Favorable Ethics Decision in Arizona

The Arizona Chapter of ASHI experienced a positive outcome regarding ethics in January of this year. The state agency that governs home inspectors in Arizona, the Board of Technical Registration (BTR), revised an opinion concerning participation in Preferred Vendor programs. It is now illegal for home inspectors in Arizona to participate in Preferred Vendor or similar programs.

Toward the end of 2003, the owner of a major home inspection franchise was found to be paying $10,000 per year to an Arizona real estate company to participate in its program. The matter was, unfortunately, first brought before the BTR board without input from the Home Inspector Advisory Committee. The arrangement was presented, by the franchise owner, as a normal form of advertising and it passed initially. Upon discovery the following month, the Arizona ASHI Chapter mobilized under the leadership of Paul Staron, AZ ASHI president. Supporting evidence, including an opinion from the state of Wisconsin, was obtained.

Leading the presentation before the BTR Board was Brion Grant, ASHI Member and chair of the Arizona Home Inspector Advisory Committee, and David Swartz, chair of the Arizona Home Inspectors Coalition. The case was presented in a boardroom filled with Arizona ASHI home inspectors in attendance. In the end, the board reached a unanimous decision to end Preferred Vendor or similar programs in Arizona. “We have a very thoughtful board governing home inspectors in Arizona that had the courage to consider additional evidence and change a prior ruling,” Grant reported.

Keys to victory seemed to be committed leadership and efficient mobilization. Hopefully, every state that looks at the issue of ethics and Preferred Vendor programs will take a look at the precedent set in Wisconsin and now Arizona.