Fellow Inspectors,

There is no minimizing the reality our profession is facing in these unprecedented times. For many years now, real estate in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can accurately be described as chaotic. Huge ups and downs; from crashes, to record sales, to chronically low inventory, to highest price gains, and sometimes all in the same year. This constant instability has led to huge numbers of buyers waiving their inspection contingencies. To understand the magnitude of what is unfolding (if your wallet wasn’t proof enough), one needs only to Google: “Home Inspections in Decline” to realize the phenomenon of waving a home inspection, in the most competitive market on record, is now commonplace throughout the U.S. and Canada. Untold numbers of home inspection careers and businesses have been destroyed and countless buyers have faced the serious financial consequences of their actions. The Fed has now raised interest rates in response to deteriorating economic and geopolitical events at home and abroad. In turn, this has further exacerbated an already untenable housing crisis which has all but vanquished the majority of our younger generations from ever owning a home. By now, all but the most naive understand this situation has all the ingredients to devolve further. All of this has led many home inspectors in the Commonwealth to ignore our state regulations and conduct condensed, walk-through “consultations” in significant numbers. Their reasons for doing so are obvious. However, by choosing to ignore numerous sub sections in 266 C.M.R. such as 6.06, which clearly forbids these “consultations”, many of our own brothers and sisters have chosen to throw fuel on a raging fire with little care of the consequences. Buyers, who would otherwise stand on the sidelines (decreasing competition and thus price) will certainly prefer these “consults” over no evaluation at all, further enflaming this crisis. Furthermore, if there is any inspector who thinks his/her Errors and Omissions policy will cover them or their clients during these consultations has no understanding of the insurance industry nor the contents of their own policy. This is going to stop.

Our group consists of concerned MA licensed home inspectors, representing numerous inspection firms. Our ability to act on events largely outside our control is limited but by no means obsolete. We’re requesting your signature in support of our efforts to pressure the State Licensing Board to do their job and protect consumers by taking a formal position against these “consultations”. And, just as importantly, disseminating that position to the greater public. Once we’ve established their support, we’ll have multiple self-help measures at our disposal which we can discuss as a community. Thus far, with one or two individual exceptions, the State Board appears to possess an inadequate understanding of events and/or the gravity of the situation. It will be our job to educate them and we won’t stop in this endeavor. Our profession is at stake and we need your support. The Board meets publicly via Zoom usually the second Wednesday of every month. Join in and voice your support! Our strength will always be in our union and it’s time to stand up. We implore you to show that strength now by signing your name and by participating in the Zoom meetings, if you can.