Washington Home Inspectors Poll

Let’s say that this proposal from the make believe “coalition” finds a sponsor, just for the sake of argument.

Do you really believe…in all seriousness…that sponsor will amend it, based upon your suggestions, alone? Really?

Of course not. You will need to put together another faux-“coalition” and make it look like even more home inspectors agree with your amended changes…just to have them considered.

Now, the folks who pretended to be a coalition in the first place are doing what? Quietly standing by and allowing you to amend what they worked so hard to create? I think not. They are arguing how your greed and fear of accountability is driving you to fight them…and they push harder to get their wording through.

At best, your legislators (who are NOT home inspectors and are totally reliant upon outside advice) seek language to “compromise”. This language will probably not exist in either proposal…

Your only logical choice…as history has proven in virtually every circumstance…is to fight the bill you disapprove of with “no bill”. Force the next “coalition” to listen as they draft the next proposal by showing them that, without your support, there will be no licensing in Washington.

It’s too bad you are letting your prejudices and preconceived ideas interfere with an excellent opportunity to unite with fellow inspectors, whether you agree with their choices or not, and make a change.

That’s 21+ NACHI inspectors who could come up with other ideas and present them as a united front and possibly make a difference. Hopefully they will not worry about the one Idaho inspector and still go ahead and unite together. :roll:

Wendy are you a fully qualified inspector? Do you meet WDO requirments in Washington State?

Oh Raymond…Raymond…Raymond… sigh:roll:

No she’s not, that’s why, among other things her opinion doesn’t matter, she just thinks she speaks for all of us who are. She whines about me living in Idaho and Inspecting in Washington, but I am fully qualified and licensed.

There are around 22 NACHI Inspectors you can find in “Find an Inspector” in the Spokane area, only 4 of us have the required license, that’s why I suggested that one of the NACHI Chapters in Western Washington think about having an open meeting where LICENSED Inspectors could discuss the Regulation Issues and choose either to defeat, modify, or propose other ideas. Four licensed Inspectors on the East side wouldn’t have enough “umph”!

Wendy can organize the Wannabe’s

THAT was the last straw Lewis. :roll:

Like I’ve said. For what I do, I am fully qualified and do not DO anything more than what I am currently qualified for. So what you just posted was not true, and therefore qualifies as Libel/Slander.

Sucks for you that I finally have the money to pursue this.

I got an email so I took you off Ignore again idiot, the question Ray asked was “Wendy are you a fully qualified inspector? Do you meet WDO requirments in Washington State?”, my answer was **No She’s Not"! Go for it Wendy.

**No one said you were violating any law, but if you really want to play, I’m willing, just make sure that your attorney gives you the first hour free, before he starts laughing.

Why don’t you take $45 dollars of all your money and get your damned license?

When were you appointed the official question answerer for me?

Why dont you stay out of my business and let me take care of my license. Geeze. What do you want me to say Lewis? Hmmm? That I’ve barely had enough money this year for gas and food, much less enough to drive and take a stupid test you won’t let go of?
Do you want me to say that I finally got a bit of a nest egg so I can actually in good conscience take some of that money out of my kid’s mouths and apply it to my business?

Are you happy now?

You are the most pathetic little man I’ve ever seen in my life. Really choice. I’m sure your wife is oh so proud of you. :shock:

Wendy

If your not qualified is it not a misnomer to be plying your services as if you were qualified?

You tried to help me over on the Canadian section. Thought I’d come here and be the inquisitor. Just trying to help you Wendy, like you help me and the others.

Have a nice day Wendy!

It’s only a problem if I perform services I am not qualified to perform.

You know…like reading a mini-handbook on pests and then claiming to be qualified to do pest inspections.:roll:

So your not qualified to perform WDO or inspections. Thats what I thought. Maybe you can send me a copy of the legislation/by-laws so I can review them and give you some pointers. After all I am an expert on By-law and Legislation interpretation!

I’m perfectly qualified to perform inspections.

Don’t put words in my mouth.

All of this is going to be a moot point in just a little bit so it’s a waste of bandwidth for all.

Yes like I said you are not qualified. How can you inspect with out an WDO if that is a requirement?

Like I said, there are lots of things to inspect that are either not residences or do not require the WDO. Commercial buildings, draws, etc. So, while I will be taking care of the issue shortly, I currently am not operating in a manner inconsistent with my advertising or out of accordance with the laws of my state, or the SOP of NACHI.

Lots of things to inspect? Like what? Commercial buildings which you are not qualified to do? If your not qualified to inspect residences and have no knowledge how does that qualify you to do anything else related to inspecting?

The short and skinny is you are not qualified. Sorry to break the news to you.

Oh and this is the real Raymond Wand.

Who said I’m not qualified? Lewis?

More Ignorance of the Law

A Commercial Building is a STRUCTURE and even a DRAW could come under the Sale or Transfer of a Structure, according to the WSDA even Appraisers are required to be licensed or they cannot report on Conducive Cinditions:

WAC 16-228-2005

Wood destroying organism inspections and reporting criteria.

			 			   All persons required to be licensed to conduct wood destroying organism (WDO) inspections must comply with the rules set forth in this chapter.

  (1) **Purpose:** This section will define terms associated with WDO inspections, identify the types of and specify the uses for WDO inspections and reports, and establish minimum rules under which WDO inspections must be conducted and reports written in the state of Washington.

  (2) **Definitions:** The definitions set forth in this section must apply throughout unless the context otherwise requires. Definitions contained in this section are nonexclusive to other uses in expanded or contracted form found elsewhere in the RCW or the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

  (a) Accessible areas:  Areas typically and routinely visible by normal access.

 (b) Conducive debris: Cellulose or noncellulose material that provides no structural support but can be a source of food or provide a habitat for WDOs. This definition includes, but is not limited to, tree roots, stumps, formboards, scrap wood, paper, wood product, paper product, or other natural or manufactured product.

  **(c) Complete wood destroying organism inspection: Inspection for the purpose of determining evidence of infestation, damage, or conducive conditions as part of the transfer, exchange, or refinancing of any structure in Washington state. Complete WDO inspections must also include any WDO inspection that is conducted as the result of telephone solicitation by an inspection, pest control, or other business, even if the inspection would fall within the definition of a specific WDO inspection.**

  (d) Conducive conditions:  Conditions that may lead to or enhance an infestation of WDOs.

 (e) Detached structure: Separate structure that is not physically connected to the subject structure by a foundation or roof system.

  (f) Earth:  Includes, but is not limited to, soil, decorative bark, gravel, rock, or other landscape materials.

  (g) Excluded area:  Area not inspected and therefore, not included in a WDO inspection.

 (h) Frass: Specifically, solid larval insect excrement, but can include by-products of insect feeding or tunneling activity in wood or insulation materials.

  (i) Inaccessible areas: Parts of a structure that cannot be inspected without excavation or the physical removal of objects are inaccessible and may be subject to infestation by WDOs. Such areas include, but are not limited to, wall voids, spaces between floors, areas concealed by insulation, substructures with clearances less than eighteen inches between unimproved ground and wood joists or the bottom of wood structural floors without joists or, less than twelve inches between unimproved ground and wood girders, substructures with insufficient clearance between structural members and/or ducts and piping and the finished grade to permit passage by an inspector for the purposes of a WDO inspection, floors beneath coverings, sleeper floors, areas concealed by furniture, appliances, and/or personal possessions, exterior wood decks with less than a five-foot clearance, locked rooms, or areas that imperil the health or safety of the inspector. These rules will not require inspectors to make extraordinary efforts to gain access to areas deemed inaccessible by the inspector. Inaccessible areas are, by their nature, excluded from the inspection.

  (j) Inadequate ventilation: Condition promoting the retention of excessive moisture in substructures or other confined spaces and identified by, but not limited to, the presence of metal rust, condensation, mold, mildew, or fungal growth.

  (k) Specific wood destroying organism inspection: Inspection of a structure for purposes of identifying or verifying evidence of an infestation of WDOs prior to pest management activities.

  (l) Person is defined as any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or organized group of persons whether or not incorporated.

 (m) Structure: A single building that includes any exterior attached decks, walks, stairways, or porches. For the purposes of this definition, entry and exit decks to manufactured homes are considered to be a part of the structure.

  (n) Wood:  Any material used in a structure that can be damaged by WDOs.

 (o) Wood destroying organism: Insects or fungi that will consume, excavate, develop in, or otherwise modify the integrity of wood or wood products. For the purposes of this section, WDOs include, but are not limited to, carpenter ants, moisture ants, subterranean termites, dampwood termites, beetles in the family Anobiidae, and wood decay fungi (wood rot).

  (p) Wood destroying organism inspection: The service of inspecting a building for the presence of WDOs, their damage, or conducive conditions leading to their development. For purposes of these rules, a WDO inspection must be defined as either a "complete WDO inspection" or a "specific WDO inspection."

  (q) Wood destroying organism inspection report: The written opinion of an inspector licensed by the WSDA and based upon what was visible and evident at the time of an inspection.

  (r) WSDA:  Washington state department of agriculture.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.58.040 and chapter 34.05 RCW. 02-24-025, § 16-228-2005, filed 11/27/02, effective 12/28/02.]

INFO FOR REALTORS

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), in cooperation
with structural pest inspectors, home inspectors, and with support from
industry, recently introduced legislation to address the growing problem of
substandard pest inspections conducted by unlicensed or untrained
individuals. Although a law requiring the licensing of structural pest
inspectors has been in effect since 1991, some have chosen to ignore it.
Substitute House Bill 2378, written to address these problems, passed this
legislative session and was signed into law on March 24th by Governor Locke.
The law took effect July 1, 2000.
WSDA has the responsibility to oversee people conducting pest inspections
and make certain they are in compliance with state law. The law is very
clear. Any individual who inspects properties for wood destroying organisms
(termites, carpenter ants, rot fungus), damage by these pests, or conducive
conditions leading to their development (excessive moisture, cellulose debris,
inaccessible areas, earth to wood contact, or inadequate ventilation) must be
properly licensed and insured.
This new law added the following requirements for individuals who
conduct wood destroying organism inspections.
Advertising - If a pest inspector is not licensed, they cannot advertise that
they are licensed. With this legislation, WSDA will be better able to take
enforcement action against those who misrepresent themselves.
Insurance - State law will now require pest inspectors to carry a surety bond
or errors & omissions (E&O) insurance with minimum amounts of $25,000 and
$50,000, respectively. An E&O insurance policy must offer coverage for
three years beyond the inspection. This will help protect inspectors, their
customers, and others.
Inspection Control Numbers - This is the heart of the new legislation.
Inspection Control Numbers (ICNs) will now be required on all pest
inspection reports. These numbers will be obtained, free of charge, from
WSDA. Pest inspectors cannot receive an ICN if they are not properly
licensed and insured.
All pest inspection reports for a single property for a single transaction will
have the same ICN. The ICN should be recorded in the upper right hand
corner on the front page of their report. An ICN will consist of nine (9) digits
and have the format NNNNLLNNN, where N is a number and L is a letter.
Recipients of pest inspection reports should look for this number. If it’s not
there, the WDO inspection report is invalid. Anyone who reviews these forms
can check the WSDA web site (http://www.wa.gov/agr/pmd) to see if a pest
inspector is properly licensed.
If you receive a report that does not have an ICN, what should you do? Ask
the pest inspector the following questions. Are you licensed? Are you
insured? Where is the ICN? If these questions cannot be answered to your
satisfaction, you should find another pest inspector. WSDA recommends
that only licensed, insured, and trained pest inspectors be used.
A structural pest inspection is the most important inspection conducted on a
property. Damages uncovered during these inspections have the greatest
potential cost of repair. Help us help you receive the best service possible.
Make certain the pest inspector you hire is licensed, insured, and a valid ICN
appears on their report.
If you have questions about this new law, please contact Dan Suomi at
360.902.2044 or via email at dsuomi@agr.wa.gov.

WSDA LETTER TO REALTORS

Real Estate Licensees – Please Take Note

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is receiving numerous complaints from homebuyers about unlicensed and inexperienced structural pest inspectors. Many of these complaints concern inspectors that some of you are recommending to your clients. A state law, designed to protect consumers, is very clear: anyone inspecting properties for wood destroying organisms, damage, or conditions leading to these pests must be licensed by WSDA as a Structural Pest Inspector (SPI).

Virtually all home inspectors report on one or more of these problems and require the SPI license. For example, if a home inspection report mentions leaky pipes, plugged gutters, poor ventilation or rot (damage), the inspector has performed a structural pest inspection. State law requires that the inspection be thorough and accurate and a readily visible Inspection Control Number (ICN) be assigned to it. If an ICN is not on the inspection report, it cannot legally be used for a real estate transaction.

By referring unlicensed inspectors to prospective homebuyers or by accepting an illegal inspection report, you place yourself in a potentially litigious situation. Don’t add this liability to yourself or your business.

The bottom line:

·Inform your clients that most, if not all, “home inspections” will include elements of a structural pest inspection and must be done by a WSDA licensed inspector.
·Don’t recommend inspectors unless you know them to be a properly licensed SPI. It is illegal and unethical to do otherwise. After all, would you hire an unlicensed, uninsured inspector for your own home?
·Better yet, direct clients to WSDA’s website listing of SPIs and let them choose their own inspector. This can be found at:

http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/LicensingEd/ListStructuralPestInspectors.htm

WSDA-licensed inspectors, at the very least, have passed an exam, licensed their
company, and provided WSDA with proof of financial coverage.

·Never accept an inspection report for a real estate transaction unless there is an ICN assigned to it. ICNs must be placed in the upper third of the report’s front page and have the following format: NNNNLLNNN, where N is a number and L is a letter.
·Put the liability where it belongs – on the inspector, not on you, your client or your broker.

If you have questions about structural pest inspections, please contact Dr. Dan Suomi at 360.902.2044 or via email at dsuomi@agr.wa.gov.