Common Questions for the Homeowners Freedom to Inspect and Review Services Ordinance
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QUESTIONS ABOUT GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY & STAFFING
Q: Why not just hire more inspectors instead of using third-party ones?
A:
- Many towns—especially small and rural ones—cannot recruit or afford additional full-time inspectors.
- Some share a single inspector across multiple jurisdictions, causing unavoidable bottlenecks.
- Private-sector experts already exist in abundance and can provide these services on demand at no cost to taxpayers
Q: Will this make building departments obsolete?
A: Not at all.
- The building department still issues permits, maintains oversight, and enforces compliance.
- This ordinance simply relieves workload pressure so departments can focus on complex cases, not routine ones.
QUESTIONS ABOUT ENFORCEABILITY
Q: Won’t this encourage people to use people posing as licensed professionals?
A: This is already happening. This Ordinance will help those getting swindled by criminals posing as engineers and inspectors by keeping a copy of their business license at town hall as well as a list of qualified engineers and professionals in a vetted list at the town hall.
Q: Will some people use this as a way to reduce their costs by using a fake professional?
A: Laws that are not enforceable are not respected. Each town can choose their fine and fee structure to ensure compliance and normally, those fines are more expensive than simply hiring the right professional in the first place.
QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY & CODE COMPLIANCE
Q: Are third-party inspectors really as qualified as government inspectors?
A:Yes and some ICC inspectors can be more specialized in certain areas.
- Licensed engineers, master electricians, and ICC-certified inspectors meet the highest national standards.
- Many already inspect commercial work, industrial work, and insurance claims.
- Their license, insurance, and professional liability create strong accountability.
Q: Could there be conflicts of interest if contractors hire their own inspectors?
A: No.
- All inspectors must be licensed and approved by the jurisdiction to be on the official list.
- Building officials retain full authority to reject reports and conduct supplemental inspections.
- States across the country already use third-party inspectors successfully with no increased safety problems.
QUESTIONS ABOUT COSTS, TAXES & LOCAL REVENUE
Q: Does this ordinance reduce fee revenue for local governments?
A: No.
- The ordinance explicitly protects local ability to collect sales tax, use tax, impact fees, and all other project-related revenues.
- The only fees not charged are duplicative inspection fees when the homeowner already pays a private sector professional.
- For more common questions, visit:
Q: Does this help or hurt municipal budgets?
A: It helps.
- Faster renovations mean faster tax collection.
- Earlier project completion raises property valuations sooner, increasing the general fund.
- Reduced workloads mean fewer overtime costs and less pressure to hire additional staff.
QUESTIONS ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT
Q: How does this policy stimulate the economy?
A: Yes.
- Faster permitting means more projects completed each year.
- More projects mean more local jobs, more materials purchased, and more tax revenue.
- Trades professionals—electricians, engineers, contractors—benefit from predictable timelines and reduced government delays.
Q: How does this help rural towns specifically?
A: Yes.
- Rural areas often share a single inspector across many towns, creating severe delays.
- This ordinance empowers residents in small towns to renovate without waiting weeks or months.
- It gives rural homeowners the same opportunities enjoyed in larger municipalities.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS POLICY NOW
Q: Why act now?
A: High home prices and high interest rates have made moving nearly impossible for many families.
- Renovation is now the only path to adding space, caring for elderly relatives, or lowering energy bills.
- Government delays should not stand in the way of basic family care or household affordability.
Q: Is this really an issue in smaller towns like Gilcrest?
A: Absolutely.
- Gilcrest shares one building official with dozens of municipalities.
- He cannot possibly process inspections fast enough to meet the needs of residents.
- This ordinance gives homeowners real certainty and real timelines.
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT COST SAVINGS
Q: How does this policy help local governments save money?
A: Yes, and make money.
- Local governments spend heavily on personnel costs—salaries, overtime, benefits, vehicles, and training for inspectors.
- By allowing qualified third-party inspectors to share the workload, towns can reduce overtime hours and avoid hiring additional staff.
- Many small jurisdictions simply cannot afford to expand inspection teams. This ordinance gives them a cost-effective alternative.
Q: Does using third-party inspectors reduce government staffing needs?
A: Not in a way that harms operations—only in a way that increases efficiency.
- It reduces pressure on building departments, particularly those that share an inspector across multiple towns.
- Staff can focus on complex or high-risk projects rather than routine residential inspections.
- The result is a more efficient department at a lower long-term cost.
QUESTIONS ABOUT REVENUE GENERATION & ECONOMIC GROWTH
Q: Will this policy generate more revenue for local jurisdictions?
A:Yes—significantly.
- Faster inspections mean projects are completed sooner, which accelerates use tax, sales tax, and other construction-related revenue.
- Eliminating bottlenecks means more projects can be completed each year—which expands the overall tax base.
- When government is no longer the bottleneck, revenue flows faster and more consistently.
Q: Does removing bottlenecks translate into real dollars?
A: The economics of freedom have already worked in local governments.
- A months-long inspection delay postpones thousands of dollars in tax revenue.
- When a $40,000 or $80,000 renovation moves forward faster, the jurisdiction collects the related taxes immediately instead of waiting.
- Multiply that across hundreds of projects, and the fiscal impact is substantial. Programs like these dramatically improve cash flow for towns.
Q: Does this policy increase property valuations and property tax revenue?
A: Absolutely.
- Most home renovations—basement finishes, room additions, accessibility improvements, energy upgrades—raise a property’s assessed value.
- Higher valuations mean increased annual property tax revenue flowing into the general fund, without raising tax rates.
- When bottlenecks are removed, more homeowners can improve their homes, boosting long-term revenue for cities and counties.
Q: Does any part of this policy reduce or limit local revenue?
A: No.
- The ordinance explicitly states that jurisdictions retain the right to collect every tax and fee they normally collect.
- Local governments lose nothing—and gain both short-term and long-term revenue through faster project completion and higher assessments.
QUESTIONS ABOUT LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Q: How does this policy contribute to long-term fiscal stability?
A:
- Property improvements increase property valuations, which grow the tax base year after year.
- Faster approvals mean greater annual construction volume, which increases consistent revenue through use tax, permit processing fees, and sales tax on materials.
- Employee cost savings help stabilize municipal budgets and reduce pressure to increase taxes or cut services.
Q: Is there evidence that these types of policies increase municipal revenue?
A:Yes.
- Jurisdictions in New Mexico that have adopted third-party inspection options see faster turnaround times, increased renovation volume, and higher assessed valuation growth.
- This translates directly into more revenue for streets, parks, police, and general fund needs.
- It is one of the rare policies that lowers government costs and increases government revenue simultaneously.
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY & THE HOUSING BOTTLENECK
Q: How does this ordinance help with the current housing affordability crisis?
A:
- High housing prices and rising interest rates have locked many families into homes they can’t afford to leave.
- Renovation—not relocation—is the only viable option for many homeowners.
- By speeding up permitting and inspections, this ordinance lets families expand or modify their homes quickly and affordably.
- This helps alleviate the statewide housing bottleneck without requiring massive new development.
Q: Can this policy help multigenerational families living under one roof?
A: Absolutely.
- Many families are renovating to add space for aging parents, adult children returning home, or relatives with disabilities.
- Faster reviews and inspections mean these additions, accessibility upgrades, and remodels can be completed safely and without months of delay.
- This ordinance directly supports family stability and caregiving.
Q: What about homeowners who want to reduce their energy bills?
A:
- Renovations that improve energy efficiency or add backup power systems often require multiple inspections.
- Long delays discourage homeowners from making improvements that lower monthly utility costs.
- This policy removes those delays and lets families reduce energy expenses more quickly.
QUESTIONS ABOUT CAREGIVING & ACCESSIBILITY
Q: How does this policy help caregivers of seniors or disabled children?
A:
- Caregivers often need to renovate for accessibility—ramps, widened hallways, bathroom modifications, lift systems, or additional bedrooms.
- Delayed permits can delay medically necessary modifications.
- Accelerating inspections allows vulnerable individuals to move into safe, accessible home environments much sooner.
Q: Does speeding up inspections compromise safety for elderly or disabled residents?
A: No—safety is actually improved.
- Only licensed professionals—engineers, electricians, ICC-certified inspectors—can participate.
- Building officials keep full authority to perform supplemental inspections if needed.
- Family members in need of safe living arrangements get those modifications completed sooner, not later.
QUESTIONS ABOUT INSURANCE FRAUD
Q: Will this make insurance fraud more prevalent?
A: Currently there are fraudsters plaguing every jurisdiction and Gilcrest is not the exception. We have a family out of their home because an ’environmental consultant’ advised them to rip their home down to the studs, which their insurance did not approve—only the section of home that was actually damaged. Now they are homeless while awaiting other measures. This policy will be paired with an education campaign to make sure residents are aware of our record keeping and licensed inspectors.
