Guys -
Its come to our attention that a Representative from a small town in southern Missouri is planning on introducing a licensure bill this session. If what we’ve heard is correct, we were told that his dad who was a builder died and a home inspector inspected his dads house for a potential buyer and found defects. This upset him and he started talking to Realtors about licensing HI’s. He’s a past sheriff from his area that ran for legislature last year.
AS you will remember, in 2002 when a poorly written and unneeded licensing bill for home inspectors was introduced in Missouri, a state home inspectors organization was formed called **MAREI **(Missouri Association of Real Estate Inspectors). MAREI successfully blocked this bill even though several special interest groups (Realtors, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, some out-of-state HI Trainers and a large home inspector association) tried to help push it through.
MAREI has been a silent watchdog since that time. They’ve been relatively inactive since 2002 because there was no political activity threatening the HI’s of Missouri. BUT with this latest threat hovering over us, MAREI has once more started actively working to protect our livlihoods. This week was the start of the Missouri Legislative session and **5 MAREI Members **from around the state (representing NAHI, ASHI & NACHI) met at Jefferson City for a meeting that included representatives from the Realtors, Mortgage Bankers, Title Companies, Appraisers, Home Builders, the State Bar Association, the State Legislature and the Lobbyist for the Missouri Realtors.
We unanimously told them that as long as contractors and home builders in Missouri are not licensed; as long as 71 of the 114 counties don’t have building codes or mandatory code inspections; etc. we really see no point in licensing HI’s. We also discussed the fact that when we recently polled the State BBB’s and the Attorney Generals Consumer Complaint Division there were only 43 registered complaints against HI’s in a 3 year time period. True every HI complaint does not make it to the BBB or the AG’s office, **BUT **other unlicensed groups like remodelers, contractors, roofers, etc had **SEVERAL HUNDREDS of complaints **against them AND even licensed and regulated groups like the Realtors and Property Managers also had **SEVERAL HUNDRED complaints **filed against them.
Taking the total real estate sales in the state, and estimating that 80% get home inspections, it appears that maybe 1/10th of 1% of all inspections result in a complaint **AND **over 60% of the complaints are because someone didn’t fully understand what we do and don’t do. In short there still is no demonstrated need for liscensing HI’s. **The Lobbyist for the MAR **(Missouri Association of Home Inspectors) told us that the Realtors would like to see us get licensed to “Reduce Their Liability”. He indicated that if we were licensed and anything ever went wrong in a RE transaction, the Realtor would be less likely to be sued and have less liability because they could say they gave out the name of someone the STATE deemed qualified (your license). What a great reason to get licensed.
In the next few days **MAREI **will be sending out Applications to Inspectors in Missouri and some surrounding states to get Inspectors to join their group. If MAREI is gonna help protect us again, and be a VOICE for ALL INSPECTOR Groups they’re going to need money. It takes time and money to help protect our livlihood - help them help you and join (I think Charter Membership will be $50).
Dan Bowers, CRI
(913) 649-8878
MAREI President - Mark Adams
MAREI Contact Info:
MAREI Secretary - David Moriconi
MAREI Phone # - (888) 848-4914
Mailing Address - - MAREI; 18921-G East Valley View Pkwy; #135 Independence, MO 64055
MAREI Fax: (720) 247-4882
MAREI Email: MAREI4U@yahoo.com