Rest in peace.
This is not good news. The tide is always shifting and it will shift back to the liberal side. At least now we could have some input (control) over the process. Next time we may not and it will probably be worse.
I don’t think regulation is the proper course, but it is probably inevitable.
We have about 11 times as many members in Colorado than any other association. By the time they put the Bill through again, I suspect nearly all inspectors in Colorado will be members of InterNACHI. That’s the trend in Colorado and everywhere else.
Greg …
Realtors have had it as one of their top legislative goals since 1999 or 2000 FOR every where.
The word inevitable is interesting. ASHI used it alot in training classes for being PROACTIVE in helping licensing since around 2000.
The ASHI inspectors in Missouri said INEVITABLE in 2002 the 1st time the Realtors brought it up … that was 13 yrs ago. I was 55 … Today I’m 68.
In 2004 in Kansas, the ASHI inspectors from Wicheeta, KS said INEVITABLE and held hands with Realtors AND led the state inspectors down the path to licensing for 4 years. In 2013 the Governor dumped the law (lot of hanky panky with a member of the HI Committee they say). So its now 2015 AND again we’re not corralled.
My gf had to have 500 hrs of school to rub backs as a massage therapist … Most state licensing bills for inspectors are so pathetic we get by on 80 hrs. Disgusting IF we’re gonna have a law, lets put our guys in school for at least 300 hrs or so.
REA’s want basic, minimal standards and inspection reports, so homes will sell, all by law.
Next go around, such has been the talk in Kansas and Missouri, we should take Dan’s advice, and shoot for the moon with so much educational standards, pre-licensing requirements and insurance minimums, that the REA’s will go away running.
I can see required educational classes for REA’s to learn from qualified HI’s, how to read and understand reports, how a home works, how to deal with defect issues, requirements for tradespeople, etc. These classes would be taught by qualified HI’s every month, and cost hundreds of dollars for REA’s. If the HI’s have to have education, the REA’s and the engineers will also.
I can go on and on…
With all due respect, Nick, so what? Whether we are all Nachi or not makes no difference. As the article said, we are the only part of the RE transaction that is not regulated in CO. You think the Dems, when they get back the power, won’t fix that. CAR is probably fuming mad about this. As I said, it is inevitable, based upon the fact that the Dems can’t stand having an unregulated entity exist. So it will pass eventually. At least now, with the Repubs. having some control, we could have some control on the requirements and the controlling entity. If the Dems get it thru, it will be under the RE agents (CAR) and not under the control of the professionals agency.
As is said, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer”.
I expect this will be back next year and the year after until it is passed. How will InterNACHI keep on this to be part of the bill instead of being blindsided by a bill we, as inspectors, are not apart of? This bill did not have enough continuing education requirements, in my opinion. I also think the SOP should be included in the bill itself instead of having a committee decide that later. How many attempts is this now for CAR? I just hope they include inspectors when they push for the next bill.
Many lawmakers think that people are not “well enough educated” to understand why laws are needed, when it is the exact opposite that is true. So, as inspectors, we also must think in the opposite tense, and inundate the lawmakers with extremely high HI law demands, to make their heads spin right out the door…
Greg, you can confirm what I’m about to say with Jim K. and Ron H.
We initially officially opposed the ASSHI-pushed Bill. We refused to even attend the meetings. ASSHI hired a lobbyist. We didn’t.
Once the legislators and the Office of Policy (which Ron, Jim and I met alone with) realized that InterNACHI had so many members, both in Colorado and the U.S. … everything changed.
Everything ASSHI put into the original draft that we didn’t like (for example: specific references to the goofy NHIE), they deleted for us. Everything we asked to have added into it (for example: online education), they added in for us.
There is power in numbers.
My personal opinion is that licensing won’t solve quality problems.
Right now InterNACHI is THE gateway into the Home Inspection industry here in Colorado, it’s THE primary source for cost-effective and high quality continuing education, and THE biggest advocate for Home Inspectors rights in the market.
I, for one, am happy the way things are, and I’m glad we have the Gromicko’s as advocates when REAs or the state try to gain leverage over us.
It has always amazed me how REA’s want licensing, when all they need to do is, themselves and their offices, is to set the standards high for HI’s and tradespeople. REA’s should require high education, years of experience, insurance, and business requirements.
They never will, because they want state licensing, so basic, minimal inspectors and reports will be allowed by law, to help sell homes and make money for them.
It’s all about numbers.
I agree licensing alone will not help at all… zero… zip…
But would it help if the licensing requirements are such that:
a) certain education is required
b) specific reporting standards are required
c) specific SOP be followed
d) membership in certain professional affiliations
e) following of their SOP and COE…
Just thinking it may go a ways towards fixing some of it.
I have a feeling that while NACHI has a large percentage of inspectors who belong to professional affiliations… how many are out there who do not belong to anything… or follow any standards…
Just wondering.
Agreed… but that is part of what licensing may have the potential to fix. Taking some of that mediocre level out of REA control…
The licensing should have some rules that the REA and Inspector must be at arms length, or some other wording to reduce or make the some of the questionable relationships we see more difficult. Not sure how that part would come about, but would only serve to help the buyer in the end.
The National Association of RE’s require all their members to provide the best services possible to their clients, the home buyers. Why they continue to recommend cheap, basic report writing HI’s, and complain to us when there is a problem, well, they need to look into the mirror.
Why doesn’t the NAR police their own?
Requirements of the HI’s should be set high, by the REA’s and their companies. That will never happen.