DLRambo

I've carried E&O Insurance since 1986. Never had a claim. Think its a great relaxer to help me sleep better at night. I've never marketed it to realtors, clients, etc like "Use me cause I have a big E&O Insurance policy". IMHO, I think anybody doing that deserves to get sued a few times. I see many other inspectors do this as an advertising gimmick (and many of them get get sued regularly over petty BS). No other profession in my states (Missouri or Kansas) requires E&O or anything similar for a license. That statement includes engineers, architects, realtors, doctors, lawyers, termite inspectors, lead or asbestos inspectors, septic inspectors, appraisers, nurses, etc, etc. I think every inspector should be required to carry liability insurance (your ladder falls over and lands on the sellers car and damages it), before setting foot on someone elses property - but making E&O Insurance mandatory is dumb and prejudicial if other professions are not required to carry it to get a license. Dan Bowers (Kansas City)

I've talked to literally hundreds of guys about licensing and the vast majority have no real concept of what licensing will or will not do. We're doing a HI seminar in Kansas City in late January and we'll have a Round Table discussion on licensing. Many people sending in their registrations or calling for more info have naively made comments on the licensing issue that are so far out in left field you want to cry. For example the last 4 people calling have commented how great licensing could be because: (1) it will get rid of the cheap inspectors; (2) it will lower the number of home inspectors so they won't have as much competition; (3) the realtors, sellers or repair contractors won't be able to call them dumb or complain about what they say or do anymore, because then they'd be licensed inspectors; and (4) because in the midwest most contractors or builders are not licensed - the inspectors will be more legitimate and their words will carry more weight because they're licensed inspectors. I don't know whether to cry or throw up. It does make me realize we've got a lot of really naive or stupid people doing home inspections. Dan Bowers (Kansas City)