Bruce McClure RHI - Buy or Run: Im a Real Home Inspector Not a TV Celebrity!

• The authors first major construction project involved building a foundation, picking up an existing building and moving it to the foundation before renovating it.

• In addition to renovations and commercial construction, today he has both designed and been the general contractor for a number of custom homes.

• Since 1998 hes been in the front lines as a practicing home inspector and received his RHI (Registered Home Inspector) designation from OAHI/CAHPI Ont. (Ontario Association of Home Inspectors / Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors Ontario) the following year.

• Since 2003 hes been the coordinator of the Home Inspection Program at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario where he also serves as a facilitator (teacher) for the program.

• In 2010 he became an ACI (ASHI Certified Inspector / member of the American Society of Home Inspectors)

• He is a past board member of the OAHI, (Ontario Association of Home Inspectors) the group that since 1994 has had the directive from the Ontario government to maintain the RHI standard for home inspectors.

• He served as the CAHPI President (The Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors) during the winter of 2001/2)

• To round out his background, in 2008 he took a three-year sabbatical from inspections and acquired his real estate license in order to better understand the other side of the real estate transaction. To avoid conflict of interest he has since given up that license.

• In 2010, having been involved in property management for a number of years, he incorporated a property management company, CondoEase Your Home Canada, Inc.

Its 8 a.m., Im just about to step out of my van as I feel a dark cloud fall over me. Pausing slightly I look up to see a realtor step out of her black Mercedes scowling at me, ready to do battle, ready to protect her sale because the client had picked me, a noted Deal Killer, and not one of her favored Blind Eyed Home Inspectors. And thats how my day all too often starts.

As the subtitle states, Im a real home inspector and not a manufactured TV celebrity or one with made-up credentials behind my name. Im not one that turns a blind eye to issues in order to help a realtor close the deal. In the big picture I see myself as an advocate for the house, while at the same time protecting the best interests of my client. Writing this book is my way of saying that Im fed up with self-serving television sensationalism and with realtors who are more interested in promoting less-than-reputable or unqualified inspectors. Inspectors that daily play down and turn a blind eye to serious issues and defects in order to save the realtors sale and commission. Im fed up with television and realtors trying to run my industry. In this book Im shooting straight from the hip to set the record straight and to expose some of the facts about who is really working for you and who is pretending to work for you while in reality are only looking out for their own personal best interests, at your expense!

Although Im a real home inspector from the front lines of the home inspection industry, Im not here to defend home inspectors. Although Im opinionated (as most inspectors are), my ego doesnt require attention and I dont claim to be a hero. This book is simply based on facts as I know them and personal experience. Whereas were all familiar with the phrase Truth is stranger than fiction, Im often quoted as saying, Just when you think youve seen it all, theres always tomorrow...! You should find that the first few chapters serve as an overview; many of the topics touched on there will be elaborated on in later chapters.

Unlike television celebrities or news broadcasters whos job it is to entertain, I dont have an international stage with script writers or thousands of emails from disenfranchised homebuyers with stories to capitalize on. Instead, Ive actually been trained and practiced as a home inspector for 15 years. Combining this experience with having designed and built custom homes, been a practicing realtor, taught dozens of new inspectors, performed a few thousand real inspections and having been actively involved with our professional associations, I feel that Im qualified to comment on the state of the industry. (see About the Author for details). Although I practice in Ontario, Canada, my professional association involvement keeps me abreast of the national picture in both Canada and the United States. Although we have major geographical differences we are united regarding the majority of our industry problems. Where the USA have been both the industry forerunner and leader, its this little guy from the north whos prepared to stand up and, although politically incorrect, discuss the missing links that others only talk about behind closed doors!

Besides moving a building at age 16, I acquired my introduction to property management and maintenance when my parents decided to purchase an investment property. Dad was always the organizer, Mom was appointed the decorator and I the handyman. Since then I have owned and managed a significant number of different houses, large, small, city and country, as well as vacation properties and office buildings.

From scratch Ive designed and been the general contractor for three custom homes, dug wells, laid septic beds, designed and poured footings and foundations by hand. Most recently I was trained and have personally installed two geothermal heating systems. As a divorce survivor, I understand what its like to start over by purchasing and fixing up a duplex where my downstairs tenants paid the mortgage and I lived upstairs before moving on and holding it as an investment property. Ive worked on commercial projects in malls, government buildings, schools and hospitals.