Dave Stoffer’s 24th year of performing home inspections in Lawrence will begin with a first: registration with the state of Kansas.

The owner of Stoffer Inspections LC recently mailed in his form, proof-of-experience information and $200 check to comply with a law passed in 2008 with provisions set to take effect Jan. 1: All professionals conducting home inspections must be registered with the state, maintain professional conduct, meet minimum education or experience standards, carry liability insurance, and be responsible for liabilities of up to $10,000.

Stoffer, whose insurance already covers him for up to $10,000 in “errors and omissions” and up to $100,000 for liabilities, welcomes the new registry.

“I think it’s going to improve home inspections,” said Stoffer, already a certified member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. “This levels the playing field. The guys that were not doing good inspections will either have to come around and do a good inspection, or get out of the business.”

Then again, Stoffer said, he remains skeptical about the process: “How many times does the government get into something and it runs better? None.”

Dan Bowers, owner of Holmes Inspection Co., has questioned the new system from the beginning. His biggest beef: In a state without a statewide licensing program for contractors, home builders, electricians or anyone else actually putting up a house, why should the folks checking its basic contents — Does the air conditioning work? Does the roof leak? Is the foundation sound? — be held to standards governed by a statewide board?

“Three quarters of the counties in Kansas don’t even have mandatory building codes,” said Bowers, who performs inspections in Lawrence. “This is just utterly out in left field, on one profession.”