Darrel Hood
01-27-2013, 07:06 AM
TREC just released the most recent "newsletter" to pat itself on the back again. What is a realistic method Texas inspectors can use to get out of this biased, oppressive, costly, situation?
TREC no longer treats inspectors like bad stepchildren. It has relegated us to the role of stepchildren of bad stepchildren. We are now a third level responsibility of TREC subordinated to the appraisers' committee. In other words, our ability to impact our own regulatory destiny has been even further weakened.
TREC certainly does nothing to help us be treated responsibly in the state legislature. If my research is correct, we are the only "profession" that is required to have E&O insurance in the state. E&O may be a good business decision, but why are we singled out?
Last year we had the pleasure of being singled out for structured "sentencing". TREC established a list of infractions and described the sentencing range for each infraction. Perhaps this is an OK concept since other professions have the same thing. My objection is that well over half the listed infractions are administrative infractions against TREC's procedures. They have nothing to do with helping either the clients or the inspectors. How does it make sense to threaten livelihoods over paperwork of questionable value?
Try getting out of the cycle created by a TREC error in the licensing renewal process. Two years ago, they apparently did not receive my CE documentation even though I had submitted it. I received no communication about the issue. A few months later, a potential client let me know they would not use my service because my license was suspended. Four months later, and four CE documentation submittals later, my license was reinstated . . . still using the original license date. Not only did I lose months of business, I became a cobweb in the memory of my marketing contacts.
Almost every month, in the "newsletter's" punishment listing, scores of realtors are listed for punishment, dozens of appraisers are listed. The normal quantity of inspectors listed is 0 - 2. But we are the "crooks" that the state's real estate brokers must police in order to protect the public.
I opened this tirade by asking what can we do? Our associations have no significant impact. Even if we vote as a single issue block, there aren't enough of us. Does anyone have any realistic ideas?
By the way, if your state is considering licensing inspectors, good luck.
TREC no longer treats inspectors like bad stepchildren. It has relegated us to the role of stepchildren of bad stepchildren. We are now a third level responsibility of TREC subordinated to the appraisers' committee. In other words, our ability to impact our own regulatory destiny has been even further weakened.
TREC certainly does nothing to help us be treated responsibly in the state legislature. If my research is correct, we are the only "profession" that is required to have E&O insurance in the state. E&O may be a good business decision, but why are we singled out?
Last year we had the pleasure of being singled out for structured "sentencing". TREC established a list of infractions and described the sentencing range for each infraction. Perhaps this is an OK concept since other professions have the same thing. My objection is that well over half the listed infractions are administrative infractions against TREC's procedures. They have nothing to do with helping either the clients or the inspectors. How does it make sense to threaten livelihoods over paperwork of questionable value?
Try getting out of the cycle created by a TREC error in the licensing renewal process. Two years ago, they apparently did not receive my CE documentation even though I had submitted it. I received no communication about the issue. A few months later, a potential client let me know they would not use my service because my license was suspended. Four months later, and four CE documentation submittals later, my license was reinstated . . . still using the original license date. Not only did I lose months of business, I became a cobweb in the memory of my marketing contacts.
Almost every month, in the "newsletter's" punishment listing, scores of realtors are listed for punishment, dozens of appraisers are listed. The normal quantity of inspectors listed is 0 - 2. But we are the "crooks" that the state's real estate brokers must police in order to protect the public.
I opened this tirade by asking what can we do? Our associations have no significant impact. Even if we vote as a single issue block, there aren't enough of us. Does anyone have any realistic ideas?
By the way, if your state is considering licensing inspectors, good luck.