Home Inspectors Come from Far and Wide for 2009 NAHI Conference

Inspectors from around the four corners of the country gathered just outside Chicago for the National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc.’s  2009 National Education Conference, held Sept. 18-19. NAHI Members arrived from as far away as Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Vermont and even Canada to show their support to their industry and NAHI, with final event attendance totaling 234—more than double the anticipated number.

NAHI used a new approach to education this year: “one track,” or offering one session at a time.  The inspectors in attendance appreciated not having to choose between two or more valuable topics offered simultaneously. Friday’s sessions included:

• Write It Up – Describe That Defect, by Tom Feiza, Mr. Fix-It, Inc., New Berlin, Wis.
• Finding Energy & Weatherization Issues of Residential and Industrial Facilities with Thermal Imagers, by John Pratten, Fluke Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Plumbing inspection Tune Up ,by Steve Preins, Quality Education Group, Lombard, Ill.

During breaks and lunches, attendees visited with NAHI’s 18 vendors and collected raffle tickets to be entered into drawings to win prizes donated by exhibitors. Prizes included Code Check Packages, Streamlight Flashlights, VISA giftcards, radon testing equipment and more.

The first day of the Conference concluded with the Annual Meeting and Reception. All attendees enjoyed complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails and an opportunity to network with other inspectors and exhibitors. But the real excitement of the evening centered on the drawing for the Polaris Sportsman 300 ATV, parked in the back of the session room throughout the Conference. All Conference attendees were entered in the drawing to win. As it turned out, the ATV didn’t have too far to go, with the winner hailing from the Chicago area.

The Illinois Chapter of NAHI provided a hospitality suite Friday evening with complimentary snacks and drinks – a wonderful way to unwind after a long day.

Day two offered another jam-packed day of education. Saturday’s sessions included:

• The Inspection Process From A to Z, by Steve Preins, Quality Education Group, Lombard, Ill.
• The Body Language of a House Structure, by Drew Finn, Finn & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., Dalton, Mass.
• Chimney Evaluations-Common Code Violations, by John Pilger, Chief Chimney Services, Smithtown, N.Y.

The 2010 NAHI National Education Conference will be held in Nashville, Tenn.