washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- This Could Be Interesting
- 03/06/09 02:08 PM
For a long time, it has been the standard procedure for home inspectors to remove the cover from an electric panel and to look inside. All sorts of problems and safety issues might be found. I see that, at the next meeting of the home inspectors licensing advisory board, we will have a guest speaker.
Robert Cooley of Labor and Industries will be addressing the board on the following topic:
"Is the home inspector allowed to remove the cover on an electric panel for the purposes of inspecting the inside?"
Gee, I hope the answer is yes. Since that procedure is such a standard, … (1 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board March Meeting
- 03/04/09 04:51 AM
There will be a meeting of the Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board on March 12. These meetings give individuals an opportunity to address the board, at appropriate times, and to talk to the board and state staff during the breaks.
Many of the documents that will become law, such as the Standards of Practice and ethics rules, have been drafted and gone to public hearing. After this upcoming March meeting, the board will be taking a break for two months, not meeting again until June. At that time, the next meeting is scheduled for Spokane, in Eastern Washington.
Anyone … (0 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- What Is A Repair?
- 02/25/09 01:01 AM
What are repairs? Should a home inspector be doing paid repairs on a home that he or she inspected? That is a question that will be asked around the state as the proposed new home inspector licensing laws kick into effect in September. At the last board meeting of the home inspector licensing advisory board, that was a topic of discussion. The proposed home inspection licensing law, in the standards of practice, states:
"The home inspector may not for one yearafter completion of the inspection, repair, replace, or upgrade for compensation components or systems on any building inspected -- this applies to the inspector's firm … (12 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
- 02/24/09 07:26 AM
Lately, I have written about some of the changes that are occurring in this state as we prepare for home inspector licensing that will come roaring down the pike in September. From Bellingham to Spokane, inspectors and real estate professionals need to be aware of these changes.
An earlier post described the new section of a WAC that took effect at the end of January. It mandates that real estate brokers must establish a policy to assure that agents disclose to clients any "business relationships" they might have with the home inspectors they refer. The department of licensing, administering the rules, has stated in writing … (8 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- Legalities and Preferred Vendor Lists
- 02/21/09 01:16 PM
This post, and a previous post about WAC 308-124C-050, are based on information I have gleaned from various and official sources. This post should provide insight, for realtors and home inspectors, into changes in Washington State real estate laws. Information in this post is of benefit not only to Washington State home inspectors, realtors and brokers but also it should be read by inspectors, such as those from Oregon or Idaho, who might come into Washington to work.
Let us review. The new section in the WAC mandates that brokers establish policies so agents in their firm will disclose business relationships that might … (11 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- Substitution of Approved Education
- 02/19/09 02:07 PM
Things are happening rapidly on the home inspector licensing advisory board as the home inspector licensing law gets closer to reality -- September of this year. There are aspects of the law, and how it will play out, that are of real interest to inspectors and would-be inspectors.
The other day I explained here that, based on a ruling from the Attorney General, all inspectors who wish to be licensed will have to pass both parts of the official exam, which includes the National Home Inspector Exam. Whether the NHIE was taken, and passed previously, or not.....that rule applies. You can read that post … (7 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Real Estate -- Realtor Referrals, Business Relationships and Home Inspectors
- 02/19/09 10:07 AM
Changes are taking place in Washington State real estate. These changes impact home inspectors, realtors, brokers and their firms. I am, specifically, speaking of the new section of the WAC that says brokers must set an office policy for home inspector referrals. Today's article is based on information that has been provided to me by the Washington State Department of Licensing and interested real estate related businesses. I am not smart enough to come up with these interpretations and guidelines. Therefore, I am writing this as pure journalism, not as an opinion piece. It is my goal to cite information that can be substantiated and was gleaned from reliable or official sources. … (14 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- Everyone Must Take the Test!
- 02/18/09 09:58 AM
What follows is my effort, as a non-attorney, to try to explain a recent decision regarding home inspector licensing. This rule will impact many inspectors and it involves a legal decision. I will explain it all, doing the best job that I can do, but when one gets into legal matters, it is often necessary to leave the fine details to the lawyers. This information regarding the ultimate outcome is correct, although I admit that I might not be presenting the "legal" aspects of the decision exactly as it would be explained by a lawyer. I present this information in an … (13 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State -- Possible Elimination of Boards and Committees
- 02/13/09 07:14 AM
Due to a budget crisis in Washington State, there is a hearing today in Olympia, the state capital, in which the lawmakers will seriously look at elimination of most boards and committees. One entity, that they are looking at eliminating, is the Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board. This board was created after the legislature passed a home inspector licensing law in January 2008.
The law will not go into effect, have any real clout, until September of this year. As a member of the home inspector licensing board, I have concerns about elimination of the board. And no, it is not … (2 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- Mold is Gone!
- 02/06/09 10:44 AM
Washington Inspectors,
I was just was sent a revised copy of the bill that the legislature had been looking at -- the one that was controversial and mentioned inspecting for mold. They have, based on what I was sent, eliminated that language. And they have ammended the distance learning, also part of that bill, to allow only 20 hours of such instructions out of the 120 hours required. Here is a synopsis.
BILL REQ. #: S-1540.1/09
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Concerning home inspectors.
1 AN ACT Relating to home inspectors; amending RCW 18.280.060 and 18.280.070; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED … (11 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Will Your Washington State Home Inspector Be Running Naked This Fall?
- 02/06/09 01:54 AM
This title is not misleading and makes sense if you read this post.
Since I am on the Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board, which is fine-tuning the basic rules passed by the legislature last year, I will state facts here and not give my opinions.
When the new home inspector licensing law goes into effect in the fall of this year, it will, certainly, create some new restrictions and regulations within the industry. However, what many realtors and inspectors do not know is that certain language, or missing language, in the law will de-regulate parts of the industry. Some people who have … (19 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board Meetings 2009
- 02/02/09 02:07 AM
I have been encouraging Washington State inspectors, and interested parties including realtors, to attend the board meetings of the Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board. We have been involved in changes that will have a lasting impact on the industry. Yet, we have had absolutely minimal participation from inspectors as a whole. I can, almost, name the people who have attended. Probably some of the Seattle area board members could name everyone who attended since many attendees -- the few that have been there -- tend to be from that area.
One inspector indicated that, with some planning, more people … (1 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington Home Inspector Licensing -- Standards of Practice
- 01/07/09 05:09 AM
After a lengthy meeting yesterday, the Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board passed the new Standards of Practice and Ethics for the state. This had, initially, been scheduled to happen in early December. However, the language in the document was complicated enough that we had to study several drafts, and changes, to get what the majority of the committee considered to be a workable, practical and sound document. These standards of practice will control the way in which home inspections are conducted in this state for many years to come.
These standards are similar to standards of some of the large home inspector … (7 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing -- Education Catch-22
- 12/08/08 03:05 AM
Here in the State of Washington, as the home inspector legislation takes effect in the next year, we are in an education catch-22. It is probably unavoidable, in the scheme of things, but it does create a void. And it would have to be terribly frustrating for anyone who wishes to get into the field or needs to stay in the field but has too little experience.
The situation is easy to understand. For a person to be "partially" grandfathered in which delays testing requirements, that person must have been inspecting for at least two years and completed 100 home inspections … (12 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board
- 11/06/08 12:10 AM
Rules, that will impact home inspectors and realtors in Washington State for years to come, are now being formulated by the Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board. Yesterday, one of the critical sub-committees met -- the education committee which will make recommendations to the board regarding home inspector testing for all inspectors and education requirements for new inspectors.
Standards of practice are being formulated by another committee. Especially home inspectors, who will be impacted by these rules, are encouraged to participate in some of these meetings. All full board meetings are open to the public as are the sub-committee meetings. I … (5 comments)
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washington state home inspector licensing: Public Photo--Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board
- 08/13/08 06:17 PM
The State of Washington has released a photo, shall we say publicity photo, of the new home inspector licensing advisory board. The board is pictured with State Senator Harriet Spanel, who worked for years to get home inspector legislation passed. She said, speaking to the board, that it was one of the most controversial bills she has ever worked on. This was taken at the first meeting, in early August.
The legend for the photo follows, starting at the left.
Stephen Cancler, Full House Inspection Services, Seattle
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham Technical College, King of the House Home Inspection, … (34 comments)
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For a long time, it has been the standard procedure for home inspectors to remove the cover from an electric panel and to look inside. All sorts of problems and safety issues might be found. I see that, at the next meeting of the home inspectors licensing advisory board, we will have a guest speaker.
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