The existing licensing law is no panacea but there was a board of grievances to appeal to if you were improperly accused of misconduct by agents or unhappy sellers. On January 1st, the Home Inspector Licensing Board will be disbanded even though the members have served well and without pay. Inspectors will face an unknown appointee, possibly a real estate agent (we have done this in the past), who will decide our fate without the help of a board of peers to guide him. There is no balance in this system.

On January 1st, 2012, Illinois Inspectors can be fined $25,000 or physically sent to jail for inspection omissions, according to the new law. This reeks of overkill. This threatens all inspectors whose primary judgement is based upon visual conditions.

From the beginning, the Inspector Licensing Law was created by the real estate community. After funding the law, they appointed a real estate agent as our board chairman. Once again inspectors are being manipulated to “pass all houses” or risk losing their businesses.

The 2012 licensing changes are unnecessary and fail to serve the public interest. The imposed $25,000 fine is intimidating to inspectors who already want to support the public trust while protecting consumers. In addition to representing the inspection point of view, the Board serves to prevent 3rd party control over inspections and standards. It is because inspectors serve as a check to the real estate sales process that we were licensed initially. The licensing standard that I wrote with Representative Erwin and brought to the State would have home inspectors overseen by the Department of Professional Regulation — the same place engineers are licensed. Here is where we belong — away from the control of those who stand to make thousands of dollars with each sale.

ALL HOME INSPECTORS’ JUDGEMENT AND OPINIONS ARE BASED UPON VISUAL STANDARDS BY LAW. THEY ARE INHERENTLY LESS ABLE TO BE CONFIRMED AND LESS ACCURATE THAN JUDGMENTS
MADE WITH ENGINEERING. INSPECTORS WILL BE CULPABLE IF ENGINEERING STANDARDS ARE APPLIED.

Today, home inspectors can be fined up to $10,000 for violations of the licensing law and receive misdemeanor citations. On January 1st, 2012, they can be fined $25,000 per offense, an amount that would put all of us out of business. We are also liable up to a Class 4 felony for negligence in performing our duties. Why this severe punishment for trying to help Illinois homebuyers become aware of what they are buying? This new law does not further the goals of Illinois Home Inspectors or the home buying public. It does not restore faith in the real estate process. It delivers the process to the power brokers.

The Illinois Inspector Licensing Act was written and mandated within a visual standard. This gives home inspectors permission to add visual clues together while defining large scale systemic problems. The threat of a multi-year prison sentence discourages “systemic” inspections where inspectors have to add visual clues together to complete their analysis. These clues, by nature, won’t be supported by engineering where the clues will have to be confirmed using destructive means. A visual exam is inexact and will not stand up to an engineering analysis. Are we to go to jail due to this dichotomy in the law? We need the visual standard and its flexibility to assess asbestos, for instance, and point our clients in the right direction for more information.

I believe State Representatives and Senators have lost focus of the needs of the people of Illinois. Do they think that threatening the home inspection community with time “in the big house with other convicted felons” (Class 4 Felony punishment) will help Illinois citizens? Is there anyone out there reading this that doesn’t see the connection between bad real estate sales and the recession? The real estate community, not the inspectors, need a more punitive licensing standard.

The way to restore the economic viability of the real estate industry is to restore faith in the real state process. Home Inspectors represent the key to restoring the faith. Home Inspectors need to be able to tell the truth without worry of spending our retirement in jail with murderers and rapists while being someone’s “honey.”

We challenge the real estate industry to “step up to the plate and provide clarity in the home buying process and demand equal representation for buyers.” Don’t punish the home inspectors, the very people who can fully represent your interest in home buying. For those of you who are courageous, call your State Representative and Senator and encourage them to say NO to the rewriting of ILCS 225 441, the Illinois Home Inspector Licensing Act. Let’s work to restore the deserved faith in the real estate industry for buyers and sellers.

“Friend right?”

This “friends” system has injured real estate

THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!

Home Safe, Smart Home Buyer Seminars
Presented by Tom Corbett of Tomacor Incorporated

What: A free, fast paced seminar with (pending) ASHI continuing education credit that is jam packed with information for anyone interested in buying residential, commercial, or industrial properties. Get all of the information you need to negotiate prices and reap financial rewards! 27 year veteran building inspector, Tom Corbett is renowned for his no nonsense, straight forward style and you won’t believe how much you can learn in just one hour! Tom will cover topics such as “Choosing a Team of Advocates” and “Negotiating Strategies”. If you’ve ever thought about purchasing property, this is a seminar you don’t want to miss!

When/Where:
Buying Foreclosed Property Without the Pitfalls
Saturday, October 22, 2011 12:00pm-1:30pm
Chicago Public Library – Logan Square Branch
3030 W. Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, Illinois, 60647

Thursday, November 10, 2011 6:00pm-7:30pm
Chicago Public Library – Roden Branch
6083 N. Northwest Highway
Chicago, Illinois 60631

Become a Home Detective: Ten Distinctions to Avoid When Buying a Property
Thursday, December 1, 2011 6:00pm-7:30pm
Chicago Public Library – Roden Branch
6083 N. Northwest Highway
Chicago, Illinois 60631

Space is Limited! Please email coco@tomacor.com to RSVP today!

Why: The market is down but YOU should be up! Tom Corbett is committed to educating the public about the myriad of issues which can arise when buying, living in, owning, or selling a home. This education, in turn, empowers people to make educated decisions regarding their property.

During this economic crisis the housing market is suffering, and many are pessimistic about buying and selling properties. After 27 years Tom Corbett has learned all that you need to know to get quality property at affordable prices. He would like to share this wealth of information with the public, empowering them to purchase property and, in turn, stimulate the market.

How: Tom Corbett of Tomacor, Inc. will speak at a one-hour seminars on topics relating to buying properties. His goal is to empower the consumer by giving them the education and the tools needed to make informed decisions about purchasing within the real estate market.

We can restore our commitment to each other looking at this art. It’s a reminder of what’s missing in the market today. By acknowledging and maintaining its beauty and quality we can save the past and create the future.

Tomacor’s Illinois Inspector Training Institute (IITI) is committed to restoring this type of quality work and service to the home industry.

We will be offering a 10 week Inspector Training Course in the new year to rigorously train professionals interested in becoming a licensed Home Inspector.

Whether you are a licensed professional in another facet of the industry (contractor, developer, electrician, plumber etc.) or a green thumb, if you’re interested in serving home buyers, beefing up your credentials, growing your existing business or earning a second income, IITI wants to help you do it!

Join us at one of our upcoming Open Houses from 7PM-9PM to learn more and get your questions answered:

Wednesday September 28th, 2011
Wednesday October 19th, 2011
Wednesday November 2nd, 2011

See you there!

Tuesday, August 23rd, 7PM-9PM
Monday, September 12, 7PM-9PM
Thursday, September 15, 7PM-9PM

For more information call 312.475.0835 or email us at inspection@tomacor.com

Pricing
The cost of the course is $1,495 with a down payment of $400 due August 16, 2010. Students who register and pay in full by June 1, 2010 will receive $100.00 off of their tuition and those that register by July 1, 2010 will receive $50.00 off of tuition. There are also discounts available for students who register in groups of 3 or more.

Open Houses
If you are interested in learning more about the course and the career before registering, you are welcomed to attend one of our open house seminars. The sessions are being held on the following dates:

• Wednesday, August 4, 2010 7:00pm-9:00pm
• Wednesday, August 11, 2010 7:00pm-9:00pm

During these sessions students will get a chance to talk to one of the IITI instructors and a licensed home inspector of 25 years. If you are interested in attending one of these sessions please RSVP by emailing nwilliams@tomacor.com the date of the open house that you are interested in attending.

We will be offering our 10-day intensive training November 9 – November 20, 2009. The class runs from 8am – 5pm, Monday through Friday for two weeks. 80+ hours of training and fielding work practice, books and all training materials are available for a fee of $1,495.

A $100 discount is available to students who register before October 19, 2009

Group discounts are also available.

A $400 deposit is required to hold a seat in the class. Contact 312-475-0835 for more information and to register.

All students must be paid in full by October 26, 2009

Not 100% sure that a career in home inspection is right for you? Attend one of our open house seminars to learn more!

Sunday, October 18, 2009 12pm-2pm
Thursday, October 22, 2009 7pm-9pm

Email nwilliams@tomacor.com to RSVP for one of the open house seminars today!

Coming out of the recession will be slow yet we won’t loose work because we are focusing on opportunities to build on what is emerging rather than focusing on the past.

Tomacor is looking for a few good inspectors to help us with commercial work, residential work and expert witness work. This is a challenge that requires significant amounts of study. You will learn how to recreate what you have been doing into something new. New areas of expertise can help you stay busy over next winter.

You must be licensed by the state and fully capable of taking full responsibility for all of your inspection decisions. We can create the future of the inspection business together!

Interested? call our office at 312.475.0835 or send an email to inspection@tomacor.com

Family and friends of the victims were mortified when they discovered that this catastrophe was 100% preventable. An analysis of the porch by 48 Hours Investigators found that it was illegally built without a City of Chicago Building Permit. Further investigation found multiple deficiencies in the porch’s construction such as undersized beams and small screws that weakened the porch’s overall integrity and led to its collapse.

It is imperative that developers follow all City Code and Building Standards when constructing homes and other properties. Failure to do so may lead to injuries, or worse, more deaths.

As a licensed home inspector you will be trained to pinpoint deficiencies, such as those that contributed to the collapse of this porch, and aide in holding developers accountable for constructing safe properties.

On Tuesday, July 28, 2009 7pm-9pm Tomacor Incorporated will be holding a seminar entitled “New Opportunities for Income as a Licensed Home Inspector.” In this open-house seminar the porch standards that could have saved these 13 lives will be discussed. Tom Corbett, renowned home inspector, respected instructor, and national speaker will discuss opportunities for home inspectors in construction standards, contractor work, property management, and in the banking industry.

This interesting and informative seminar has limited seating! Reserve your spot today by emailing nwilliams@tomacor.com

Saturday April 4, 2009, 10am to 11am
and
Tuesday April 14, 2009, 6pm to 7pm

Please call (312) 475-0835 or email inspection@tomacor.com to RSVP!

If you or anyone you know is passionate about construction detailing, green building or appropriate technology, consider recommending a career that begins with a home inspector credential.