Being Frank

Check This Out!

How about the new Reporter format? It’s been five years since we redesigned it, so Arlene Zapata, ASHI’s graphic design manager, suggested we give it a makeover. The icons for the department sections and the color scheme are more pleasing, all while retaining the easy-to-use format. It takes a lot of time and effort to put our flagship periodical together every month, and Arlene does it with aplomb.

InspectionWorld® San Diego is in the final planning stages, so get your bags ready to join us in sunny Southern California. Michele George is putting together a lot of information in the next few editions of the Reporter, so be sure to read her articles that start running in this issue. Fun fact: She’s doing her best to find a dunk tank on site. Apparently, some idiot volunteered to be the first “victim.” Of course, Michele and other staff members will be forbidden from participating. The proceeds will go to a charity or other worthy cause — not to the executive director’s benevolence fund.

In case you haven’t heard, you are now able to pay your ASHI dues in monthly installments. This option should make it easier to budget the cost. Of course, you may continue to pay your dues annually if you choose, but this just gives you another option. For more details, see Your ASHI section on page 32 in this issue of the
Reporter.

Back on “The Hill”
Trying to fly out of Chicago during severe thunderstorms can be bad, but when there are tornado warnings near the airports, it’s best to get out of Dodge as quickly as possible. I did make it out of Midway Airport okay, and my trip to Washington, D.C., was well worth it.

On Tuesday morning, I met with staff from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to discuss “For Your Protection, Get a Home Inspection.” You may know that, several years ago, ASHI got approval for this letter to be included with mortgagee’s loan documents. Regulations require that it be renewed and approved every three years. Because of the efforts of ASHI and our lobbyist Randy Pence, we are set until 2018! If you haven’t seen the document, go to http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=92564-cn.pdf.

This is the only document (see above) presented to clients that has a red highlighted border with “CAUTION” around it! A remarkable effort by ASHI to get HUD to adopt this information for homebuyers!