Spreading Knowledge

June 19, 2024

Bob Guyer’s commitment to ASHI runs deep. “Bob strives to make connections and bring together like-minded organizations and people to achieve common goals,” said ASHI Executive Director James Thomas.

Those close to him say Guyer was instrumental in helping to bring the International Code Council (ICC) and ASHI together to form an MOU. He also worked at building a relationship between CSIA and ASHI that led to an MOU. “Bob is recognized by so many different organizations as an expert because of his approach to collaboration and his genuine appreciation for home inspection. Bob has accomplished a lot in many fields but always carries a spirit of humility wherever he goes. ASHI is a better place because of him,” Thomas said.

   

       
   

   

        Besides being an ICC-certified Combination Inspector, Guyer also taught Building Code & Property Inspection in the Construction Technology Department at Ventura College, California for 10 years. The program was initially developed with the cooperation of the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and the International Code Council (ICC).
   

Guyer was recently recognized for his commitment to the organization when he received ASHI’s 2023 President’s Award. Established in 1989, the President’s Award is presented annually to an ASHI member by the outgoing ASHI President in recognition of outstanding service to
the association.

“It was my honor to award the President’s Award to Bob Guyer,” said Lisa Alajajian Giroux, ASHI 2023 Past President. “His constant dedication as a volunteer is an inspiration to others. Bob has been instrumental in helping the leadership solidify agreements with like-minded associations to bring ancillary services to our membership. With deepest gratitude for his commitment to serve, I thank him
on behalf of ASHI and the people we serve.”

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Knowing Bob Guyer

While Guyer has spent the majority of his inspection life based in Southern California, he relocated to the Boise, Idaho area in 2019, where he now runs Boise Inspection Services in Eagle, Idaho.

He’s almost always been in the trades—quite literally since he was a kid learning construction with his family. “We built homes and light commercial projects in the Southern California area as far up as the Silicon Valley area. We had about 350 carpenters who worked for us,” he said. He also spent time as
an agent in the real estate industry, so you could say he knows just about every aspect of homes.

   

Bob has accomplished a lot in many fields but always carries a spirit of humility wherever he goes. ASHI is a better place because of him.
JAMES THOMAS, ASHI  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Guyer joined the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREAI) in 1996 and, shortly thereafter,
he joined ASHI as well. “I had met some folks who were educators for both, and I was impressed with both,” he said. He figured, if people coming from other parts of the country to California knew and trusted ASHI, he should get involved, too. Eventually he helped to form a combined CREIA-ASHI chapter.

Knowing so many people across the industry in different realms, Guyer was a natural fit for this type of work—and an asset in making and sharing connections. He developed seminars and worked with presenters across California, and he attended InspectionWorlds to continue to nurture and grow his working relationships.

It wasn’t long after Guyer started a couple of classes in code that he was sharing his knowledge in the classroom, too. And so began his teaching career.

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Knowledge is Power

“I’ve always told inspectors teaching over the years, you can’t know everything, but you can find out,” Guyer said. If something looks wrong and you aren’t sure why, he recommends inspectors be honest. “Tell them you want to find
out a little bit more about this because something doesn’t look right here. I’ve never had anyone say,
‘Oh, no, don’t look into that.’” Knowledge is power, and most people will want to know more. “In today’s world where you can get information so quickly, there isn’t anything you can’t research in a very short order.”

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Most people want all of the information that’s available—especially when making a big purchase. “That’s always been the case for the 25-plus years I’ve been in both organizations,” he said. “Our most important lot in life is preserving that neutral third-party consultancy on behalf of the consumer, so they’re getting the information they’re entitled to, and they have somebody who, if they have follow-up questions, they can call.”

Guyer said it’s the home inspector’s job to share the information, and the client can act upon it if or as they see fit. “We are there because we’re trying to give them all the information they need so they can make a knowledgeable decision.”

In addition to inspecting homes, commercial and multifamily properties, and even construction sites for banks, Guyer continues to teach, and he organizes about a half-dozen seminars each year. Staying busy may also mean staying alive in this business, especially in this market. Guyer is certified to perform up through four-story construction inspections.

“This is a very deep industry. There are a lot of things inspectors can do. Right now with the downturn in the real estate market, it’s important to advertise your ability to do pre-listing inspections, too. Because if the listing agents are going to do the bulk of the business in the near future, it would be wise for you to develop a product and advertise it—that you can do pre-listing and listing inspections for your principal or seller or home owner until they put that property on the market.”

Whether in construction or real estate or home inspection, Guyer will always emphasize the importance of continuing education. “If you have the ability to go to seminars or conferences or chapter meetings where the people attending those meetings have been doing this awhile, there is so much you can learn from those who have been before you. If you get the chance to learn from your peers, don’t pass it up.” He said ridealongs with seasoned home inspectors are one of most valuable tools a new inspector can take advantage of, too.

At the end of the day, aside from the connections he makes, Guyer said he’ll always love exploring the inner workings of a home. In Idaho he’s had the chance to inspect many old houses. “In one area downtown, some homes were built in the early 1900s and late 1800s. Heating and hot water service there works off of underground water springs. They’re geothermal,” he said. “Now that is fun.”


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