Rick Bunzel

As most experienced home inspectors know the first 100 or so inspections they did as new inspectors were really on the job learning. Most home inspection companies are single inspector so you are really on your own and frankly learning at the customers expense.Most new Realtor's have a big advantage in this area because the office will usually provide mentoring.

When the Washington Home Inspector's Legislative Advisory Group was crafting the language for Washington Home Inspector law we felt strongly that there should be a mentoring component. Ultimately this turned in a 40 hour component which is a drop in the bucket compared to the 1 year apprentice appraisers are required to do.

Many people who enter the industry feel they can transition from swinging a hammer doing construction to home inspection. That is so far from the truth its laughable. In the old days builders used to do it all and had a broad range of framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical and heating skills. Today all builders use subcontractors who specialize in a given trade so very few are generalists. Home Inspectors are generalists who need to be knowledible in all areas of the home. Take heating for example there are baseboard, force air, radiant and radiators. Possible energy sources are electric, gas, LPG, thermo and solar. We need to know each combination, correct installation and what could possibly go wrong. In most cases there is not enough time in the classroom to teach this stuff and mentoring is one opportunity to give the new inspector some experience on the systems.

Another area that schools don't do a great job at is business practices. This area ranges from taking customer inquiries to handling complaints. The mentor can actually show the student how an inspection job starts in the office to when the inspection report is delivered and the records are stored.

Many inspectors fail due to the lack of business process, good financial management and lack of marketing. A good mentor program will show them how the pieces fit together in a live, working setting.

Our Washington Home Inspector Mentoring page

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections

Washington State License #312
ASHI Certified #249557
NAHI Member of the Year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764

I was speaking with a managing broker this week discussing licensed home inspectors. He pulled out his inspector list and I noticed that he had a name of an unlicensed inspector on his referral. I asked him if he was going to notated who had their license and who didn't. He said that he had spoken to the home inspector in question who had assured him that he carried a number of licenses and certifications. The home inspector implied that with what he already had, he was ok. I did mention the benefits to clients who use licensed home inspectors and said that clients should know who is licensed and who is not on referral lists. I hope this broker does this.

It does bring up the question of why would a practicing inspector (the company above has been around for a number of years) would not get their license? The penalty is that these inspectors have to go back to school for 120 hours or more and then ride along with a licensed inspector for 40 hours. Since September 1st, inspectors who missed the deadline have been popping up like moles. I am sure that the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) is getting every excuse in the book but because these deadlines were written into the law, the DOL hands are tied. Regardless, if these businesspeople are not aware of what happening in the industry, would you want to hire them? Home Inspectors are generalists and need to be knowledgeable in all areas of the home. I network with local inspectors all the time sharing information. Either this inspector kept to himself or decided that he was going to get out of the business before July 2010. Either way would you want to be referring someone like this?

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
WASH. HI #312
ASHI Certified #249557
NAHI Member of the Year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764

After all its being sold as is.....

There is a reason why these homes are referred to as "distressed" properties. Many owners that go into foreclosure have been struggling financially, which usually means that the house has not received needed repairs or general maintenance for a while. Some homeowners who lose their property to a lender frequently damage the property. After the owners leave the property frequently we see the homes have been neglected or poorly winterized. Winterization was especially important during the December freeze we had. We have inspected homes that claimed to have been winterized and found freeze damage.

Bank-owned foreclosure homes are usually sold "as is," which means that the 10 to 30% you just saved on the purchase price can easily be eaten up by unforeseen repairs — frequently many of those issuesat not apparent to the buyers when they walk through the home. However "as-is" does not refer to the price the buyer is paying. It is important to understand that he bank's pricing of the home reflects the "assumed condition" of the property.

The savvy buyer will want to gather all the information on the home. Initially that can be the documented history of the home. Tax records and building permits are a good start. A CLUE report will give you the insurance history of the home. Many insurance agents will provide that free of charge. If neighbors are available they are great source of information on the neighborhood and the home. Lastly, a detailed home inspection will complete the picture as to what the home is and issues that will need to be addressed.

So the quick answer is YES. Also we are seeing many lenders require a copy of the home inspection as part of the underwriting process. The inspection report can also be used as a tool to justify the offer price or negotiate concessions.

//Rick

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
NAHI Member of the Year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764

I had a call from a REALTOR that started out that way. I had never done business with this individual just a few folks in her office. It just points out that the "thinning of the herd" is really hitting the real estate industry hard. In some ways thinning the herd is healthy for the marketplace as the weak and underfunded service provider drop by that wayside leaving the strong and profitable companies.Unfortunately when these companies drop by the wayside they leave behind websites and literature to confuse the public.

This also tell me that I need to spend a little more time in the offices and get my next newsletter out letting everyone know that we are alive and thriving!

//Rick

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
NAHI Member of the Year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764

Washington Home Inspector Licenses will be issued beginning July 1, 2009. Beginning Septembers 1, 2009, inspectors will be required to have a license to inspect unless they are already a practicing inspector. Practicing inspectors will have until July 2010 to become licensed.

Many Washington Realtors are under the impression that there home inspector is already licensed which is partially true. To be a Washington Home Inspector you are required to be a Structural Pest Inspector (SPI) which really has little to do with Home Inspection and more about identifying wood destroying organisms.

Realtors will need to beware that if they are using an inspector with less than 2 years experience (in business as of June 2006) then that inspector will not meet the licensing requirement in July without going back to school.

As of January 2009, the Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board is still in the process of determining the final requirements for the Education Curriculum, Testing and other requirements. What is clear is that if a home inspector did not have two years experience prior to June 12th 2008, they will not meet the current licensing requirements.

• If you are already conducting home inspection on September 1st, 2009, you will have until July 1st, 2010 to obtain your license
• If you start conducting home inspections after September 1st, 2009, you must be licensed before you provide services.

Requirements to obtain license:

• If you have less than two (2) years' experience you must have:
  Successfully completed 120 hours of classroom instruction
  Successfully completed 40 hours of field training with a licensed inspector
  Proof of passing score in exam approved by the Board
  
  
• If you have two (2) years' experience or more, you must have:
  Worked as a home inspector for two (2) years prior to June 12th, 2008
  Completed 100 home inspections
  Proof of passing score in exam approved by the Board

The good news for the consumer is that the working home inspectors will have more experience and education than inspectors in non-licensed states. The licensed Washington Home Inspectors will have a standards of practice that requires to meet a minimal quality standard. For Inspections or Inspectors who are not meeting these standards of practice, the consumer will have a means of filing a complaint with the Department of Licensing. Washington Licensed Home Inspector who are found in non-compliance can be fined, have there license suspended or in serious cases revoked.

A a home inspector who fought for the licensing through the Washington Home Inspector Advisory Group I am happy with the outcome and looking forward to being part of a profession that is consider a crucial part of the real estate process.

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
NAHI Inspector of the year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764