After several years of gathering information in forming an opinion of the benefit and effects of licensing, I'm not yet convinced it's a good thing.  For starters, this bill will require home inspectors to complete an approved 80 hour course.  What about inspectors who have several years under their belts and have taken a course of less than 80 hours?  Do we have to spend the money to take a course at one of the schools in order to become licensed?  Or , will providing proof of a history of CE credits, 100 plus inspections, "x" number of years in business, and passing of the NHIE suffice?

I understand that members of ASHI, GAHI, NACHI & GAHI joined forces in order to propose this legislation before other special interest groups could force their version down our throats. 

Question: Where is the public outcry in GA for legislation?  There was none.  Overall, there are very few formal complaints brought against inspectors.  The push for legislation is association and school based in an effort to have more say so in what appears to be an inevitible aspect of the industry.  Afterall, the schools stand to benefit heavily. 

So, how will legislation protect the consumer?  That answer should be found in the bill.  To me, an important concern is how to protect the inspector.  The one who assumes liability the moment he or she steps on the property.  We assume responisbility for items that the municipal inspector may have overlooked or chose not to enforce or that the contractor failed to do.  Or, perhaps the do-it-yourself homeowner who built the addition or finished the basement without a permit.   Sound fair?

So, I'm not convinced that legislation for the sake of legislation will improve things.  Others that are in licensed states may say that it has benefited their business, or resulted in increased business for re-sale property inspections.  Others have said it appears to have leveled the perception of all licensed inspectors being qualified and that lowest bidder gets the job.  With that, a flood of new inspectors and schools popping up to meet the demand for this now credible vocation being made into a real profession.

This is coming up once again at a time when the market in GA for all in real estate remains uncertain and the costs of doing business is rising. 

Since Scott opened up the topic for discussion, I bit.  I would be interested in hearing from other inspectors in both licensed and unlicensed states. 

Hank, your question about the education requirement is answered in this section:

(A) Completed a board approved course of study of no less than 80 hours that covers all of the following components of a residential building of four units or less: heating system, cooling system, plumbing system, electrical system, structural components, foundation, roof covering, exterior and interior components, and site aspects as they affect the building; or (B)(i) Presented documentation as required by the board that he or she has been engaged in the practice of home inspection for compensation for not fewer than three years prior to the effective date of this chapter; and (ii) Performed not fewer than 100 home inspections for compensation;

So with three years and 100 inspections under your belt you do not need to meet the education requirement.

Thanks Scott.  I re-read that passage and missed the operative word "or" :)

Where is the real true "Consumer" calling for legislation?  I haven't seen one.  Has anyone else?

I've seen the legislator calling for it because his staffer got a bad termite inspection.  (What does that have to do with home inspection?)  New Jersey.

I've seen realtors and builders calling for it, even though most builders are unlicensed.

But where's the consumer calling for it?

As with most pieces of legislation the public does not even know about it until it is law. I think that GA is just falling in line with all of the other Southern states.  They are the only Southern state that is not licensed, well excluding FL and their lack luster law that was passed last year.

I just had an update from a good source in GA.  The legislation is moving along and is in the final postion for passage.  It looks like GA will the 33rd state to license.  Time will only tell.

How can you prove to them that you have done 100 inspections? Names & Addresses!

How can you prove to them that you have done 100 inspections? Names & Addresses!

Well, if they follow what other states have done it is a simple process.  Anyone who claims the 100 inspections will either submit a list with the address,  sign an affidavit attesting to the 100 inspections or both.  Then after everything is up and running the agency will start random audits of those who claimed the 100 inspections.  Illinois did this and they caught a very large number of folks who had fibbed.  They then lost their license to practice as a home inspector and they were fined for lying on the affidavit!

House bill # 1217 is on the governors desk waiting for signature.

Looks like Georgia will be the next state to license home inspectors!!

House bill # 1217 is on the governors desk waiting for signature.

Looks like Georgia will be the next state to license home inspectors!!

The governor has signed the bill into law.  Georgia is the second state this year to license home inspectors!

I think you jumped the gun Scott...as of May 13 @ 1453 HB 1217 is not listed as having been signed yet.

NH is soon to follow, the senate will concur with the house on their amendments and then it will be enrolled and on the gov. desk

the amended bill is not so bad

Carla

House Bill 1217

House Bill 1217 provides a regime to license Georgia's home inspectors. I am cognizant and respectful of the fact that the advocates for the legislation chose to use and were approved by the Georgia Occupational Regulation Review Council (GORRC). I have come to believe that GORRC review should be the initial threshold for the creation of a new licensing board.  I am also aware that the private sector provides several, voluntary professional organizations to achieve the goals of the legislation. It is my preference that the market - not the State - regulate as many of our industries as possible. Thus, in order to not supplant the good work of the free market with taxpayer funds, I VETO House Bill 1217.

Sonny Purdue rejects the home inspectors bill! I think he did this because organizations like ASHI and GAHI were trying to lock none members out of the business. IMO ASHI & GAHI should have presented legislation that covered all practicing inspectors, instead of just their members.

Thank you for the update.  I just received the same notice from Troutman.  The legislation was ridiculous anyway, it made a person have code certs from all of the various code organization's just to cite a code on something that was wrong.