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A letter was recently emailed to all members about a
new proposed piece of legislation in Massachusetts
that would negatively effect all home inspectors. The
letter is reprinted below:
Dear Home Inspector,
The information provided below is not good. In fact,
this news should infuriate you, and hopefully upset
you enough to be proactive to change new legislation
that will negatively impact all licensed MA home
inspectors. I urge you to carefully read the text below
and to fully understand its impact on our profession.
What is the effect of Chapter 13, section 97A on you
and your business?
[Text of section added by 2008, 169, Sec. 5
effective July 2, 2009. See 2008, 169, Sec. 121.]
Section 97A. The board of registration of home
inspectors, in consultation with the state board of
building regulations and standards, the executive
office of energy and environmental affairs and the
energy efficiency advisory council, shall develop
requirements and adopt regulations to require
documents to be provided to a buyer of a single-family
residential dwelling or a multiple-family residential
dwelling with less than 5 dwelling units, or a
condominium unit at the time of closing, outlining the
procedures and benefits of a home energy audit;
provided however, that no additional fees shall be
imposed or collected in connection with the provision
of such documents.
Chapter 13, section 97A of the MGL appears innocent
enough; however, a closer look at the language is
required to understand what is being mandated. As
presently written; the law requires the Home
Inspection Board to develop a regulation requiring
home inspectors to attend every closing on a dwelling
which they and/or their company provided the
inspection report in order to hand out a brochure
(developed by MASS SAVE) explaining the benefits of
a home energy audit.
Further, it stipulates that the home inspector cannot
impose and/or collect any additional fee and/or fees in
connection with the delivery of this document.
What does all of this mean?
Talk about overregulation, this law guarantees you will
be put out of business one way or another.
Both Dennis Robitelli and I have filed the amendment
below with our local legislators. As soon as a bill
number is assigned for the amendment, YOU should
actively contact your local legislators and voice your
concern. Hopefully a grass roots group effort will
correct this poor legislation.
Amendment to chapter 13, section 97A
The director of consumer affairs and business regulation, after consultation with the board of home inspectors, the state board of building regulations and standards, the executive office of energy and environmental affairs and the energy efficiency advisory council, shall develop a brochure to be provided by the lender, to a buyer of a single family residential dwelling or a multiple- family residential dwelling with less than 5 dwelling units, or a condominium unit at the time of closing, outlining the procedures and benefits of a home energy audit; provided however, that no additional fees shall be imposed or collected in connection with the provision of such documents. Regards,
Bob Mulloy, Chairman ASHI-NE Chapter Education Committee |
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ASAP Environmental
HEALTHY HOMES FOR BETTER LIVING
1 Arcadia St. Dorchester, MA 02122
inspections@asapenvironmental.com 800-349-7779 www.asapenvironmental.com
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The chapter's next membership meeting and
educational program will take place on Thursday, May
28th at The Lantana in Randolph, MA. The meeting
will start with dinner at 5:00 followed by the roundtable
at 6:00.
Our program will be on Sunrooms and what some of
the challenges can be in inspecting and reporting on
them. Whether part of an addition/expansion project
to a home or as a self-contained add-on "three
season room", sunrooms require a different eye when
conducting an inspection. Kevin Kieler of Marvic, Inc.
(Brady Sunrooms) will join us for a discussion of the
design and build aspects of adding a sunroom to an
existing home and provide an overview of current
sunroom technology. He will also discuss important
issues such as weatherization and insulation,
maintenance and serviceability of sunrooms. Given
our snowy climate, discussion about snow loads and
ice issues is expected. Part two of our education
program features a presentation by Brian Day of J.
Brian Day Carpet, Flooring and Restoration Solutions.
Frankie Walker and Stephanie Petluck will provide an
overview of flooring options for today's homeowners,
including carpet, hardwood, laminates and tile options
and will address matters of durability, maintenance
and cost. His firm also specializes in the complete
restoration solutions for carpets and floors damaged
by water intrusion or other disasters. Our speakers
will provide a summary and take questions from the
audience.
I look forward to seeing everyone at this membership
meeting to hear these excellent speakers.
Bob Mulloy, Education Chairman
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FREA
E&O Insurance for Home Inspectors
800-882-4410 www.frea.com |
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ASHI-New England Chapter Education Committee
Chairman, Bob Mulloy has been rather busy working
on the agenda and program speaker roster for the
Chapter's 2009 Annual Fall Conference. The two-day
event is scheduled for Monday, September 14 and
Tuesday September 15 at The Lantana located in
Randolph, MA.
While the official conference promotion will be made
available in early summer, the following are the topics
and speakers already confirmed by Mulloy with
assistance from various other member home
inspectors providing assistance on the committee.
During the morning of Monday, September the
Chapter will welcome Attorney Jonathan Braverman of
Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C. for an in-depth
look at legal issues of relevance to home inspection
professionals. Steve Gladstone of Stonehollow, Inc.
Fine Home Inspections (and 2004 ASHI National
President) will address old home issues.
The afternoon session will begin with a "Trial by
Peers" lead by Donald Lovering of Advantage Home
Inspection that will offer a mock-trial format to
demonstrate how to better prepare to defend yourself
and your inspection report when called into question.
Bill Sutton of Bay Colony Home
Inspections Consultants, Inc. will offer a program on
Ethics for the home inspection professional.
On Tuesday, September 15, the Chapter will introduce
Kenny Hart who will conduct an intensive seminar on
all aspects of plumbing as it relates to conducting and
reporting on findings during a home inspection. Hart
is a second-generation Master Plumber and
Mechanical Contractor with more than 30 years of
experience. He is a past chair of the ASHI Technical
Committee.
The Chapter is especially pleased to announce that
Tedd Benson of Bensonwood Homes has been
confirmed. A speaker at a past ASHI-NE conference,
Benson was thrilled to be invited back (by popular
demand) and will offer a special glimpse into
the "Weston House Project" which a pre-fabricated
timberframe home featured in Fall 2008 on This Old
House. Day two wraps up with a presentation by Brad
Keyes of Keyes North Atlantic on high efficiency
boilers and furnaces.
Again, information on costs and how to register will
soon be made available via the Chapter's website
and a membership mailing. Watch
www.ashinewengland and your mail for more details.
Both days of the conference agenda will
be submitted to the Mass. Board of Registration for
Home Inspectors and to ASHI-national for continuing
education approval.
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CORCORAN & HAVLIN INSURANCE GROUP
THE SUPERIOR HOME INSPECTOR ERRORS &
OMISSIONS INSURANCE PROGRAM!
Underwritten by AIG's Lexington Insurance Company - Rated A++ by A.M. Best Home Inspector E&O Coverage offers these features:
For a quote or more information, please call Debi
Drury (x244 or ddrury@chinsurance.com) or
Mike Curtis, Marketing Manager (x243) or visit
website at www.chinsurance.com
287 Linden Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 800-304-8242 Fax 781-235-7190 |
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"Despite consumer uncertainty in the economy, the
spring home buying season has brought a traditional
influx of homebuyers, which is positive," said
Massachusetts Association of Realtors President
Gary Rogers, a broker with RE/MAX First Realty in
Waltham. "With the drop in prices, conditions still
favor the buyer, especially the first-time homebuyer,
and we do expect they will continue to respond well to
the first-time homebuyer tax credit that was signed
into law by President Obama in February."
The number of single-family homes sold in the first
quarter of 2009 was down 9.3 percent compared to
the same time last year (6,183 homes sold in 2008 to
5,610 homes sold in 2009). Median selling prices
were down 18.7 percent from $315,000 in 2008 to
$256,000 in 2009.
The condominium market experienced a drop of 21.5
percent in the number of units sold in the first quarter
compared to the same quarter last year with 2,774
units sold in 2008 to 2,178 units sold in 2009. Median
selling prices were down 18.3 percent from $263,000
in 2008 to $215,000 in 2009.
The multi-family market saw a 52 percent increase in
the number of first-quarter sales compared to the
same time last year with 1,059 homes sold in 2008
and 1,610 homes sold in 2009. Median selling prices
were down 29.2 percent compared to the first quarter
last year from $240,000 in 2008 to $170,000 in 2008.
Regionally, every part of the state saw a decrease in
sales of single-family homes compared to the same
quarter last year, except the South Shore, which saw
an increase of 1.9 percent (993 homes sold in 2008
compared to 1,012 homes sold in 2009). Of the
seven regions, Greater Boston experienced the
largest drop in sales at 17.2 percent with 1,350
homes sold in Q1 2008 compared to 1,118 homes
sold in Q1 2009.
The Central region experienced the largest drop in
median prices in Q1 with a decrease of 21.9 percent
over the same time last year from $250,000 in 2009 to
$195,300 in 2009. The Southeast had the smallest
decrease in median prices at 10.4 percent from
$240,000 in 2008 to $215,000 in 2009.
In the condo market, Cape Cod had the largest drop in
sales, with a very significant 49.4 percent decrease
compared to the same quarter last year with 154 units
sold in 2008 to 78 units sold in 2009. The Central
region had the smallest decrease in condo sales at
8.5 percent, going from 247 units sold in 2008 to 226
units sold in 2009.
The Western region had a 1.2 percent increase in
median prices (from $149,750 in 2008 to $151,500 in
2008). The Southeast region experienced the biggest
drop in median prices, with a significant 33 percent
drop compared to the same quarter last year (from
$149,150 in 2008 to $100,000 in 2009).
In the multi-family market, continues to experience
extreme increases in sales activity, with the first
quarter being no exception. No region of the state
experienced any decreases, with the Northeast region
experiencing a 70.5 percent increase in Q1 compared
to the same time last year with 224 homes sold in
2008 to 382 homes sold in 2009.
Price in the multi-family market continues to drive
activity as every region of the state had double-digit
decreases in median sales price. Cape Cod had the
smallest drop of any region with median prices only
going down 12.5 percent ($240,000 in 2008 to
$210,000 in 2009). The West region had the largest
drop in median prices at 61.5 percent compared to the
same time last year ($165,000 in 2008 to $63,500 in
2009).
"For the fourth quarter in a row, investors see
opportunity in the market and they are taking
advantage of it. We continue to need investors who
will come in and buy and maintain these multi-family
homes. This will not only help stabilize
neighborhoods, but will also contribute to getting the
economy moving again," said Rogers.
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CRACK-X
Got water in your basement?
Since 1985, CRACK-X has been a full service company specializing in residential and commercial foundation welding of cracks and other concrete repairs such as bulkheads, penetrations, cold joints, elevator pits, and slabs. We are committed to 100% customer satisfaction and back up all vertical wall crack repairs with an unconditional 10-year warranty. 25 Washington Avenue, Natick, MA 01760
877-272-2539 www.crackfx.com |
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B-Dry Systems
20 YEARS OF SOLVING WATER PROBLEMS
Written warranty for the full life of the structure. 800-320-2379
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The 33rd North American Heating & Energy Exposition
will take place on June 9 & 10, 2009 at the John B.
Hynes center in Boston.
The ENERGY SUMMIT is the business sessions
component to this Expo. It has been designed to be of
significant value to Oilheat, Propane and Bioheat®
marketers. These timely sessions will provide
guidance to new regulations, business matters of
conduct, and new fuel product requirements that will
impact the entire industry in the immediate timetable
ahead.
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Vent Master
ATTIC VENTILATION SPECIALISTS
Inspectors, when you see signs of:
Recommend Vent Master For a FREE consultation, call Don Marcoux at Vent
Master
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, has
announced a voluntary recall of the following
consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise
instructed.
Name of Product: Composite Decks
Units: About 48 million linear feet (decks vary in size)
Manufacturer: Louisiana-Pacific (LP) Corp., of
Nashville, Tenn.
Hazard: The recalled decking can prematurely
deteriorate and unexpectedly break. Consumers can
fall through broken decking and suffer serious injuries.
Incidents/Injuries: LP has received 37 reports of
composite decks breaking, resulting in 14 injuries,
including a broken wrist, sprained ankle, minor
lacerations and bruises.
Description: The recall includes outdoor deck board
and railings sold under the brand names LP
WeatherBest®, ABTCo., and Veranda®. They are
composite products that look similar to natural wood
and were sold in various colors including Tuscan
Walnut/Chestnut, Driftwood Grey/Greystone, Pacific
Cedar and Western Redwood. Veranda decking
products were manufactured by multiple firms; only
products manufactured by LP are included in this
recall.
Sold at: The Home Depot (Veranda® brand) and
building product dealers (LP WeatherBest® and
ABTCo. brands) nationwide from January 2005 to
August 2008 for between $1.50 and $2.25 per linear
foot.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers with the recalled decking
should immediately contact LP for a free inspection. If
the decking is affected by premature deterioration, LP
will arrange for a free replacement.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact
LP toll-free at (888) 325-1184 between 6 a.m. and 5
p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web
site at www.deckingnotice.com
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Peter Greifer Enterprises
ASBESTOS REMOVAL & MOLD REMEDIATION
Serving Eastern Massachusetts & Rhode Island 800-582-5288
401-946-4506 (Rhode Island) peter.greifer@verizon.net |
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Recently, ASHI took steps to make the ASHI Standard
of Practice and Code of Ethics requirement more
accessible to new members. The Standard of Practice
exam was only available through an outside provider.
Now, it has been updated to an Education Module,
accessible directly through the ASHI Web site.
The module as a membership status requirement
Bringing the education module in house is beneficial
to new and existing members and to ASHI as an
organization. New members may access the module
at any time through the Members Only section of
www.HomeInspector.org at no additional charge.
Elimination of the $85 fee to an outside provider will
ease the monetary burden on new inspectors joining
ASHI. By providing an easily accessible no fee
module, ASHI expects to increase new member
retention because doing so removes a hurdle that
prevented applicants from quickly learning our
Standards and staking their claim as part of the ASHI
family.
The module as a resource for all members
Existing members can use the education module to
test their knowledge of the ASHI Standards of Practice
and Code of Ethics. This can be done through the
Education and Training section on
www.HomeInspector.org.
Exam vs. module
ASHI's requirement to demonstrate knowledge of and
agreement to follow the Standards of Practice and
Code of Ethics to achieve Associate with Logo Use
status has not changed. Only the method of doing so
has. The procedure includes the exact same 50
questions used in the third-party exam. Proof of
successfully completing the education module must
be provided to ASHI. The software tracking program
crosschecks usage records and records completion
in the member's file.
The Standards of Practice Education Module has
been created at no cost by using technology already
owned by ASHI. Committee members, Board and staff
worked to fulfill a request to streamline the process
and reduce the cost of joining ASHI without
compromising the requirements.
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Rene Mugnier Associates
When in doubt, refer to a structural engineer
specializing in the investigation of homes and
commercial structural problems.
REHABILITATIONS & INVESTIGATIONS
777 Concord Ave., Ste. 201, Cambridge, MA 02138
617-547-7773 |
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The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Home
Inspectors holds meetings on a regular basis that are
open for home inspectors to attend. These board
meetings are usually held at 239 Causeway Street,
2nd Floor, Room 204 in Boston from 10:00 am to 3:00
pm.
The meeting dates for 2009 are as
follows:
July 15, 2009 September 16, 2009 November 18, 2009 You are encouraged to call the board office at 617-727-
4459 for any posssible changes in location and time
of these meetings.
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Atlas Watersystems
WE DON'T MAKE THE WATER.
WE MAKE THE WATER BETTER!! Residential & Commercial Water
Filtration & Purification Water Testing & Analysis
Radon & Arsenic Remediation Softeners * Filters * Purification 800-215-9966 www.atlaswater.com "Bringing Technology to Water"
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President
Lisa Alajajian-Giroux /
homequest1@comcast.net
Vice President
Mike Atwell /
m.atwell@rcn.com
Secretary Donald Bissex /
dbissex@comcast.net
Treasurer
Len Rucker /
lrucker1@comcast.net
Directors
Paul Cornell / pcornell@inspecthouses.com Paul Rogoshewski / paul@harmonyhomeinspection.com Alex Steinberg / alex@jbsinspections.com Council of Representatives
Lisa Alajajian / homequest1@comcast.net Bill Sutton / wsuttoninspector@hotmail.com Committee Chair
By- Laws: Mike Atwell / m.atwell@rcn.com Communications: Education: Bob Mulloy / rmulloy@verizon.net Legislative: Membership: Executive Director
Walter Perry /
wperry@choiceonemail.com
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We look forward to seeing you at our monthly membership meeting on May 28th !
Sincerely,
ASHI New England
email:
clough@choiceonemail.com
phone:
800-248-2744
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