The ASHI Board of Directors has charged the Legislative Committee with the task of determining the effect that Home Inspector regulation has had on ASHI. As part of this task, I am seeking information from individual Members and Chapters on how licensing and/or regulation has affected you and/or your chapter.
Please post your views here and indicate if you are speaking for yourself or for a chapter. We are particularly interested in if you believe the regulation of inspectors has affected the # of members of inspectors joining or renewing members in ASHI or in your chapter. Please indicate what state you are discussing and when regulations took effect.
Those who have already commented by responding to the Marvin Goldstein posting in January need not post again unless you want to expand on your remarks or present new information.
We would appreciate comments before May 1, 2007.
Thank you very much.
Roger Hankey Co-Chair LGC for state affairs.
Posted: 07 Apr 2007 07:38 PM
Originally Posted: 07 Apr 2007 01:11 PM
email profile
quote reply
Jim Hemsell
Total Messages 5
Subject: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
Texas has been licensed for over 20 years now, so we are a mature market for regulated home inspector. Texas has 16 hours of annual continuing education requirement that the HI associations are providing education and networking programs.
TAREI is the largest HI association in Texas with over 700 members, NACHI is second with about 4-500 (who can ever tell), ASHI has about 80 and Lone Star ASHI has about 60. There are several smaller associations scattered around the state. There are over 4300 Inspectors that are licensed in the state, so there is still about 3/4 of the number of HI that are still not committed to an association. Most are part timers or new inspectors.
Licensing of inspectors does not make association membership less valuable in my opinion. Everyone is looking for a support network where they can learn more about inspections, get their education hours, socialize some and create a difference between them and all the competition out there.
The ground rules change when you become regulated in your state, but if the chapter leadership is thinking ahead and making membership in their association a valuable asset then the association should continue to grow. When ever there is legislative activity, the inspectors are coming out of the wood work to get information. If you use that interest to gather information about them (name, address and areas of expertise), then you can hold their attention and get them to become / remain members.
If it is a big political fight or large egos involved, then people will move on to the next association opportunity. NACHI would not have as many new inspector members if association membership was not valuable in any particular state.
IMHO
Jim in Texas
www.Professionalinspector.com
Posted: 09 Apr 2007 09:25 AM
email profile
quote reply
Frank Lesh
Total Messages 85
Subject: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
Jim,
You bring up some interesting points.
JH- "TAREI is the largest HI association in Texas with over 700 members, NACHI is second with about 4-500 (who can ever tell), ASHI has about 80 and Lone Star ASHI has about 60. There are several smaller associations scattered around the state. There are over 4300 Inspectors that are licensed in the state, so there is still about 3/4 of the number of HI that are still not committed to an association. Most are part timers or new inspectors.
Licensing of inspectors does not make association membership less valuable in my opinion. Everyone is looking for a support network where they can learn more about inspections, get their education hours, socialize some and create a difference between them and all the competition out there.">JH
My questions are,
- Since there is clearly a need for inspectors to belong to a group, why have TAREI and NACHI grown, while ASHI which has been in TX longer, not grown?
- How can we change that?
That, to me, is the $64,000 Question. (For you young’uns that used to be THE game show back in the 50’s.)
Frank Lesh
Indian Head Park, IL
708 246 4183
2007 ASHI President
You have my permission to forward this to
anyone you please.
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 06:20 AM
email profile
quote reply
Scott Patterson
Total Messages 459
Subject: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
IMO one of the main answers to the growth of ASHI in licensed states is education, heck this will work in all states. This is coming from a person who has worked and is licensed in two states.
Simply said ASHI HQ needs to be proactive and provide educational programs to the individual chapters that have been pre-approved for the individual states educational requirements. With the few states that have difficult approval process, those chapters would need to help.
We have many weak chapters that find it difficult if not impossible to put out a regular education program, that have been approved by the state. If they had a pre-approved program this would be the magic that those chapters and all chapters could use to attract new members. My own chapter fits this description and we have around 40 members in it. Heck all three chapters in my state fit this description and that’s about 130 ASHI members.
We can’t depend on all of the chapters to get this done, and some will simply not do it for whatever reasons. For those that do not have chapters or dysfunctional chapters, we need to think about a traveling educational show. Yes, it would cost money but the chapters could foot the bill through the fees charged to attend. Folks like Mike Casey, Mitch Sudy, Don Norman, Mark Crammer, Douglas Hansen and many more folks that we all know, do this type of traveling show. Heck, when I was on the state licensing board in Mississippi we brought Don and Douglass to the state to teach an 8 hour class for all licensed inspectors in the state. If MS can do this, I would think the we (ASHI) could do it as well. If we could put an educational program on like this in about six or eight locations throughout the country, just think of the impact this would have. Once again this could put ASHI in the top of home inspector Education.
So in essence, Educational Programs are what we need to attract folks to the chapters and to ASHI. We use to be known for great education, but I’m afraid this is no longer true in many locations.
Scott Patterson
Spring Hill, TN (Nashville)
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 08:29 AM
Originally Posted: 16 Apr 2007 08:22 AM
email profile
quote reply
Kurt Salomon
Total Messages 103
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
I believe we should turn the eleven SmartTrack modules into 101 and 201
State CE classes eg Plumbing 101 & Plumbing 201.
We should also try to populate some of the education modules presented at
Inspection World. These would be classes that have been approved for state
CE. The material could be licensed or given to chapters to put on local CE
classes.
These classes would be a way to meet the needs of local membership and
attract non-ASHI inspectors and grow ASHI.
Kurt Salomon
ASHI 2007 Secretary
Utah - Greatest Snow on Earth
From: legislativeissues Listmanager
[mailto:legislativeissues.listmanager@www.ashi.org]
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 7:25 AM
To: Recipients of ‘legislativeissues’ suppressed
Subject: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
From: “Scott Patterson”
The answer to the growth of ASHI in licensed states is education, heck this
will work in all states.
Simply said ASHI HQ needs to be proactive and provide educational programs
to the individual chapters that have been pre-approved for the individual
states educational requirements. With the few states that have difficult
approval process, those chapters would need to help.
We have many weak chapters that find it difficult if not impossible to put
out a regular education program, that has been approved by the state. If
they had a pre-approved program this would be the magic that those chapters
and all chapters could use to attract new members.
We can’t depend on all of the chapters to get this done, and some will
simply not do it for what ever reasons. For those that do not have chapters
or dysfunctional chapters, we need to think about a traveling educational
show. Yes, it would cost money but the chapters could foot the bill through
the fees charged to attend. Folks like Mike Casey, Mitch Sudy, Don Norman,
Mark Crammer, Douglas Hansen and many more folks that we all know, do this
type of traveling show. Heck, when I was on the state licensing board in
Mississippi we brought Don and Douglass to the state to teach an 8 hour
class for all licensed inspectors in the state. If MS can do this, I would
think the we (ASHI) could do it as well. If we could put an educational
program on like this in about six or eight locations throughout the country,
just think of the impact this would have. Once again this could put ASHI in
the top of home inspector Education.
So in essence, it’s Educational Programs that we need to attract folks to
the chapters and to ASHI. We use to be known for education, but I’m afraid
this is no longer true in many locations.
Scott Patterson
Spring Hill, TN (Nashville)
To reply:legislativeissues.77717@www.ashi.org
To start a new topic:legislativeissues@www.ashi.org
To login:http://www.ashi.org/WB/?boardID=ASHI
To (un)subscribe:legislativeissues.list-request@www.ashi.org
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 08:34 AM
email profile
quote reply
Gary Randolph
Total Messages 119
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
Funny that education is such a strong factor here, but is not considered meaningful along the path to membership.
(Not funny in a ha-ha sense.)
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 09:24 AM
profile
quote reply
Scott Patterson
Total Messages 459
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>Funny that education is such a strong factor here, but
>is not considered meaningful along the path to
>membership.
>(Not funny in a ha-ha sense.)
Well in a way we do have an education requirement. In order to pass the NHIE one needs to study the practice of home inspecting.
Most membership organizations do not have an entry education requirement. I would love to see the passage of the NHIE on anyone who joins ASHI, but this would seriously limit those who could join. Even requiring the ASHI SoP exam as an entry requirement would reduce the numbers signing up to join. I know that this might not sound all that bad, but then we would also have to figure out how to replace the missing revenue that would be the result from those not joining due to the increased requirements. It’s a Catch 22.
The simple joining requirements of NACHI is the reason that they have so many new folks joining. So anything that ASHI does to make it more difficult to join will just chase the newer inspector to join the easyest organization they can.
This is just my opinion and it is based on many years on the observation of our profession.
Scott Patterson
Spring Hill, TN (Nashville)
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 09:55 AM
email profile
quote reply
Gary Randolph
Total Messages 119
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>Well in a way we do have an education requirement. In
>order to pass the NHIE one needs to study the practice of
>home inspecting.
You’re kidding, right?
>Most membership organizations do not have an entry education
>requirement.
Sure they do! Sorry to use the “P” word here, but Professional membership organizations normally require a minimum of a Baccalaureate.
>I would love to see the passage of the NHIE on
>anyone who joins ASHI, but this would seriously limit those
>who could join.
You’re kidding, right? What is the limiting factor?
>Even requiring the ASHI SoP exam as an
>entry requirement would reduce the numbers signing up to
>join.
Again, why? Money? Intellect? Isn’t this NACHI’s approach???
>I know that this might not sound all that bad,
>but then we would also have to figure out how to replace the
>missing revenue that would be the result from those not
>joining due to the increased requirements. It’s a
>Catch 22.
Missing revenue! Has anyone considered that more people would be attracted if entry requirements were higher? Not a Catch22.
>The simple joining requirements of NACHI is the reason that
>they have so many new folks joining. So anything that
>ASHI does to make it more difficult to join will just chase
>the newer inspector to join the easyest organization they
>can.
My God, first, that’s “easiest”. And the phrase, “simple joining requirements” makes sense for a pipe fitter, but not in this context. Again, higher entry requirements might increase membership, but would certainly improve the “profession.”
>This is just my opinion and it is based on many years on
>the observation of our profession.
If you’re not a judge, opinions are worthless without facts to support them. Sorry to get all in your face, but ASHI needs to ignore opinions - including mine - and back up its actions with creative and logical thought.
ASHI is the only chance this biz has for a professional organization to rise above the current muck anytime soon. What is wrong with the following proposal?
(Organization A)
Our members must pass an exam before we let them in. Sure, the exam is a total joke that nine-year-olds have passed, but we won’t tell anyone. In fact we will be creative in our ways of stating success rates so that the test actually appears difficult to those who have not taken it. Our members take x number of hours continuing education annually. Yeah, most of the courses are a joke, but it looks good for us to say we studied sumpthin.
ASHI
To attain the coveted ASHI Certified Inspector credential, our members meet the highest standards in the industry by:
Passing a proctored, national exam.
Passing an ethics exam.
Demonstrating professional reporting skills.
In addition, members must satisfy one of the following:
-
Proven completion of at least 250 home inspections.
-
A Baccalaureate in Architecture, Building Science, or Civil/Mechanical engineering with an overall GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4 point scale plus a minimum of 50 home inspections.
-
Member has worked a minimum of three years as a licensed GC, satisfactorily proven ethical and financial professionalism, and has performed a minimum of 75 home inspections. As a GC, the member must have been the primary contractor for x number of residential structures each of the three years.
How does this dilute current requirements?
>Scott PattersonSpring Hill, TN (Nashville)
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 11:36 AM
profile
quote reply
Bill Loden
Total Messages 222
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>ASHI
To attain the coveted ASHI Certified Inspector
>credential, our members meet the highest standards in the
>industry by:
>Passing a proctored, national exam.Passing an ethics
>exam.Demonstrating professional reporting skills.In
>addition, members must satisfy one of the following:1.
>Proven completion of at least 250 home inspections.2. A
>Baccalaureate in Architecture, Building Science, or
>Civil/Mechanical engineering with an overall GPA of at least
>2.75 on a 4 point scale plus a minimum of 50 home
>inspections.3. Member has worked a minimum of three years as
>a licensed GC, satisfactorily proven ethical and
>financial professionalism, and has performed a minimum
>of 75 home inspections. As a GC, the member must have been
>the primary contractor for x number of residential
>structures each of the three years.
>How does this dilute current requirements?>
Gary,
I could go along with most all of that. In Alabama you must pass the NHIE to get a license so making it an entry requirement wouldn’t really affect any inspectors in states that require the NHIE. As a matter of fact it could be argued that if you can’t pass the NHIE then you should not be inspecting a house because you are most certainly incompetent.
I agree that a B.S. degree in any of the fields you mention should offset a substaintial number of inspection toward full membership. A B.S. and 50 inspections should be about right.
I’m not too sure about General Contractor experience though. Might be OK.
Bill Loden
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 06:27 PM
email profile
quote reply
Gary Randolph
Total Messages 119
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>I could go along with most all of that. In Alabama you must
>pass the NHIE to get a license so making it an entry
>requirement wouldn’t really affect any inspectors in states
>that require the NHIE.
How many states require the NHIE? (They all should, as a minimum.)
>As a matter of fact it
>could be argued that if you can’t pass the NHIE then you
>should not be inspecting a house because you are
>most certainly incompetent.
Cannot imagine anyone arguing against that.
>I agree that a B.S. degree in any of the fields you
>mention should offset a substaintial number of inspection
>toward full membership. A B.S. and 50 inspections should be
>about right.
Bill, in a pre-nacho world, I might not make such a recommendation. But in a post-nacho world, the unqualified - yet nacho certified - HI’s are polluting the market and making the 250 mark much harder to achieve. It would be in the consumers’ best interests to have ASHI inspectors.
>I’m not too sure about General Contractor experience though.
>Might be OK.
I agree. This is all just a seed, but I hope something grows quickly.
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 08:53 PM
profile
quote reply
Scott Patterson
Total Messages 459
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
Gary,
I don’t have all of the answers, in fact I have very few. All I can tell you is what I have seen over the years as a volunteer in ASHI. Changes are very slow, and the changes that you speak of would have to be voted on by the voting membership. This is not an easy task.
I understand your point of view, but I personally do not agree with all of it.
The beauty of our Society is that if you want to make a change all you have to do is to get involved on a national committee, with the COR or on a task force. Let it be known that you want to foster a change for the better, I don’t think you would get an argument.
Scott Patterson
Spring Hill, TN (Nashville)
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 08:49 PM
email profile
quote reply
Gary Randolph
Total Messages 119
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>Gary,
>I don’t have all of the answers, in fact I have very
>few. All I can tell you is what I have seen over the
>years as a volunteer in ASHI.
I don’t expect you to have all the answers, but opinions are not a substitute.
>Changes are very slow,
>and the changes that you speak of would have to be voted on
>by the voting membership. This is not an easy
>task.
That is nothing but negativity. Such thinking is counterproductive. If everything you say is true, then something is very wrong.
>I understand your point of view, but I personally do not
>agree with all of it.
No problem. Can you be more specific? Can you discuss it? Can you improve it? Can you suggest an alternative? Anything?
>The beauty of our Society is that if you want to make a
>change all you have to do is to get involved on a national
>committee, with the COR or on a task force. Let it be
>known that you want to foster a change for the better, I
>don’t think you would get an argument.
You cannot say “change is very slow” and voting is “not an easy task”, and then say, “all you have to do is…”
Logic falls to pieces, and progress never had a chance.
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 09:17 PM
profile
quote reply
Kurt Mitenbuler
Total Messages 654
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>>…" Logic falls to pieces, and
>progress never had a chance.
There is an unblinking belief by those enmeshed in the process that everything is hunky dory, and change is this thing that is easily accomplished by “getting involved”.
While I find the folks to be engaging, the process is not; it is a model of inefficiency and bloat, w/multiple examples of the Peter Principle writ large.
There is little to no incentive for folks used to getting things done to include themselves; getting involved means forgetting & avoiding any simple strategic, logistic, or organizational construct that might nudge the ship of state forward. The sheer number of Directors should tell anyone famililar w/operations mgt. that something is seriously awry.
I do not expect it to get better, as the “involved” seem quite happy w/the current symmetry.
Kurt Mitenbuler
Chicago; workin’ the inner City
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 07:16 AM
email profile
quote reply
Scott Patterson
Total Messages 459
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>>>…" Logic falls to pieces, and>progress never
>had a chance.
>There is an unblinking belief by those enmeshed in the
>process that everything is hunky dory, and change is this
>thing that is easily accomplished by “getting
>involved”.
>While I find the folks to be engaging, the process is not;
>it is a model of inefficiency and bloat, w/multiple examples
>of the Peter Principle writ large.
>There is little to no incentive for folks used to getting
>things done to include themselves; getting involved means
>forgetting & avoiding any simple strategic,
>logistic, or organizational construct that might nudge the
>ship of state forward. The sheer number of
>Directors should tell anyone famililar w/operations mgt.
>that something is seriously awry.
>I do not expect it to get better, as the “involved” seem
>quite happy w/the current symmetry.
>Kurt MitenbulerChicago; workin’ the inner City
I have noticed some positive changes with the 2005 & 2006 & 2007 Board of Directors. I agree that our board is way over sized, I would say 10 to 12 member board is all that we need. Much less costly and more effective when it comes to getting the work done.
Scott Patterson
Spring Hill, TN (Nashville)
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 07:52 AM
Originally Posted: 17 Apr 2007 07:47 AM
email profile
quote reply
Kurt Mitenbuler
Total Messages 654
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>I have noticed some positive changes with the 2005
>& 2006 & 2007 Board of Directors. I agree that our
>board is way over sized, I would say 10 to 12 member board
>is all that we need. Much less costly and more
>effective when it comes to getting the work done.
>Scott PattersonSpring Hill, TN (Nashville)
I agree, but I’d shave the # to 7 or 9, and have an entirely different methodology for how they got there. And, how they structured the game.
Qualitiy of leadership that one brings to the game isn’t open to purview, and a tightly held consortium often confuses evenhandedness w/ stasis, as they intermingle easily and often defy recognition as being different.
To understand ASHI, one would do well to study professional society mgt., and how it gets there. The current model is not sustainable; it gets into all manner of professional society mgt. stuff, which confuses goals w/activity a lot of the time.
Kurt Mitenbuler
Chicago; workin’ the inner City
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 11:04 AM
email profile
quote reply
Gary Randolph
Total Messages 119
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
There is an unblinking belief by those enmeshed in the process that everything is hunky dory, and change is this thing that is easily accomplished by “getting involved”.
Man! You have to admit; I really tried to reach a different conclusion, but that’s not working out. The people who founded this organization worked hard to improve our industry. They wanted change. This is a good place for the often abused word, ironic.
While I find the folks to be engaging, the process is not; it is a model of inefficiency and bloat, w/multiple examples of the Peter Principle writ large.
I sensed that recently when I was asked for input about what else needs to be changed with the website. I wrote a top ten list, but it seems that there is a belief that what we have can be made to work just fine, thank you.
There is little to no incentive for folks used to getting things done to include themselves; getting involved means forgetting & avoiding any simple strategic, logistic, or organizational construct that might nudge the ship of state forward. The sheer number of Directors should tell anyone famililar w/operations mgt. that something is seriously awry.
Very true. Recall Hillary’s medical plan? Lots of Directors.
I think TIJA has a nice ring to it (pronounce: tee-ha). Fertile ground.
I do not expect it to get better, as the “involved” seem quite happy w/the current symmetry.
My fingers are hurting. They’ve been crossed far too long.
Kurt Mitenbuler
Chicago; workin’ the inner City
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 08:27 AM
profile
quote reply
Eric Barker
Total Messages 369
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
I attend many programs each year, about 45-50 hours. I hear a lot of speakers. What is missing much of the time, in my view, is knowledgeable presenters. Too often the speaker is using the opportunity as a sales pitch - BORING. There are also too many “101” classes - BORING.
In 1993 when I got into this field I went to Andy Cox’ school (started by his dad John). At the time I thought that I had prepared quite well. But what Andy showed us was the vast amount of information that we still had yet to learn - it was actually energizing for me. (Frank, remember Jamie’s SIG get togethers - great meetings)
When chapters put on CE classes today they sometimes don’t, or don’t know how to, screen and prep speakers. Speakers often don’t know what we do, or how educated we already are. They often don’t have enough info themselves to answer questions that some of us can ask. In short I think that chapters could use help in how to find good speakers. This is certainly one way for ASHI to set itself apart.
Now some may think that we may bury the new inspectors with info that is over their heads. But the plus side is they will see what there is to learn and, if like I was, will be encouraged to strive for more quality education.
Eric Barker
Barrington, IL
Don’t just read the Forum, add your questions and comments, we all benefit!
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 09:30 AM
email profile
quote reply
Daniel Harris
Total Messages 29
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
Bill, in a pre-nacho world, I might not make such a recommendation. But in a post-nacho world, the unqualified - yet nacho certified - HI’s are polluting the market and making the 250 mark much harder to achieve. It would be in the consumers’ best interests to have ASHI inspectors.
Gary… If New York is anything like Arizona, I think your giving Gromicko, his phoney benefits, and his nacho certified inspectors too much credit…
In AZ there are over 1,000 inspectors, at one point over 1300] with apx 100 plus or minus nacho members, apx the same ASHI members and a hand full of NAHI members, the rest of them do not belong to any org.
Last check of expired inspectors on the State BTR site and comparing names on both org’s list, I found it was about 2 nachi members gone to 1 ASHI member gone.
Posted: 16 Apr 2007 11:27 PM
email profile
quote reply
Gary Randolph
Total Messages 119
Subject: RE: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
Hi Daniel,
I think it dangerous to give someone like Nick and his self-led crusade too little credit. But “credit” is, by itself, an incomplete statement. Credit for what? Credit for moving our livelihoods in a positive direction? Surely not. Credit for polluting our industry with a larger percentage of unqualified inspectors than existed previously? Most certainly.
As the champion of professionalism in this industry, does ASHI sit by and simply watch, because taking action might give nacho too much credit? There are qualified people who join nacho because they simply run a business. They realize that one logo looks as good to the naive consumer as the next.
Certainly, more unqualified persons join nacho; to hell with them! But isn’t ASHI at least concerned with segregating the good from the bad? Let nacho have only the bad. Attract the professionals to ASHI.
You and I, Daniel, are obviously on the side of the consumer. We chose this organization. I don’t know about Arizona, but the ASHI logo means little (ok, nothing) in my neck of the woods. I also read Frank’s post here that nacho is growing in Texas, but ASHI is not. That is not the way I want to see things evolve.
You say that, in Arizona, about 85% of inspectors belong to no organization. Why not? Isn’t that Frank’s question? If only 15% of all inspectors belong to any organization, then what does it matter if the nacho:ASHI drop-out rate is 2? 85% choose nothing. Why?
Finally, Daniel, you and I are of like mind wrt NG. I’d have a beer with you anytime.
Gary… If New York is anything like Arizona, I think your giving Gromicko, his phoney benefits, and his nacho certified inspectors too much credit…
In AZ there are over 1,000 inspectors, at one point over 1300] with apx 100 plus or minus nacho members, apx the same ASHI members and a hand full of NAHI members, the rest of them do not belong to any org.
Last check of expired inspectors on the State BTR site and comparing names on both org’s list, I found it was about 2 nachi members gone to 1 ASHI member gone.
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 07:38 AM
profile
quote reply
Jim Hemsell
Total Messages 5
Subject: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
Frank,
TAREI and NACHI are pumping dollars into advertising across the state. ASHI is not. Lone Star ASHI has limited funds to advertise and we are the great unknown inspector association in the state. For the first 5-10 years ASHI used a defunct inspector connection for referrals for more information about ASHI in Texas. ASHI leadership also decided that Texas was not an important market because the leadership opposed regulating Home Inspectors so they left the state alone and TAREI became the main association in the state because of the vacuum left by ASHI. Over the next 5-10 years, ASHI members in Texas determined that if no new ASHI members were to sign up, then all the referrals would go to them and why kill the golden cow. I joined ASHI 9 years ago and started changing that situation with a push for new ASHI members.
TAREI has 4 seminar a year and spends considerable dollars advertising the seminars with post cards (about $1800 per mailing/ seminar) and email reminders (about 4-5 for each seminar). They get about 4-500 inspectors to each seminar to off set the cost.
Nachi send their rag papers and occasional notices out via mail, built some chapters around the state using some general dissatisfaction with TAREI leadership and substantial support from ITA. They advertise their annual conference and chapter meetings around the state using post cards and emails.
My roots come from TAREI so after building TAREI for 18 years, I had problems disassembling TAREI to build ASHI so I used a different approach attempting to couple TAREI with ASHI. The approach has not worked, except to ostracize me from many of the TAREI leaders and members. Our funds are limited, (50 members at $100/yr for dues) and had to be spread out over website, advertising chapter improvements (computer, projector and other necessary equipment) so we were very dependant on seminar turnout to generate more funds. We attempted to have three educational events a year, lost money on most of them because of low turnout because no one recognizes the ASHI name. We are starting preparation for our June 2 day conference with the chapter $300 in the hole. I am having to pay my next years dues early so I can take two days off work to teach classes at the conference. Historically, I would have saved money if I just gave the chapter $500 each year and not held any of the 15+ conferences over the last 8 years. Unfortunately, then no one would know anything about ASHI in Texas and we would still have about 15 - 20 ASHI members in the state.
ITA host Nachi in 3-4 different markets in Texas. ITA will not even converse with me after repeated attempts to work some program out. ITA sends out 5-6 glossy booklets each year and numerous mailings about their low cost classes ($195 / 2 day class vs our $300 / 2 day class). Another school (Champion Real Estate School) send mailings every month to inspectors in their markets (Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio).
Bottom line, Texas Inspectors receive numerous mailing each month from all these organizations compared to our chapters 1-2 mailings per year. ASHI National may do some advertising across the state, but if they are, I am not aware of it. The ASHI message is lost in all the other options that Texas inspectors get.
I am not being critical, just informative. I have repeatedly ask ASHI National for advertising dollars, but budgets are tight and they even farmed out some of the Texas conference advertising to TAREI, who was not very nice or supportive to the conference.
This is my last year as Lone Star ASHI President (8 of the last 9 years is enough for me). Who ever steps forward to be the LSA President will have to select a different method to get the ASHI word out. Education has not worked for us because of the highly competitive market and inadequate advertising budget.
Jim in Texas
www.Professionalinspector.com
PS The problem was not with the quality of the education, just marketing and name exposure in my opinion.
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 12:13 PM
email profile
quote reply
Walter Jowers
Total Messages 836
Subject: Effect of regulation on YOU & ASHI - comments requested
>The ASHI Board of Directors has charged the Legislative
>Committee with the task of determining the effect that Home
>Inspector regulation has had on ASHI. As part of this
>task, I am seeking information from individual Members and
>Chapters on how licensing and/or regulation has affected you
>and/or your chapter.
>Please post your views here and indicate if you are speaking
>for yourself or for a chapter. We are particularly
>interested in if you believe the regulation of inspectors
>has affected the # of members of inspectors joining or
>renewing members in ASHI or in your chapter. Please
>indicate what state you are discussing and when regulations
>took effect.
>Those who have already commented by responding to the Marvin
>Goldstein posting in January need not post again unless you
>want to expand on your remarks or present new information.
>We would appreciate comments before May 1, 2007.
>Thank you very much.
>Roger Hankey Co-Chair LGC for state affairs.
I don’t interact much with other local HIs, but here’s a combination of what I know and what I think: In a state in which we HIs couldn’t even raise enough money to hire a lobbyist to fight the RE agents’ licensing bill(s), I think it’s a safe bet that TN HIs will pay their low (about $300) renewal fees, get their “continuing ed” locally and on the cheap, and try to write reports that conform to the pretty-dang-easy TN SOP. I predict that few will spend the money it’ll take to stay in ASHI, and fewer will spend money on getting ASHI MRCs.
A few years back, there were maybe ten HI companies in Nashville, about half of them useful. Now, HI startups are countless. The state has licensed 500+ HIs, which is about five times the number needed to serve the state. (There are only 3 - 1/2 metro areas in Tennessee.)
In Nashville, which is a pretty forward-thinking, urbane sort of place, the local ASHI chapter is dysfunctional, and has been for years. Add this: Nobody – customers or RE agents – cares if an HI is an ASHI member or not. It’s been that way for a long time.
WJ
Posted: 17 Apr 2007 02:42 PM
Originally Posted: 17 Apr 2007 02:41 PM