Guys -
Another local KC home inspector forwarded me a copy of a young St. Louis home inspectors take on HB-122 and HB-220 in Missouri. Those are the HB-122 (licensure of home inspectors with them taking liability for the house for 5 years after the inspection); and HB-220 that says unless the real estate licensee SOLELY engages the services of a VENDOR (like home inspectors, termite inspectors, pest control operators, engineers, other contractors, etc) that the real estate licensee will have NO LIABILITY if **** hits the fan (my words).
The young man brings up some very interesting thoughts and has obviously given these Bills a lot of thought. I wanted to get your thoughts and feedback on them. One thought that I have and I find intriguing is that if I buy a house AND want to purchase a home warranty policy, MOST home warranty policies cost about $425 - $450 (for an average size home) and ONLY go for 1 year.
After 1 year if you want to EXTEND them you RENEW and pay another $425 - $450 for another year (unless the premium has gone up - then you pay more). In my mind it seems logical that if realtors want us to be liable for a house for 5 years, the customers should have to RENEW with us ANNUALLY and PAY us more MONEY. OR I guess they could just MAKE 1 payment upfront and BUY however many YEARS of liability they WANT. Seems fair to all parties to me, AND the Realtors get what they want / The customer gets to CHOOSE the level of PROTECTION with us that they are WILLING to spend $$$$$ for.
Dan Bowers
Dan Bowers, CMI, CRI, CPO
Heres the St. Lous Home Inspectors Comments …
From: *Ryan Heyl *[mailto:ryanaheyl@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 8:34 PM
Any inspector who feels they should not be held reliable for a defect, is highly mistaken. As an inspector, to be held responsible for a house for five years…That is unconstitutional. To many things have the potential to happen with a home regarding weather, soil conditons, etc. If an inspector is doing his or her job, be thorough and educational, they should not worry about being sued and hiding behind disclaimers or agents. I personally think that an agent should not be held responsible for referring an inspector and I also think that all inspectors’ should expect to take on reliability for there performed inspections, stepping up to the bar if a problem ever arises.
Though to be help accountable for a home for five years is rediculous, I feel an inspector should be willing to guarantee a home for 6 months to one year barring special circumtances.
If an inspector feels they are only responsible for a one time visit, shame on them and I feel they need to go back to there old profession and quit makeing the quality inspectors’ look bad. I have great respect for this profession and am proud to be in it. I have been in and around the business my whole life thanks to my father (Richard Heyl) who help build this business to what it is today nationwide.
I will defend and back our profession and my piers to the end but will not stand for ignorance or someone not willing to stand behind there work.