Pestworld Magazine Focusing on the Business of Pest Management
In November, more than 18,000 real estate professionals came together in Orlando, FL for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Conference and Expo. NPMA’s Director of Certification, Allie Allen, was there to learn how our industries can synergize. Popular topics include WDI inspections, referrals, and the role that pest control plays in a green home.
Inspections Are Essential, But Rules Vary
Checking a home for wood-destroying insects is already an essential part of the process of many home sales. Realtors are familiar with the NPMA-33 and the HUD-NPMA-99 A & B forms, but the qualifications of who completes the forms and what the report consists of can vary. Allen spoke to Realtors who were surprised to learn that, in some states, the person completing the WDI report does not have to be licensed or work for a pest management company. “NPMA sees great value in working with NAR to disseminate educational information to members of both associations on wood-destroying insect (WDI) inspections,” says Andrew Bray, NPMA’s director of public policy.
In addition to education, policy change may bring clarity to the WDI inspections. “The Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) and the NAR were influential in getting the industry standards regarding home inspectors regulated equally and fairly. We support that measure from a local chapter basis as well. We feel that it would be mutually beneficial to promote regulating and setting forth common industry standards with respect to pest inspections as well,” says Maura Sullivan, Realtor and president-elect of the NOVA Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors. The NOVA WCR has invited Allen to present as a strategic partner at one of their 2017 monthly meetings.
