Thread: Shouod NYS Raise Home Inspector License Requirements ?

A Long Island group of New York home inspectors say the state’s licensing requirements for their profession should be made tougher to ensure that house buyers can rely on trustworthy inspection reports before they make what could be the most important investment of their life here is a link to an article on the subject Should NY Raise Home Inspector License Requirements? | Long Island Press

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Originally Posted by Dov Herman

A Long Island group of New York home inspectors say the state’s licensing requirements for their profession should be made tougher to ensure that house buyers can rely on trustworthy inspection reports before they make what could be the most important investment of their life here is a link to an article on the subject Should NY Raise Home Inspector License Requirements? | Long Island Press

FYI, it has not worked in Texas. They keep raising the standards and we still have drive by inspectors working for 99 bucks.

Usually when folks that already hold a license want to raise existing requirements they are attempting to limit the number of folks in the profession. They may say it is for the protection of the consumer but that is really not the underlying reason....

If they really want to raise the bar so to speak then they should require all licensed folks to have 20-30 hours of CE every year and then retake the NHIE every 5 years. This would shut folks up from wanting to raise the requirements when they have to do more themselves!

Hi Dov,

How have you been?

I think Scott hit the nail on the head.

Sure there are inspectors out there that simply don't know what they are doing. Perhaps it is because they are learning. Everyone goes through a learning period, hopefully they learn fast.

Unfortunately there are probably an equal number of experienced inspectors that do a "bad" job because it is "good" for business, so I don't see how raising the bar can ensure "trustworthiness".

I don't think any of this is exclusive to New York.

Steve,

Let me understand your thoughts Steve, there will always be shoddy home inspectors working for the interest of the real estate agent instead of to protect the home buyer so we shouldn't bother raising standards because even with higher standards these unscrupulous home inspectors will continue reporting to a very minimal standard that are not worth the paper or cyberspace the reports are created on. Couple this with much of the public really does not know what to expect from a home inspection so lets do nothing and hope for the best ???

Originally Posted by Dov Herman

Steve,

Let me understand your thoughts Steve, there will always be shoddy home inspectors working for the interest of the real estate agent instead of to protect the home buyer so we shouldn't bother raising standards because even with higher standards these unscrupulous home inspectors will continue reporting to a very minimal standard that are not worth the paper or cyberspace the reports are created on. Couple this with much of the public really does not know what to expect from a home inspection so lets do nothing and hope for the best ???

When you put it that way is sounds very nice, but those are not my thoughts.

Let me try to clarify.

I don't think raising the bar has anything to do with ensuring "trustworthy".

There will always be some shoddy (I use this word because you did) inspectors, just like there will always be some shoddy mechanics, doctors, lawyers, carpenters, etc. Some will be shoddy because they are new and others for other reasons. One other reason could be and often enough is to keep the referrals coming.

Most shoddy new inspectors that don't get better fast don't last anyway. Unfortunately, the shoddy ones that are shoddy because of that being their business plan, last too long.

I am not saying that it is impossible to get referrals from agents and still do a ... complete job, but lets call a spade a spade, there are plenty of ... experienced inspectors that could meet your "raised" requirements, which of course they could market as why you should use them, that would still be more loyal to the referrer.

I think the group of inspectors from Long Island could do better for the public's interest (I'm sure this whole thing has the public in mind, and is not an attempt to keep others out) if they used their energy to make it illegal to get referrals from a real estate agent or by any person that will only profit if there is a sale. I think this would be more helpful and would help more people.

If this group of inspectors want to help the new inspectors get better at what they do, why don't they start a ride along program. They would not have to change any laws, they could just do it.

Most inspectors don't want to help others get better, because they feel it may create competition, and the last thing they want is for the competition to be better. But since this group has the public in mind and not interested in keeping others out, perhaps they would do it.

So tell me, what are the new requirements you are proposing?

One other thing; is my response the only one you question?