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Archive for December, 2019

When is Less More?

Dec 23, 19 • News

It is commonly understood that governmental agencies are notorious for distributing “information” that is, how shall I say, specious. In my profession, dealing as I do with home builders, municipal building inspectors, real estate brokers, agents, et al., I am accustomed to being inundated by a tsunami of bullshit. That said, occasionally some outrageous statement appears that astounds even jaded me. Something so stupefying and outrageous that it defies the wildest imagination. You know, presidential in nature.

I came across this wild-eyed quote while keeping up with the meanderings of the folks who issue one of my licenses – The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). This agency was recently reviewed by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission regarding its efficiency and found wanting in many areas. One that affects home buyers more than the others is the educational requirements for licensing home inspectors. The Sunset Commission opined that the requirements were in need of a change in order to produce more informed and competent inspectors. The TREC perfunctorily agreed. The following statement reflects just how they plan to go about this.

“The Inspector Committee met on October 7 at the Texas Real Estate  Commission. Many of the items before the committee were proposed at the July meeting. The Committee received public comments on the proposed changes. The Committee considered those comments, and the proposals moved forward as written. The most notable changes in the rules are those to the pre-licensure for home inspectors in Texas. The new process cuts the number of hours required approximately in half for the most utilized track to become an inspector while equipping inspectors to more readily be able to perform an inspection upon completion.” (Bold and italics are mine)

Excerpted from: https://www.trec.texas.gov/article/chair-inspector-committee-october-2019

If you find nothing askew with the preceding statements issued forth from the  Texas Real Estate Commission’s Inspector Committee, then read no further, this is not for you. You’ll find your designated reading corner in the children’s section of the local library next to the wooden blocks and the Big Bird stuffed toys.

Would you assume that reducing the amount of children’s education to half of what it is now would somehow miraculously increase their knowledge?

K-6 ≥ K-12 is math that simply does not compute.

The requirements to become a home inspector in the great state of Texas have always been minimal. No real construction experience is required. No building code knowledge is required. Simply take a course for $3000 (less if online) that teaches the multiple-choice test one must pass, pass the exam, and voila! you get your Cracker Jack box license. No sweat.

This has led to some, if not most, folks who hire home inspectors in Texas apparently being led down the garden path by questionably-educated, ill-informed, quasi-competent “inspectors”, who are foisted on us all by the folks who brought you the revelations quoted at the beginning of this vociferation. But, let me not cast aspersions.

The moral of this story is that you must thoroughly vet your home inspector. Relying on a mere state-issued license to do business and/or a referral from your avaricious agent will not protect you. Practice the level of due diligence that accrues with becoming an adult and buying a house.

I’ll end this now before I segue into deviant terminology . . .