fiberglass fuel tanks/ethanol

starcrafttom · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:51 pm Post subject:

Question about boat surveyor'. Do you have to have a license to be one? Here in Washington home inspectors did not have to have a license to inspect homes until last month. In fact there was not one to get. You could get a bond and get insurance to cover your work, and those are the people I used, but you did not have to get a license. In California you had to have one. Quick tip, even if they have a license number on their card or truck, call and verify it with your state.
So what states license surveyors and which don’t??

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject:

No license I am aware of. Two trade associations, schooling available, but no license.

And I don't think having one would make any difference. There are good surveyors out there, and not-so-good, and really slap-dash horrendous ones.

At the end of the day, a survey is just an opinion. And opinions can be wrong. The best you hope for is an educated opinion, hopefully by someone who knows his way around boats- and knows the difference between plastic and fiberglass tanks...

Doryman · Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 2:54 pm Post subject:

Moving to WA, we relied on our incompetent real estate agent (we should have had the guts to fire him) to find a home inspector. That was our second mistake. Xmas Naughty

Warren

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:22 pm Post subject:

I think your right about usefulness of a state issued license. Up until now the home inspectors did not need one. This is why I always tell clients to look for some one that is bonded (keeps out the know felons and dead beats) and has insurance ( keeps out the untrained and those who have been repeatedly sued ) Does boat surveyors regularly get bonded and have insurance?

Washington State requires that a real-estate agent tell you that you can pick your own inspector or do the inspection yourself. Now like most agent I have a few that I like to use. I like to use one guy for the simple fact that he finds everything. Fred is really good and quite through. I do not do many listings so most of my transactions are for buyer. If you are looking for a home you should always use your own agent and not the listing agent of the seller. Yes you can save a little money by asking the listing agent to give up half the listing commission but it is not worth it as you will have no representation. Yes they will draw up the offer for you but by law they are the sellers agent and own fiduciary duties to the seller first. Always best to have your own counsel.
I have had buyer use their own inspectors and some are good some are just lazy. Buyer beware.