Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, WA Home Inspector (King of the House)

     This is the 3^rd in a series of posts I am doing on pending legislation that affects Licensed, Washington State, Home Inspectors----which in turn affects the real estate industry as a whole.

     Senate Bill 6433  would extend the deadline for persons to meet qualifications for classroom training and field training until July 1, 2010.  The various deadlines around grandfathering for experienced and “newer” inspectors was somewhat convoluted, and some would say downright confusing.  Now that some of these deadlines have passed and most inspectors have done what it took to meet the requirements of the new law, there are a few that would like to turn the clock back so that they could be allowed to meet grandfathering provisions that were not intended for them.  While due to the perceived confusion, this might seem “fair,” it most certainly would not be fair for those that missed the deadlines for one reason or another and have taken it upon themselves to meet the requirements of the law without whining.

     I can imagine that these folks would be justifiably annoyed if these time tables were now changed.

     It is surprising to me that there are still those that claim to have never heard about licensing when this has been ongoing for more than 3 years.  To have been doing home inspections and never heard of upcoming licensing, the “inspector” was not likely the member of any Inspection Association (The proposed licensing was regularly “ripped-a-new-one” on most of the forums of the various associations).  They were not likely a Licensed Structural Pest Inspector (Being licensed as an SPI was required to perform home inspections in Washington State prior to current licensing.  Structural Pest Inspectors received notices about upcoming changes in the Home Inspection profession).  They also most likely did not read the papers.  In other words they would have had to have been living under a VERY big log to have not heard about what was coming----and in a way not part of the inspection community at all.

     While I have sympathy for these folks, I have more sympathy for those who did what it took to jump through the various hoops to get themselves licensed.

 

     If you click on this paragraph you will find the bill and its current status.  You will also find links to the sponsors where you can email them directly about this bill.  You can also find links to your own legislators that you can email as well.  Please take a moment to give them your opinion on this matter.

 

Other Important Bills:

Senate Bill 5644 

Senate Bill 6434  

 

Charles Buell

 

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