Capital City Inspection's Blog

The state of Texas operates an ‘unclaimed property’ website at http://www.window.state.tx.us/ . When a payor cannot find a person that is owed money then at some point that money is turned over to the state. I did a search for my name and found that Allstate owed me $100 from 18 years ago. After filing a claim and providing the necessary documentation I received a check for that amount from the state. OK, that's not so much but...

Just for grins I searched other family members and found that my sister-in-law was owed $825 for a mutual fund that my deceased brother had from 12 years ago. That claim is still being processed but it looks promising that she will get that money soon.

Go to http://www.window.state.tx.us/up/ to Search names.

This is absolutely mind boggling! Those of us with small businesses will be inundated with paperwork. Simply put, not only will you continue receiving 1099's but starting in 2012 you will have to send one to anyone (anyone!) you spend more than $600 with. Yep, better start getting Tax ID's and corporate addresses for Target, Best Buy, Lowe's, etc. Nancy Pelosi was right....we did need to get the HealthCare bill passed in order to see what was in it.

Read the CNN article here.

Since the inception of home inspection licensing in Texas in the early 90's the exam taken to qualify for a license has been designed and administered by TREC. Certainly, over the last 10-15 years the test questions have been designed by the Inspector's Advisory Committee to TREC. There is now a motion afoot to replace that proprietary test with one that is referred to as the NHIE (National Home Inspectors Exam). There are certainly pro's and con's of doing such and that's what I'd like Texas inspectors to voice their opinions on. The ostensible reason, explained by a IAC representative, is to more easily ensure HI license reciprocity with the adjoining states of LA, AR & OK (NM is not a licensed state). Strangely enough I have heard no call from anyone for such reciprocity. Please, develop your own opinion and let TREC and the IAC know what that opinion is via whatever method best suits your style.

For the past 6 years I have attended most all of the TREC Inspector Advisory Committee meetings and reported my observations and meeting notes on the InterNACHI message board as well as my personal company blog, here at ActiveRain and elsewhere. I have also held the semi-official title of InterNACHI Legislative Liaison for Texas (although Regulatory Affairs Representative might be more apropos).

I’ve decided it is time to pass the reins on to someone new now. I plan to devote more time and energy to maintaining my inspection business as well as doing a little traveling to visit my kids and grand-kids who are in separate parts of the country.

There is a lot of work to do and great opportunities for INACHI-Texas in regards to the activities proposed at the recent TREC Inspectors Summit. That initiative deserves your support.

My understanding is that San Antonio inspector Scott Emerson will assume the role of InterNACHI legislative representative in Texas.

Here are my notes from the Feb 22nd TREC Inspector Advisory Committee meeting:

http://www.divshare.com/download/10576609-bd6

Attached are my personal notes from today’s, 2/9/10, TREC IAC SOP/Commentary subcommittee teleconference. Bottom line, the Commentary moves forward with a high likelihood of being incorporated in one manner or the other into the SOP and will become an ‘enforceable document’.

My Notes here

Well, the TREC IAC Subcommittee that is working on the proposed Commentary is planning a teleconference next Tuesday, 2/9. The meeting will be primarily to discuss the Commentary and how to incorporate it into the TREC Rules thereby becoming an 'enforceable' document. The effective result is that the Texas SOP will grow from a huge document to a massive monstrosity.

Agenda Item 4. Discussion and possible action to recommend to the Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee posting of sections of the commentary for public comment with the intent to include the commentary sections in the rules of the Texas Real Estate Commission.

This SOP Commentary Position Statement was mailed today to all 9 TREC Commissioners, several TREC staff members, the Inspectors Advisory Committee and leaders of the other trade associations active in Texas.

The TREC Inspector's Advisory Committee SOP Subcommittee meeting scheduled for this morning at 11:00 am was canceled due to lack of a quorum of the subcommittee members. Members of the full IAC met privately with TREC staff to discuss the logistics of the proposed Commentary and how it might be implemented. The decision has not been reached (at least publicly) as to whether the Commentary will be enforceable or not nor whether it will become part of the existing SOP or if it will be a new Rule or if it will be a stand-alone, non-enforceable, non-rule document for clarification purposes only. The IAC chairman said no decision has been reached on that as yet but work will continue on the proposed Commentary in the meantime. Separately, I discussed this with a TAREI representative and we agreed that all of the trade associations should develop a position statement regarding the Commentary and present that to the IAC as soon as possible. I will draft one for NACHI and post it here for comment in a few days.