Originally Posted by
mattmorris
I also think that the law is inevitable. And truly, I welcome licensure. Taking and passing the NHIE (if the NHIE is the test that’s deemed necessary) and having all the requirements (over 200 inspections) to submit to the board. I will still be here. BUT, I would like to see this bill written differently. With tighter wording and restrictions placed on the board. I am NOT for bigger government or a new tax.
I'm not sure how to welcome licensure without welcoming the new guv'ment that comes with.... and that guv'ment should be paid for by the licensees, shouldn't it? When the fee schedule comes out and if it's exhorbitant, I'll start barking.
I didn’t say anything about conspiracy. I do think that the fee could easily be set high enough to displace small independents. The larger firms have deeper pockets, with management and full time staff, they will have more ways to produce revenue and time to advance their agenda with the board. That’s life and its always that way. But I dont have to sit and take it.
I think there'll be plenty of room for us independents for a while. There are no Home inspecting Sam Waltons out there yet, and the large firms are hurting in these times too. Even the largest firms don't have much political pull (at least locally.) I too am interested in the make-up of the board, and I am especially interested in who the non-affiliated member is gonna be. I fear that somhow the Realtours will somehow insinuate themselves into the governing board. So, if your nightmare (major franchise) and my nightmare (NAR) end up providing direction for the HI board, I'll have a problem with it. Otherwise, I'm waiting to see.
Any way, one of the board members has to be a licensed GC, and their latest extension was to July 2008. I think their deadline will be extended again. The HI board may never come about !! 
I agree, the strong will survive this market. God willing and some hard work, I will be around. And I hope that I will be so busy again, that a seat on the board will be out of the question! I would not want to be on it, its not for me. I am an inspector, not a panel member or a politician. And I do enough around my community that takes me away from my family. My wife might shoot me if I volunteer for anything else!
How about you? Do you fully support everything about the bill? You looking to be on the Board?
No, I do not fully support everything about the bill. I can't remember a bill that I read and fully supported, no matter what the subject.
I am afraid that the "approved" continuing education requirement will turn into me attending basic newbie classes over and over again --- not because of the requirement for CE, but due to the availability and cost of approved courses. I'll have to wait and see whether my fear is overblown, though.
I am not happy with the board determining the type and amount of liability insurance I have to buy. I would much rather put my money into a prepaid legal arrangement than E & O. Hopefully the only required liability insurance will be Gen. Liability.
I am not happy with the requirement that I be certified in Georgia Minimum Standards that I cite in my reports. I'll have to become certified in NEC, IRC, IPC,and IECC now, if I want to cite sections from those publications. If Georgia would use the IRC for plumbing and electrical for one and two family residences, I'd be happier to take the tests and certify. I don't relish becoming certified on the entire NEC just to be able to opine on the requirement for securing non-metallic sheathed conductors, and to be able to cite the section that I used to derive my opinion. There's a lot of stuff in that book that I just don't need to know (or cite) to be a one and two family residence inspector.
As for the board, I am neither motivated nor qualified to be a member. I've only been in business since the fall of 2003, so I wouldn't be the best candidate for a governing board member. I'd have trouble separating my own selfish concerns from the real needs of the HI community too.