-2000 Georgia General Assembly, state Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., introduced a bill to require licensing and regulations of the home inspection industry. But by the time it was passed, the law basically only gave a definition of a home inspector and said the inspector must give a written report to the person requesting the inspection. Bill Chambless, director of the Macon-Bibb County Bureau of Inspection and Fees, said he worked with Westmoreland and others to try to get the law passed. Chambless said the bill was watered down because some people had a problem with the government passing a law without providing funding for it. "I think it's a coming thing," Chambless said. "It's only a matter of time before the construction industry and contractors are going to be looking to require that people who inspect houses carry certification as well," he said. "I think it's time. I think it needs to be there." Bill Chester, owner of Informed Decisions Inspection Services, a home inspection company in Perry, said he has warned real estate agents, who often refer inspectors to potential home buyers, to be careful who they recommend. "All you need is a clip board and a pickup truck," he acknowledged. "Overall I think the home inspection business should be regulated. Some home inspectors are not qualified. We need to have some kind of code of ethics and tie it to qualifications and training and education." According to a study by the American Society of Home Inspectors, just 30 states have any kind of law regarding home inspectors, and Georgia is in last place of those states. Key factors used to determine ranking includes emphasis on education, experience requirements, standards of practice and code of ethics. "Legislators in each state must determine whether or not regulation is necessary to protect their constituents," national president Don Norman said in a news release. Cory said he would like to see Georgia inspectors become licensed. "I think it would enhance our professional abilities in the eyes of our clients, and it helps protect the public," he said. He said there is no way to track complaints of home inspectors unless they are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors. "There is no control at this point, unfortunately, because it doesn't give the client any recourse," he said. REGULATION WOULD LESSEN COMPETITION Not all home inspectors are sure government regulations would be beneficial. Jove Tweddle, senior home inspector with National Home Inspections LLC in Macon, said he can't see how the regulations would change the work he does. "My opinion is it is not going to change our level of excellence," said Tweddle, a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. "For me, it's just another speed bump that I would cross over to get whatever accreditation the state may require. I don't have any problems doing that." Until a new law is created, he said, he is uncertain whether state regulations would prevent unscrupulous home inspectors. "It doesn't take long for somebody who isn't really upholding good standards of practice to get sued out of business," he said. "They don't last very long." If inspectors are required to take a test and pay a fee, "that would require a little studying on their part," Tweddle said. "But, if it's just a matter of going and buying a license, then obviously they just have to come up with some money." One positive aspect of government regulation is it would lessen competition, he said. Chester said he is "fundamentally against government regulation," but he doesn't necessarily oppose new requirements. "I don't think we do a good job of policing ourselves. I see some value in (having regulation)," he said. Mike Rose, president of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors based in Lawrenceville, said if only licenses are required without other education or training requirements, having a license wouldn't necessarily keep untrained people out of the business. "I see nothing (in proposed regulations) for people striving for higher level of standards," Rose said. His group spun out of the American Society of Home Inspectors several years ago. Whether the industry is regulated or not, people wanting an inspection should look for qualified inspectors. "The best thing for consumer protection is they need to do their homework, check out the background and qualifications of the person," he said. "That's where professional organizations like (the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and the American Society of Home Inspectors) come in to play. To be members, they have to meet certain criteria. Right now, about 15 percent of people can pass the test." INSPECTORS GO WHERE HOME BUYERS DON'T One of the things home inspectors probably need to do a better job of doing is educating the public about what an inspection includes or does not include, inspectors said. Many home buyers, they noted, confuse an appraisal with an inspection. An appraisal is an opinion of the value of the home, while an inspection determines the condition of the home. Inspectors are looking for major deficiencies, Tweddle said. "We're looking for expensive things that are really going to come back and haunt the home buyer," he said. "Obviously we are not going to find all the little insignificant things. We try to look for major things, like termite damage, major structural damage and all the mechanical systems, heating, air and electrical." Inspectors say a thorough inspection should take at least two hours, and people looking for an inspector should read the contract carefully. "If someone is advertising they can do one in an hour, that would be a red flag," Tweddle said. The average cost of an inspection in Middle Georgia is about $250 for a 1,500- to 1,800-square-foot house built on a slab with no crawl space, Tweddle and Chester said. "We want people to understand we are not selling them a warranty or a guarantee," Tweddle said. "All we are doing is looking, to the best of our ability, at what's there and what's visible at the time of the inspection." Savvy home buyers can walk through a house and spot things inside the house they are concerned about, he said. "But they are not going to crawl through the attic and crawl space," he said. "It's best to hire somebody to do the dirty work for you." To contact Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223 or e-mail lmorris@macontel.com. |
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