Nice:)
So, if I may paraphrase…“I disregard all opinions of those who oppose what I want… I will also ignor the opinions of those who I told would be on teh Board but whom I failed to include in the process.”
I think that says it all right there. Plenty of reasoning has been given for opposing the CMI (Cheap Marketing Imagery). My reson is that it will benefit the schools, and as currently designed is not a “Master” designation.
Nick, you appear to be a car salesman negotiating for the price…ok - how about 5% over 36 months, or if 10% achieve it 250 hours…
That is simply no more than arbitrary numbers designed to ensure that only a specific number of HIs ever obtain the designation. Don’t do it by quotas - do it by making it difficult and worthwhile, like ICC does.
In the end, it matters not. Nick will do what Nick wants to do and the world will recognize it for what it is, and continue to use the ICC as the real standard in the industry for achievement.
Greg,
No… the approved schools paid nothing to get approved other than agreeing to develop ADVANCED educational options (which is something I think the industry, our members, and consumers would benefit from) for CMI. This is one of the main purposes of CMI… to entice schools to develop and offer ADVANCED education for our industry, something schools ordinarily find financially less desireable to do as, until CMI came along, there was little incentive for inspectors to demand or take advanced courses. The system is working.
Joe M.,
Sorry, I may have goofed. You and anyone else who wants to help with CMI can help. Just email me at gromick@msn.com I may have neglected to include everyone who wanted to help as I’ve been working on this project for nearly 5 years now. If you want on the board, just say so and help us. We fight back and forth at CMI too. Anyway, NACHI didn’t want the CMI project (though I offered it to NACHI first) so we formed a separate non-profit, tax exempt organization (MICB) to administer the professional designation. I only ask opinions at NACHI because NACHI operates the inspection industry’s message board and furthermore, I value the opinions offered here and use them to help me tweak CMI. As you know, I have a long history of seeking out and encouraging opposing opinions. I consider nearly all criticism precious. Help us… we’ll eventually get it right.
A side note:
All inspection industry attorneys agree… if you are code certified… don’t tell anyone. If you want to take code courses for your own knowledge, by all means take them. Just don’t put it on your brochures or website.
When a plaintiff sues you over an inspection the first thing his/her attorney is going to do, after he reviews your inspection agreement and report, is to look at your marketing (your brochures and website). If you are bragging that you are “Code Certified” you are dead in court. A plaintiff’s attorney will argue in court that his client chose you specifically because you held yourself out to be “Code Certified.”
The home inspection industry has built-in historical defenses, like our SOP, that keeps us somewhat safe. Courts that hold an inspector responsible for items outside our SOP are very few and far between anymore. However… advertising code certification pulls you outside the safe haven of our SOP.
Agreed, education must be the foundation, but a master only becomes a master through the experience of building upon that foundation. Unfortunately, the process takes time and short cuts mostly lead to shoddy craftsmanship and mediocre results.
Furthermore, anyone who claims mastery of anything after 100 hours is only fooling themselves and that might be OK, but it is very doubtful the concept will be an easy sell to potential clients who will see through the charade. Home inspectors who are dedicated to personal integrity & customer service will continue to declare CMI DOA as long as the criteria does not produce the inner confidence that only comes through practice & experience.
The other great impediment to the advancement of CMI is the lack of quality veteran home inspectors on the Board of Directors, there are no Jerry Pecks to be found among the group and until the majority of the board is made up of the top 5% of the home inspectors in the country it will continue to be ridiculed for its lack of professionalism. Like Jay said there is still much to do if CMI is ever to be a success.
***If you are bragging that you are " CMI Master Inspector" you are dead in court. A plaintiff’s attorney will argue in court that his client chose you specifically because you held yourself out to be “CMI Master Inspector.” ***
Attorneys merely interchange the words to suit their particular needs.
Nick,
If the “formula” and the status of the CMI designation is already established (as you announced) then what else is there to help with.
You said the same thing when you called after the last CMI debate on this board, and I volunteered at that time and was, apparantly, ignored or overlooked.
As for Code Certified being a legal liability, I would imagine the same issue would be present by calling oneself a “master” inspector. It connotes a knowledge and experience far surpassing that of other inspectors and could (at least as far as this arguement is concerned) be interpreted as your clinets should be able to expect more fom you than a standard inspector.
To be worthwhile the CMI designation must do at least one of two things. Either bring value to the bottom line (more income) or enhance your credentials.
Joe M:
I got you on. Welcome.
John O:
What you say is 100% true, but only from the perspective of the inspector. CMI does not only exist to be “worthwhile” to the holders of the designation (inspectors) but it exists to help the industry on whole by providing an incentive for education providers to develop and create *advanced *education options, which of course is also a “worthwhile” thing to do for consumers too. Currently if an inspector wants some advanced courses, the lack of options often causes him to veer outside of our industry (and take code courses for example). CMI is already incentivising a handful of good schools to fill the advanced education option hole in our profession.
Joe,
Most of my clients already expect more from me just by virtue of the glowing recommendations I get. I wouldn’t be afraid to have perspective clients feel that they are entitled to an above average inspection that such a designation would bring.
Being code certified could have clients expect that they are getting something other than a home inspection. If they were to find out later that something in their home is not up to code who do you think they will call or want to sue?
“Master” indicates that you are better (or even faster) at what you do. “Code Certified” indicates that you are providing a service well outside the protection of our industry’s SOP.
BIG DIFFERENCE!
Nick,
Code courses or advanced courses in anything related to residential or commercial construction are beneficial to any inspector.
I personally would not take courses for the notion of using a logo or explaining to perspective clients I took advanced courses for the designation of having an abbreviation after my name for the purpose of marketing, but if it works for some people, so be it.
Like others have said, there is more information available to further/advance your knowledge on message boards than any school could possibly offer, and it is free.
Nick, I am at this time not against your CMI program, by all means continue on with your quest. Perhaps it will gain traction with HI’s. I do not see myself aspiring to gain the CMI designation in the near future as in my area most HI’s do not even belong to any HI Organization/Association.
That would only work if they knew what code their house was built under, and how that code was being administered at the time, no doubt a tough job and the main reason that smart inspectors reserve code comments for new construction & warranty inspections exclusively.
Could be the new CMI theme song, with regards to the Sex Pistols.
I’ve taken many code courses myself and recommend that all inspectors take code courses… you can really learn much from them. The ICC stuff is great.
However, I would also follow the advice of every attorney who ever voiced an opinion on the subject and NOT tell anyone, especially in your brochures and websites where a plaintiff’s attorney will one day point to and claim his client chose you specifically because of this expertise.
David, I think I will disagree. If the use of the word “code” connotes something beyond a standard home inpsection, doesn’t the use of the word “master” imply the same?
If they find out that something was missed by a “master” inspector, or an item was understated, or inaccurate, don’t you think they will have a stronger standing in court? After all - they didn’t hire just an HI, they hired a “master”.
I think it boils down to the same thing. Use your contract to protect you and use the inspection as an education tool and you will be ok no matter whether you are code certified or just using some initials.
Nick, thank you. I am curious to see how CMI develops.
I personally think it should require a very high level of education - requiring specific courses perhaps, so that the required credits can’t be filled up with esoteric fluff.
Regarding the notion of having an inspection counter - this will be self reported info and, hence, unreliable.
Brian - that is a throw back! Good work!
You know Joe, “There’s unlimited supply”.
What a great song.