Well, the simple answer is maybe. TREC doesn’t track those numbers in a manner that is easily obtained. TREC does track and post the Enforcement Division actions monthly so that might be obtainable but I’d have to look more into that. The number of inspections, no, that I can’t determine from any TREC data. The Real Estate Center at TAMU has a great website that tracks all sorts of data for Texas real estate so I could probably come up with the number of home sales in all of Texas last year then estimate how many of those had inspections and go from there. So, the more complicated answer would be yes, using some educated guesses and assumptions then what you are looking for could be developed but it might be subject to scrutiny.
John O,
Well, more data was available than I first thought. Here’s the 1st pass at an Excel spreadsheet for what you were asking about. Take a look at it (anyone) and let me know what you think. Let’s critique the data before running with it.
I wonder if this should be moved to the closed section of our BB why give them a chance to saee what is said …
Cookie
All that glitters is not gold
It’s all public information. Nothing proprietary is being discussed or divulged. Besides, I doubt that the target of John’s displeasure is even aware of this BB unless someone leads him to it.
As long as the majority of inspectors write easy speak for the realtors, these kinds of feelings will exist in the public minds. This man needs to know that their are a large number of inspectors at InterNACHI that take their job seriously… and that finding the right home inspector is a huge benefit.
Man that was funny!
Thanks for the laugh John!
Home inspectors are hired to protect someone. Attorneys are hired to destroy someone! Inspectors tell the truth, Attorneys are barred from doing so. Lawyers are best hired in three’s; the second one to protect you from the first and the 3rd one to protect you from the other two. I wonder if he can be sued for liable? He should change his name to Evin A. Dufas can be an attorney!
Oh sure people could hire a HVAC technician, then a ROOFER, Plumber, Electrician, Foundation specialist, Structural engineer, Pest control specialist, IR thermographer,Radon Specialist, Mold Specialist, Hydrologist,Septic system specialist, and pay about twenty thousand dollars in fees! That would be a much better deal if the client decides to get out of buying the house. Gee who needs a lousy $500 dollar Home inspector? :roll:
Good points Ken and I have incorporated that thought into the rebuttal. I believe that Evins blog post is provocative because he wants rebuttal content to help his web traffic. I will gladly provide him with the content and all of my contact information if he will post it. It’ll be good business for everyone.
This is a good opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. Once the draft is finished I plan to give any interested inspector the opportunity to sign it with their contact information also, though this is somewhat a Texas issue it does have an impact on all inspectors.
Actually, I’ve already finished it. Just want to verify some data and give time for some trusted folks to look it over before it is presented here in the members only section.
John O
Very Funny with a lot of truth, sounds like you hit a nerve.
The problem with litigation is that only the lawyers win. Of all the statements that you made the only response he had was on the fee he absorbs when he losses a case. What about the winner. He gets nothing but Lawyers bills to defend himself and sometimes court costs. Lost of income while he mounts a defense.
The only way we can stop all the Bull**** cases is to change the LAW so that the loser pays everything, including loss of income, lawyers fees, etc. Who could change the laws. You got it lawyers that couldn’t make it and turned to politics.
I just loved this part:
Again, if you want to take a counter-position for your profession, I will post it if it is not merely an attack on me. **Defend your honor. **
Is he making the tragic mistake of calling John O out onto a sandbar???
:shock: 
:roll: 
Hey Russell, I have on retainer one of the most prestigous law firms on the planet, the firm of Dewey, Cheatum, & Howe for all my legal/illegal needs.
Home Inspectors are like Lawyers, you get what you pay for.
Home inspectors provide an unemotional thorough visual evaluation of hundreds perhaps thousands of components of a home. How many home buyers are emotionally detached and experienced enough to examine all the componets of a home to determined which items even need a qualified technician to examine, repair or replace.
This thread is continued in the members only section found here: http://www.nachi.org/forum/showthread.php?p=297443#post297443
To start with, he is comparing apples with oranges.
A licensed air-conditioning repair service operates under a different set of standards, licensing and certification by the EPA.
This is an important point that needs to be known. What’s wrong with that?
That is what every standard operating procedure and state law dictates what a home inspector will do. Does he suggest we break the law?
I sincerely doubt that. Any suspected efficiency will be reported and referred to the HVAC contractor.
(what does this have to do with anything)
(requires EPA certification),
This requires system evaluation which is seldom done even by the HVAC repair service company. This is a service that should be performed by a Testing Adjusting and Balancing (TAB) company not an HVAC repair company. So this recommendation is also bogus. Standard operating procedures and state laws specifically state this is not a home inspectors job.
Now he expects us to use crystal balls and predict the future!
A home inspector conducting the required evaluation of an HVAC system is in violation of the clean air act and will need a lawyer before it is done!
If we do what he recommends should be done during a home inspection we will be requiring a lawyer’s service to handle the litigation coming from several directions.
The most important thing that a home inspector does is look upon the property as a third-party and give an unbiased opinion of its condition and the issues which should be evaluated further. It is a person that can look upon the property with a trained eye and see things which the client is totally oblivious of. We get paid regardless of what we say in the inspection report. What is an inspectors motivation for not reporting what is seen?
When I go out and buy a car, should I take it to the paint and body shop or to the mechanic for an evaluation?
Unfortunately there are a few bad apples in the inspector business. I would venture to say the same is true in legal services.
The biggest problem (which is quite evident here) is that the purpose and responsibility of home inspection is misunderstood by the general public as well as the lawyers that purport to represent and protect them. This guy just posted a laundry list of things he would expect from a home inspection which is not part of home inspection and/or is illegal!
Until he learns what the scope of home inspection actually is, I highly recommend that he practices law in other areas until he becomes proficient.