Home Inspectors Needed for Exam Board

The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI) is seeking three home inspectors to serve the profession as members of the Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning January 10, 2006.

EBPHI is an independent, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to establish the standard of competence for home  inspectors and to enhance consumer confidence in home inspection professionals. EBPHI, founded in 1999, maintains and administers the National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE), a content-valid examination for use by regulatory bodies in assessing competency for regulatory purposes.

Requirements
EBPHI is governed by a board of directors whose members represent home inspectors and the home-buying public. Directors are expected to:

• At all times advocate and promote use of the National Home Inspector Examination in regulatory processes in their own states, in other states and in federal regulation as needed.
• Promptly and thoughtfully respond to issues and concerns brought before the Board at any time.
• Diligently strive to educate themselves on the science of psychometrics (test development), to ensure that the National Home Inspector Examination remains credible, valid, reliable and defensible.
• Participate in two in-person meetings each year and in conference call meetings as needed.
• Be available to present information about EBPHI and the NHIE to legislators, regulators, home inspectors and others to enhance acceptance of the examination.

Eligibility criteria

In accordance with EBPHI’s Bylaws and policies, home inspectors who wish to serve on the EBPHI Board must:

1. Have passed the National Home Inspector Examination.
2. Currently be an active, fee-paid home inspector and have been so for the past five years.
3. Not engage in home inspector training, education or publication of training materials during their tenure, nor for a period of six months after leaving the Board. Exceptions may be granted by the Board of Directors.
4. Demonstrate leadership qualities and experience within the home inspection profession.
5. Maintain absolute confidentiality in all matters pertaining to EBPHI.
6. Be available and commit to participate in at least three-fourths of duly called board meetings.
7. Possess education and/or training relevant to the home inspection profession and/or examination development.
8. Be willing to submit to a background check of factual information presented in the Application.
9. Submit a complete Board of Directors Application.

Application available
All interested home inspectors who meet the above criteria are urged to apply. The application form is available for download at www.homeinspectionexam.org; by email to info@homeinspectionexam.org; or by fax at 847-705-3814.

Homeowners, Renters and Businesses Are Urged To Prepare Before Hurricane Season Hits

The six-month Atlantic Hurricane Season began June 1, and  the U.S. Small Business Administration is urging homeowners, renters and businesses to take steps to protect their lives and property before the storms hit.

Information about hurricane forecasts and tracking, as well as safety tips to use once a hurricane is forecast is available on the Web site at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov. Making sure your home or business property is less vulnerable by identifying possible hazards, developing a plan that includes establishing escape routes and keeping emergency phone numbers handy, keeping copies of important business and personal records off-site as well as having appropriate insurance coverage are critical disaster preparedness strategies suggested by the SBA.

More preparedness tips for businesses, homeowners and renters are available on the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/prepared/getready.html.

The Institute for Business and Home Safety (www.disastersafety.org) also has information on protecting your home or business. The federal government’s preparedness Web site, www.ready.gov, is another helpful resource.

In the aftermath of last summer’s hurricanes that caused billions of dollars in losses in Florida and 12 other states, the SBA approved more than $2 billion in disaster loans to about 63,000 residents and businesses. Many property owners experienced damage from flooding caused by storm surges. Those losses were not
covered by most insurance policies.

“While the SBA is always ready to help homeowners and entrepreneurs rebuild after a disaster,” said SBA administrator Hector V. Barreto, “millions in taxpayer dollars can be saved when flood losses are covered by insurance.”

Nearly 20,000 communities across the United States and its territories participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. Managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters and businesses in those communities.

Purchasing appropriate insurance coverage is a good way to finance recovery from hurricanes. It’s also a good idea to buy flood insurance as soon as possible, since it normally takes 30 days for the policy to go into effect.

The SBA makes low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and non-farm businesses of all sizes following a disaster declaration by the president. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged real estate. Individuals may borrow up to $40,000 to cover losses to personal property.

Non-farm businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may apply for up to $1.5 million to repair or replace disaster damaged business assets and real property. Small businesses that suffered economic losses as a direct result of the declared disaster may apply for a working capital loan of up to $1.5 million, even if the property was not physically damaged.

To learn more about the SBA’s disaster assistance program and links to additional disaster preparedness tips, visit the Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster.