Several states prohibit inspectors from offering cost-of-repair estimates.
The “Carson Dunlop” course has a section on cost in the reference book. Many inspectors of OAHI give cost estimates and follow the same guide lines set out by this organization. I wonder how many will do this after they are required to get a license. Ontario already has rip off artists in contracting and most are well established with their license to do so. Will HI’s do the same if it is put in place in Ontario? 
Kevin
In Ontario every inspector has a stake in the legislation if and when it comes about.
We can’t afford for the government to come up with a plan influenced by one association.
We can’t rely on the government to look out for our interests showing deference to the purchaser and/or the realestate fraternity.
I would like to see any legislation cap liability to $500K.
Have mandated warranty coverage and title insurance for purchasers.
A standardized contract that limits liability of the inspector to the title insurance and warranty program.
Just a couple of wishes from my point of view.
Kathy I am far from always right.
We work our-self through the maze with help from INACHI friends.
You will be fine.
Kevin I have gone over that cost estimate.
Its not that simple.
If you have only a few feet of coping to change no installer is going to work from Dunlop.s pricing.
Its a little more than sq-ft numbers.
Trust me.
Please note the disclaimer at the bottom of the Life Cycles and Costs
The estimates listed herein include the supply and installation of average building materials. A typical three-bedroom house has been used as the model. Many factors will affect costs. These may include weather, local building codes, availability of materials or properly skilled labor, fluctuations of the economy, approach taken, upgrade selections, transportation costs, etc. No warranty or guarantee of any kind is made. Our experience has** **shown that actual quotations can vary by as much as 300%.
**
From my business pov, clients want some idea of repair costs. If you only tell someone your foundation is bowing, the next question they will likely ask me, “is it serious, and how much to fix?”
Cheers,
I know they are not accurate but my question is.
Will the new HI have any clue why they even put it in the book?
Was it to make them look better than other HI’s.
Was it to separate and confuse the public what inspection association they should go with in Ontario.
Even the standards for OAHI have confused many in establishing that they can provide estimates and repairs if the inspector wants too. This does not follow the other HI organizations and should be removed to provide proper services to unsuspecting homebuyers in Ontario.:roll:
Many people have been taken to the cleaners and it needs to stop.
I never use them in a home inspection report since an incorrect estimate could result in someone purchasing a home that they otherwise may not have.
I always use them in a home performance evaluation, however, since I must provide the client with a projection as to when they would realize a return on the investment for a particular recommendation for upgrade. It is considered to be less than “cost effective” when it will take you more than 10 years to recover, through energy savings, what you invest in an energy saving measure.
What he (Jim) said.
In my experience the pricing list from CD is fairly accurate.
Don’t understand your comment about Oahi, given that their SOP are the same as ASHI and Nachi, and given there is no rule stating you cannot go beyond the SOP in any association, the only acception being if licensing prevents giving costs.
Also don’t understand how giving ballpark costs is harmful to the consumer, again from my experience. Who has been tken to the cleaners?
Again where are stats or documents to show that consumers in Ontario are being taken to the cleaners?
Any case law I have read does not indicate the consumer was burnt by inspectors giving ballpark pricing with the exception of the BC case where the inspector under priced and understated the costs to repair the wood rot. And to my knowledge that case is under appeal.
I guess we all run our inspection businesses differently and by experience in my case since 1991.
2.3 B in the standards of practice for OAHI.
The standards of practice do not limit the inspector from doing other services that he is qualified in.
This is a conflict of interest and is not supported by InterNachi.
Example:
I can fix your leaking roof!
I can fix your plumbing!
I can put a new deck on for you!:shock:
Correct.
Other associations need the numbers and cannot exist without conspectors.
Conspectors are full time contractors who inspect part time. Some do it because they are not good enough at their skill to stay busy and need inspections to supplement their income. Others use inspections as an illegitimate means of soliciting additional work.
Either case is unacceptable to NACHI … but not so with lesser associations.
You did not quote the section correctly.
**2.3 These Standards of Practice are not intended to limit inspectors from: ** A. including other inspection services, systems or components in addition to those required by these Standards of Practice.
B. specifying repairs, provided the inspector is appropriately qualified and willing to do so.
C. excluding systems and components from the inspection if requested by the client.
What is not covered in the SOP 2.3 is covered in the COE.
Members shall:
FONT=Times New Roman Carry on the practice of Home Inspection in accordance with law, integrity and honesty;
(b) Maintain client confidentiality;
© Not act for or accept payment from more than one party concurrently in connection with the subject property unless fully disclosed to and approved by all parties;
-
(d) Remain independent and at arms length from any other business or personal interests which might affect the quality of the service provided; in particular:*
-
(i) a member shall not repair for a fee any condition found during an inspection, nor use the inspection as a vehicle to deliberately obtain work in another field;*
(ii) a member who sells real estate may not inspect properties located within the jurisdiction of the real estate board or boards where he, or the company with which he is associated, are active; and
(iii) a member who provides public sector inspection services may not inspect a property within a jurisdiction where they have public sector authority or responsibility that would affect the subject property;
(e) Promptly disclose to the client any relationship to the property or interested party, business or personal interest which might be construed as affecting the member’s independence;
(f) Not solicit, receive or give referral fees;
(g) Refer trades or other specialists only when doing so is in the best interest of the client, and does not detract from the member’s independence;
(h) Only provide an opinion on conditions and matters within the scope of the member’s expertise, education, experience and profession;
**(j) To ensure fairness to all concerned parties, not knowingly comment on the work of another member without discussing the observations with the member concerned. A member is free to provide an independent opinion of property conditions, but should if possible advise the previous inspector; and **
**(k) Act in good faith to all, uphold the integrity and reputation of the profession, respond promptly to complaints. **
(l) Always provide a written contract to the client and a written or printed report of the system(s) that were inspected.
[/FONT]
I attended my first day of the Inspect4u course today, and we actually talked about the estimate issue, I now have a new appreciation for what has been said here, discussing it as we did shone a new light on the issue, clearly one that I hadn’t thought about, I guess, simply put, I have to say avoiding estimating would be a very wise thing.
Which associations allow such activities? I know for a fact that is not tolerated in any association in Canada and is strictly verboten as per the COE.
Kathleen:
When doing repairs most people will get three quotes and dig into research the contractor. This cannot be done with a Full Time Inspector because they are generally too busy to do contracting.
As you yourself can see we are constantly learning and researching the field, if we stop we become like all the rest and fall behind just like skipping school for awhile.
The key to the studying is to make it fun and rewarding that is where InterNachi is the one and only teaching organization you need to succeed in HI.
Certified Canadian Home Inspector (CCHI) Sorry I posted in wrong Thread … Roy
What do you call a “WETT certificate” on site. The person who takes/passes the courses and puts in their field time are awarded a designation (a number are available) verified to the public by a certificate.
No WETT “certificates” are used for the inspection process. Are you referring to a report…which in my area is usually on a form/s provided by the insurer, filled out and signed on site by the appropriate WETT certificate holder and then sent back to the insurer. What are you seeing at these homes as you have been referring to “WETT certificates” repeatedly?
Certified Canadian Home Inspector (CCHI) Sorry I posted in wrong Thread … Roy