Originally Posted By: cmccann
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I have an idea so we don’t kill each other over licensing.
In the Canadian forum.
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NACHI MAB!
I have an idea so we don’t kill each other over licensing.
In the Canadian forum.
Originally Posted By: escanlan
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Thanks Chuck! I don’t make it to that board often enough and usually scan topics quickly.
Emmanuel Scanlan
Originally Posted By: Nick Gromicko
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I bought the property already but have not started any work on it. Namely because of two (sort of political) issues.
1. The main one being that the schools all flipped out over this. It is clear to all who think about it, that a classroom is no place to teach home inspection. You have to be in an actual home (mock or otherwise) to really learn this profession. You can't learn this profession from a book. We have a strong working relationship with many schools, ICC, ITA, NHITI, UL, Thompsons Educational Direct, and all these great fellas who give courses for us at http:/www.nachi.org/events.htm This project was (incorrectly) perceived by some of them as a threat.
Nearly all give us great discounts on continuing education in return for us not directly competing with them. Visit:
http://www.nachi.org/nachiandita.htm
http://www.nachi.org/icc2.htm
International Code Council, for example, treats NACHI members as if they were ICC members.... even giving NACHI members the same pricing as their own members.
There is a big advantage for NACHI members having big discounts on a variety of local continuing education options.
2. The House of Horrors had a problem (which the above schools somewhat solved for us). That being that we could only realistically build one of these and everyone would have to come to it. Our techies have suggested a solution. That being that we finish the project, but never actually let anyone in. Instead, they would re-create the entire House of Horrors in cyberspace and make a virtual House of Horrors with some advantages. Those being that anyone in the world could enjoy it without traveling. That one could take it over and over anytime. That the list of defects would be scrambled randomly and different every time you go through it. That we could accommodate more students. And that it would be free to all.
We'll see how it goes.
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Nick Gromicko
Founder
dues=79cents/day.
I much prefer email to private messages.
Originally Posted By: cmccann
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We shall, thanks Nick.
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NACHI MAB!
Originally Posted By: escanlan
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Nick,
That is a great idea! A virtual house of horrors would work well. What type of progress has there been on that? Grant it that would take a little money. Have any of the schools/organizations expressed an interest in using the existing property to create a walk through inspection/virtual tour for their use in return for allowing NACHI to air it for their members? Besides, it would not only help these schools/organizations but save NACHI the dollars of producing the virtual inspection scenario.
Emmanuel Scanlan
Originally Posted By: cradan
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| Quote: |
| Once built, can you imagine the PR these would generate on all the local news casts? Of course you can, you already thought of that too. Talk about getting free, and good, PR |
J. Bowman, April, 2004
| Quote: |
| Aggressive and bold. Shows indications of propelling NACHI to the top of the education chain |
Regarding your explanation of issue #1, it doesn't make sense, at least not entirely. H.I. educational institutions and providers, as well as H.I. marketing "specialists," H.I. software providers, H.I. arse-wipers, etc. are popping-up like MUSHROOMS. Multiplying like RABBITS, if you will. Even if there would be some perceived "slight" on the part of some or all of these NACHI-discount providing educational vendors, couldn't that be handled diplomatically? I mean, we're not talking about NACHI making "the bold, world-conquering move" to corner the H.I. education market, are we? We're talking about an extermely unique, highly useful, industry resource, which could easily be shared-with and perhaps even incorporated-into the curricula of many, if not all of these institutions. Peck and Bowman were right, back in April...handled thoughtfully and properly, THIS project would give NACHI a type of national visibility heretofore completely UNKNOWN. Imagine being able to market our functional "House of Horrors" to new and even prospective H.I.'s, as an ADJUNCT to whatever formal training they are receiving or intending to receive elsewhere! Imagine being able to truly get on the Realtor map, nationwide, by demonstrating that NACHI indeed produces the world's finest inspectors, and here's one more heavyweight, meaty, tangible reason why.
Regarding the second issue...well, did anyone really believe that NACHI (or any other industry-related institution) was really going to go-out and purchase six properties? Even one run-down, distressed property, be it in Poughkeepsie, NY, Nitro, WV, Shreveport, LA, Overland Park, KS, Rifle, CO, or South Central L.A., would cost at least $20-$40K. Then, add-in (as our members indicated earlier in this thread) the costs for setting-up the property properly (everything from permits to parking lots, enclosure to electric wiring, utilities to whatever), and you're probably looking at something costing North of a quarter-million dollars. And that doesn't even take into account the cost of continuing operations. Frankly, it wouldn't do to have student inspectors getting injured or killed in our very own House of Horrors, so there clearly would be a need to staff the facility, pay its utilities, taxes, etc. etc. Bottom line, one such facility is a much more reasonable goal. If inspectors have to scrimp and save $200.00 for a round-trip ticket on Southwest, and $59.00 for a night or two in the local hostelry, surely that's not an impediment to such a wonderful educational opportunity.
Heck, this ought to be a Foundation project. Immeasurable benefit to professional inspectors, and their tens of thousands of future clients and client's families.
--
Chris
http://www.inspect4me.com
Chicago Illinois Home Inspections
Originally Posted By: cmccann
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I’m not buying the school excuse either, but once again I will give Nick the benefit of the doubt. But I grow weary of Nick coming out with all these projects, some have been “in the works” for over a year. I have no problem with the time taken (if the project is actually being worked on) just please Nick lets get these things completed before we announce anymore. It’s not a race to see who can come out and announce the best ideas, but the race is to accomplish them. Thanks,
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NACHI MAB!
Originally Posted By: mlong
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| gromicko wrote: |
| I bought the property already but have not started any work on it. Namely because of two (sort of political) issues.
1. The main one being that the schools all flipped out over this. It is clear to all who think about it, that a classroom is no place to teach home inspection. You have to be in an actual home (mock or otherwise) to really learn this profession. You can't learn this profession from a book. We have a strong working relationship with many schools, ICC, ITA, NHITI, UL, Thompsons Educational Direct, and all these great fellas who give courses for us at http:/www.nachi.org/events.htm This project was (incorrectly) perceived by some of them as a threat. Nearly all give us great discounts on continuing education in return for us not directly competing with them. Visit: http://www.nachi.org/nachiandita.htm http://www.nachi.org/icc2.htm International Code Council, for example, treats NACHI members as if they were ICC members.... even giving NACHI members the same pricing as their own members. There is a big advantage for NACHI members having big discounts on a variety of local continuing education options. 2. The House of Horrors had a problem (which the above schools somewhat solved for us). That being that we could only realistically build one of these and everyone would have to come to it. Our techies have suggested a solution. That being that we finish the project, but never actually let anyone in. Instead, they would re-create the entire House of Horrors in cyberspace and make a virtual House of Horrors with some advantages. Those being that anyone in the world could enjoy it without traveling. That one could take it over and over anytime. That the list of defects would be scrambled randomly and different every time you go through it. That we could accommodate more students. And that it would be free to all. We'll see how it goes. |
Sounds good so far, Nick
Mark Long
Originally Posted By: jmichalski
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Something is always better than nothing, but in this case, I personally think that there is no substitute for walking through a real house (or house of horrors) and trying real techniques, and seeing real cracked heat exchangers and wiring problems, etc. - the things newbies probably have no experience in looking at (in person) for the first time.
Just the feeing of looking around in a strange environment with someone over your shoulder is different.
Every building trade union here has their own practice facility, I can't see why that concept wouldn't work for this purpose. Yes, people would have to come to it - but isn't that true of the high end schools and instruction programs as well?
If you want to do it from your desk, so be it! You can get videos that walk you thorugh houses too, knock yourself out.
I just thought that the idea of a real training facility with real staff would be great. But it isn't my money, and I'm not in charge...just one voice in the gallery.
Originally Posted By: mrose
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A virtual house of horrors.
It could be a game for X-Box.
--
Mike Rose
Cornerstone Home Inspection Co. LLC
Lawrenceville, GA
www.cornerstonehomeinspect.com
Originally Posted By: gjohnson
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| cradan wrote: |
|
Heck, this ought to be a Foundation project. Immeasurable benefit to professional inspectors, and their tens of thousands of future clients and client's families. |
We have actually thought about that. But funding for the Foundation is severely limited we figure it would cost us up to about $200,000 to get a fully functional property. We were actually looking at something that would compliment the Safe House Campaign and that home inspectors as well as regular people could walk through.
--
Gary (Snicker's) Johnson - Free NACHOS
The NACHI Foundation
Executive Director
301-591-9895
Originally Posted By: cradan
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basis from the Membership. Private merchants (Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.), and other organizations, governmental and NGO, could be solicited and perhaps even grants could be applied-for.
The project is certainly do-able, but as with all such ambitious ideas, it would require detailed planning, and a couple of motivated folks to take positive "ownership" of it. Clearly, many benefits would accrue, not the least of which would be the unparalleled national P.R. exposure NACHI could derive from it.
--
Chris
http://www.inspect4me.com
Chicago Illinois Home Inspections
Originally Posted By: escanlan
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Christopher,
That's an outstanding idea! If Nick and the other NACHI leadership could use their skills to bring on a national chain like Home Depot, Lowes or even one or two for each house, that could be a very good advertisement for them and cheap for them to fund.
You could even take it a step further and approach the sponsors with the concept that it would not just be for HI's. Let's face it having something of that nature would be more economical if it was constantly used. It could be opened to tours and training by codes officials, insurance adjusters, etc. It could even be open for Realtors to walk through with HI's so they can get a better understanding of the HI process.
Gary,
I've got an even better idea that is significantly cheaper, more useable and much more visible. The concept here has been to have an actual fixed facility in one location that inspectors, et. al. come to it. Why?? The same thing can be accomplished, and is much more flexible, with a vanized mobile house of horrors!!
Picture this:
The "XYZ" convention is in progress in a major sports venue. On one end of the arena/stadium/whatever floor is a simulated house with all of the horrors that are generally found in bad construction and that HI's find on a regular basis. The home is created with wall sections with appropriate cutaways to see internals or without sheetrock at all. The sections can be made of lighter weight materials than normally used and shaped, painted, etc. to look like the real thing (have you ever used TREX lumber? Lighter than actual wood). The sections are bolted together in minutes to create the house. You can even have a platform and stairs on one side to allow people to see the roof level safely.
There is no need to have a special house design used so it can even be a box like structure as long as it closely resembles a house. The walls can be modified at any time, section by section, to add or change defects or conditions.
With a single 53' tractor trailer, driver and helper, it can be taken anywhere, set up anywhere and brought to the people instead of having a lot of people pay expenses to come to it. Heck, if NACHI wants to pay for a Class A training I'll even drive it around for them!
Think of the boost when realtors or other special events call asking to have it at their event and the "NACHI" name and logo is all over the banner in front of it. That would even be a great addition to a home and garden show and WHAT ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE HI INDUSTRY!!!!
Just a thought and a lot cheaper than the original plan especially if NACHI can get it sponsored.
Emmanuel Scanlan
Originally Posted By: jrooff
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Emmanuel Scanlan, what a great idea. This would give all of us an opportunity to shine in our own area in front of our prospective clients and realtors. If lowes or home depot got hooked up with this we could be cost to cost in no time. Emmanuel hit this one on the head I think. That truck could run the north in the summer and head south in the winter. I’ll do the setup if your driving Emmanuel. I can see it now winters on the beach or is it in the parking lot? Oh well it south for the winter. All kidding aside it sounds beneficial to all not just to one area that I will more then likely NOT see. Maybe contact Monster House or something in the film industry for backing and air time. Maybe we need to start a new thread or a poll?
Originally Posted By: escanlan
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Geeez James, you just blew it for me!!! I was already packing my Hawaiian shirts and shorts. It’s real cold here in North Texas lately and I was really looking forward to hooking NACHI for a free vacation. DANG!
Hah, Hah! Just kidding but I honestly was serious about driving it around if they came up with the mobile house of horrors. I never even thought about the aspect you brought up.  I never was good at trying to hoodwink anyone. Every time I try it on the wife she just gets angry and beats me!!
The reason I brought this up is the concept of mobile displays of this type is very common in the high tech industry. Ericsson Telecom has a number of mobile units they actually use for emergencies (mobile cellular switching centers) and when not in use they take them to trade shows. Also a lot of the test equipment and other manufacturers were constantly bringing the huge tractor trailer or travel trailers, decked out with their wares, into our R&D facility parking lots and putting on demo's and serving lunch, etc.
Personally I find well thought out and professionally constructed mobile very impressive!
Emmanuel Scanlan
Originally Posted By: escanlan
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James,
Good idea about a poll. Could just start a new thread and put a link to this thread and all can go read it.
Emmanuel
Originally Posted By: jrooff
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Emmanuel, come to think about it you could do two trailers to sit side by side make a full ranch house and just piggy back with one tractor for transport.
Originally Posted By: jrooff
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Emmanuel, I have not seen anything in the way of a pole or new thread are you having second thoughts of driving the big rig.
Originally Posted By: tallen
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Bump
Any news?
No?
Take it off the list!!!
--
I have put the past behind me,
where , however, it now sits, making rude remarks.
www.whiteglovehomeinspections.net
30 Oct 2003-- 29 Nov2005
Originally Posted By: tallen
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Well?
–
I have put the past behind me,
where , however, it now sits, making rude remarks.
www.whiteglovehomeinspections.net
30 Oct 2003-- 29 Nov2005