This was Johns post on the InterNachi board explaining about the new and recreated CMI program.

Ya, see it is very simple, just a signature and an affidavit notarized at your local bank or check cashing store.

It must be a tremendous burden on an organization to certify a Master Inspector. I can't even imagine the manpower it takes to have a board certification program like this. All of the meaningful national certification programs go through NOCA http://www.noca.org/ for their accreditations , simply amazing that this is available to any home inspector. For some reason I could not locate CMI or any other affiliated organization on the NOCA site or the ANSI site. (ANSI is another avenue they can go) I did not see anything about retesting or CE for the certification program, but most do this about every 3-5 years. I guess this will come later.

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Scott Patterson
Spring Hill, TN
http://www.traceinspections.com

Scott,

I won't attempt to put words in your mouth by prefacing my question with "Don't you think...", so let's try it this way:

DO you think there is a reason that relatively few NACHI members carry, advertise, or otherwise fool around with CMI?

I like the icons better on this board.

Jimmy B.

Jimmy,

????

The only way to get the NACHI FREA deal is to become a CMI, and, supposedly from what I've heard, there are many taking advantage of it.

Maybe they 'become' a CMI just for the insurance deal, then hide the CMI from everyone else?

Nah.

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Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Ormond Beach, Florida
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

Nick Gromicko is the Executive Director for NACHI. John Bowman is simply keeping his seat warm and nothing he says represents NACHI in any way, shape or form.

That being said, CMI does appear to be a worthy tool for raising fees.

I find no flaw in this thinking. There are many things worth concealing which is no one's business. For instance we have some home inspectors who mistakenly use their E&O insurance as a marketing tool, If I had E&O no one would know but me.

Personally, I never let my left hand know what my right hand is doing, but I can imagine the hissy fit you would take if all of us Floridians who legally carry weapons were made to carry them exposed instead of concealed.

Wise people keep their own council, only fools announce to the world their intentions. Many home inspectors believe they are generalists and do not use their advanced training or experience as marketing tools because they are concerned that they will be held to a higher standard should something go wrong. The thing you and many others don't understand is that people are totally free to operate their business within the confines of the law anyway they see fit. Business life is about gaining an edge over your competition, those of still in business understand that concept.

Then why aren't you a member?

Wow, just what one needs to prove 250 completed inspection to NAHI.

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David Nice
http://www.nationalcertified.com
National Certified Inspection Services, Inc.Wauwatosa, WI

The discussion had nothing to do with NAHI...

Why re-direct?

__________________
"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.

Just a momentary "What is good for the goose..." interjection just to be clear that the method used is not exclusive to CMI.

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David Nice
http://www.nationalcertified.com
National Certified Inspection Services, Inc.Wauwatosa, WI

NAHI also requires a test, ASHI also accepts an affidavit but it is my understanding that they will or can request that the applicant provide ASHI with copies of those reports, randomly selected, for review. Where is that requirement in CMI? According to the CMI application an applicant must have performed 1000 inspections, or a combination of unspecified and self determined education, to total 1000, it doesn't specify what kind of inspections, in fact no where on the website does it specify Home Inspection, Nick just wants the $375 he doesn't care what he's certifying, in fact if you go to the bottom of the "Recommended Schools" page you will find that Nick Certifies School Boards>

"Contact the Master Inspector Certification Board, Inc. if you are interested in having your school Board approved and listed."
Recommended Schools - Certified Master Inspector

You see that of course, after you have read the list of NACHI vendor/inspectors who will be more than happy to take more of your money, look at the names and tell us again how there is no connection between CMI and NACHI.

One of your fellow members, on his website, says that "Nachi Inspectors are a New Breed of Elite Home Inspectors", it seems Nick has sold out his members and has created another New Breed of Elite Home Inspectors, funny how you sheep approve of that.

I'm still trying to figure out how the wife of a prolific poster on that other forum, who has not done one unaided inspection, can call herself a CMI, and still hold her head up.

Read the Application, performing inspections unaided is not one of the qualification, maybe she joined last year when it was only $175 and 150 hours of unspecified "education", I believe that's when her husband joined.

Read the Appication closely, she could have performed inspections in any field or for anything, and still be qualified, a True MASTER of Home Inspection.

Wow, where do you guys find the time to post all these comments. Between doing home inspections, running the business and taking care of the house and family, I don't think I have the time or energy to get so emotionally involved here.

It takes me an average of 5 hours per job to go to the home inspection, do the home inspection, drive back, write up the report, and do the miscellaneous things that goes with that job. Two jobs and I have a 10 hour day (that is not including the all the other things that goes with running my business). Even when I only have one job for that day, I can easily get 8 hours of work in.

How do you guys do it?

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I say lets merge all the home inspection organizations into one.

Seepaluce

You need to read it again. Those who misrepresent something need corrected:

CMI Application - Certified Master Inspector

Have completed 1,000 fee-paid inspections or hours of inspection-related continuing education (combined) in your lifetime.

a. Experience: Inspections must have been performed for actual fee-paying clients, but do not have to be your clients (you can count inspections you performed while working for someone else). Limit one inspection per residence (3 inspections on one HOME count as one inspection).

b. Education: The Master Inspector Certification Board’s qualifying continuing education subject matter is quite broad. Anything one could reasonably deem to be inspection-related qualifies, including classroom, home study, and online courses and seminars. Business success, accounting, marketing, etc. courses do not count. Repeated courses do not count twice. Hours count hour-for-hour. For example: If it takes you 6 hours to complete a course, it counts as 6 hours. The Board realizes that applicants may not have maintained proof of every hour of continuing education accumulated but applicants should be able to offer a list substantially demonstrating completion of the hours of inspection-related education completed in their lifetime.

There are slow inspectors (which you seem to be one of) then there are fast inspectors, but most inspectors are neither fast or slow... They are commonly known as half-fast inspectors.

Slow? 15 minutes to get to the job, 2 to 2 1/2 hours to do the average home inspection, 15 minutes to get back, 1 1/2 hours to write up the report with pictures and posting which already adds up to 4 to 4 1/2 hours.

I know some home inspectors can take some time off by doing hand written report with no pictures but that time also didn't include any administration work.

5 hours per job is what we use to help pricing jobs and setting time aside.

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I say lets merge all the home inspection organizations into one.

Seepaluce

Bad business right there...
First off, if they (the clients) did not pay YOU, they were not a fee paid inspection on your part-- you were not RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INSPECTION RESULTS OR THE REPORT. NOR, DID YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE BUT ONLY PART OF THE INSPECTION.

Example: There are some folks out on the west coast who use the 'Team' concept on every inspection. They have 4-5 inspectors go out to every inspection and one person may only do the electrical, one may do the roof, one may take NOTES ONLY, one may do the HVAC. IN THIS EXAMPLE, THE INSPECTORS ARE GETTING CREDIT FOR DOING PROBABLY 6-8 (FULL) INSPECTIONS PER DAY WITHOUT HAVING EVER DONE ONE COMPLETE!!! That's just wrong.

Using the criteria you have posted, I could qualify without ever having done any home inspections as a licensed TREC inspector. Although I have completed over 2800 inspections, my qualifications as an insurance adjuster ONLY would qualify for the CMI, having done well over 1400 residential scopes--and That's just wrong.

John, according to what you posted... the post Lewis made was not inaccurate. I quote (from Lewis): "performing inspections unaided is not one of the qualification".

Your posting of the requirements state: "(3 inspections on one HOME count as one inspection)."

No where does it state that 3 (or 4 or 5) inspectors at one home count as one inspection-- JUST, you cannot inspect the same home three times, as stated, and have it count more than once. Also, no-where does it state that the whole home has to be inspected...

Litterly, you could have a whole 'TEAM' OF CMI's within a year under the above scenario.

This thing is made into too much of a 'lay-up' and designed for "the-more-the-merrier" instead of somthing that should be designed for a designation for REAL achievement.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary...

Rich

__________________
"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.