The great association debate: ASHI versus InterNACHI - one, the other, or both?

Purely from a numbers perspective ASHI and InterNACHI rule the landscape in the U.S.

Which is your fave and why? My thoughts to come

Honestly I like NACHI better. Reason, its easier to search their forum when I need a quick question answered or information. I also believe their training is better. For some reason ASHI, not their members, but the people running it. Seem a little snobbish to me.

They both definitely have their strengths. But I belong to both. Simply, it's great marketing. I utilize both associations
For education and information, but most clients have no clue what they even mean, they just know to ask, "do you belong?"
When I mention both, they are simultaneously satisfied and impressed.

All said and done, InterNachi is a much easier online presence.

In Texas, I pay the $360 to INachi, and that covers the State (Nachi affiliated) assoc dues as well (no local chapt.) With ASHI, I believe you pay separate local, state and national dues.

Here's four Pros in the ASHI column:

1. National Conference- a big one. InterNACHI doesn't have one, which is a shame because there's nothing that can replace the value of meeting with other inspectors from all around the country face to face.

2. Longevity - ASHI has a longer history including during a lack of licensing almost everywhere. Enough guys wore and wear that ASHI logo big and proud that some markets have adopted ASHI almost as a requirement (ie St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other ASHI strongholds). Doesn't separate you like a USP but it is almost a basic requirement in some areas.

3. Strong Chapters - that face to face time and live CE is available in more areas via ASHI chapters than InterNACHI outside of Chicago and Denver.

4. Leadership - InterNACHI members lost over $250,000 in benefits this year because of their one or two person decision making process, which has been great for marketing and growth but all too often doesn't benefit the existing membership. ASHI has a large board, which can be slow to take action and have some characters on it at times, but the board overall is great and always has the membership in mind.

By the way, my strong recommendation is to belong to both plus NAHI and a strong State Organization if you have one. If you're in Canada, join CAHPI in lieu of ASHI and NAHI and apply the same principles of belonging to everything the other guy does and then some.

It only makes sense at the ridiculously low prices these Associations charge for membership to see everything your competition does.

My preference is InterNACHI. If I only had to choose one organization to be a member of, it would be InterNACHI (although I belong to many). IMHO, InterNACHI does far more for it's membership in marketing programs and assistance, and has very good education. I always get a quick and professional response from Nick and Ben if I have any questions, ideas, or issues. Whereas, ASHI often does not return my messages or does not really answer my concern or question. I feel Nick and Ben are constantly looking for new ways to benefit the membership and are constantly rolling out new programs, classes, marketing ideas, etc. I do agree with a previous post that most clients do not know what ASHI, InterNACHI, NAHI, FABI, etc. even mean. Geographically, some Realtors do know what the organizations are, but I have yet to encounter a Realtor that demands membership in one organization over another. I'm sure this does happen to HI's, especially based on where they are located, however, it has been a non issue for me. Again, IMHO, I feel there is an enormous benefit to being a member of InterNACHI.

I listed four huge benefits to ASHI membership above, I'll do the same for InterNACHI:

1. Huge web visibility - they get a lot of traffic, which results in some business for their members through a directory feature they call "InspectorSeek". It's not millions as they claim, but more likely 10's of thousands of actual inspections booked- but even at the real number they're crushing everyone but InspectionCentral.net which holds its own (but we have to do paid ads to get our numbers).

2. Quick - by the time an issue arises, it has already been addressed. Nick has on paper moved out of the leadership role, but make no mistake about it: like him or not, Nick (and only Nick) runs that place and things get done because of it.

3. Deals - the InterNACHI benefits page is about 80% fluff but 20% freaking awesome. They've mastered the art of group negotiation in the inspection association business. As a vendor I can tell you in absolute honesty that Nick's approach is "give my members whatever you can" and he takes nothing (will not accept payment, I've tried).

4. Immediately on the list - with ASHI (and most others) you have to go through a process to be a "Certified" member and it isn't until after you achieve that status that you're listed on websites, etc. For the new member, this is a benefit over other associations and it eliminated the "hierarchy dilemma" until CMI was created at least.

Again, my suggestion is to join ASHI if you're an InterNACHI member, and vice versa, and join NAHI as well (CAHPI in Canada). Substitute or add in a State Organization if there's a strong one in your area like CREIA, FABI, or NJALPHI.

I can't say enough good things about all of them but I will stand by the following statement;

The largest benefit that can be offered is the face time, and the victor in that category by a landslide is ASHI's InspectionWorld. If you haven't experienced it, go at least once.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 05/12/2015 08:19 PM EDT

Does anyone have a vendor list from last years ASHI event? Interested in how many and who.

scotbaker wrote:Does anyone have a vendor list from last years ASHI event? Interested in how many and who.

Everybody. They'll all be there again- it's the largest event in the industry.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 05/12/2015 10:06 PM EDT

InterNACHI hands down.

I belong to both but only InterNACHI provides real benefits to its members. I think ASHI just sent me stickers.

InterNACHI. What's ashi?

Cameron Anderson wrote:InterNACHI. What's ashi?

It's an amusing post, but it brings up a great point actually.

Now, this is just my perception and it could be off, but I feel like after meeting 10,000+ inspectors over the last 15 years that ASHI members tend to have an incredible loyalty to the brand and the cause. Usually it's healthy, sometimes it borders on the irrational- but it's a rarity in my travels that InterNACHI members have that same mentality- for better or worse, I'm not saying either is good or bad.

Prime example- yesterday there was a press release from ASHI about their certification being the only third party certified by some certification authority. When that came out, it lit up my newsfeed because of how many ASHI members posted the link on Facebook.

I've never seen anything like that from InterNACHI or anyone else.

Thoughts from the group?

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It's Nick. People seem to love or hate him. The other associations don't have as divisive a character at their helm.

Actually, you get similar reactions Nate. I love it though. The more people that reject a company or association because of a single personality, the less competition I have in my market. I think it's stupid to write off the benefits you could gain from any group just because you don't like the swagger of one individual.

Cameron Anderson wrote:It's Nick. People seem to love or hate him. The other associations don't have as divisive a character at their helm.

Actually, you get similar reactions Nate. I love it though. The more people that reject a company or association because of a single personality, the less competition I have in my market. I think it's stupid to write off the benefits you could gain from any group just because you don't like the swagger of one individual.

I appreciate that, Nick is a vendor just like me candidly and he's aiming for you as a client just as I am- if not by membership dues in payments for Certifications and products from his outlet. At the end of the day, Nick and I are the two largest vendors in the industry, and we're equally divisive for sure.

I just spoke at an ASHI chapter here in New York, and I was here two years ago. The exact same guys, the exact same shirts with big ASHI logos on them.

I've spoken at countless InterNACHI events as well. Can't recall a single InterNACHI logo on apparel other than one guy that had this enormous orange jumpsuit with every logo Nick has ever thought up on it. Looked like really awesome prison wear.

Oh, and Jim Van Loosen. He wears it proud.

But he's the exception- are you suggesting Nick's divisive personality keeps the membership from promoting the affiliation like ASHI members have for the last 30+ years?

My theory was that the ASHI logo came first and before licensing in most states.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 05/12/2015 11:49 PM EDT

Nathan wrote:
I've spoken at countless InterNACHI events as well. Can't recall a single InterNACHI logo on apparel other than one guy that had this enormous orange jumpsuit with every logo Nick has ever thought up on it. Looked like really awesome prison wear.

Oh, and Jim Van Loosen. He wears it proud.

But he's the exception- are you suggesting Nick's divisive personality keeps the membership from promoting the affiliation like ASHI members have for the last 30+ years?

My theory was that the ASHI logo came first and before licensing in most states.

No, I think it's no different than a small town festival based on some locally grown fruit. It's an attempt to convince each other and the world that they still matter the way they used to. Wearing the ASHI logo in front of each other accomplishes nothing. When you start looking at websites you see a whole lot more logos from NACHI than you do from ASHI. Nick long ago overwhelmed the single ASHI logo with a library of logos each promoting a specific aspect of the many services a home inspector provides.

I also think that many ASHI members promot it because they want to outdo Nick.