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Commercial inspections can cost more because they often involve large, complex commercial properties such as factories or industrial buildings. One thing that tends to overwhelm new home inspectors is the sheer amount of paperwork required to get the job done. It’s easy to focus on the hands-on part of the job — after all, inspecting everything from roof rafters to foundations is why you got in the business!
When you streamline the report writing process, you’ll have more time to conduct inspections, growing your business at a good clip. Home inspection training ranges in cost from $1,000 to $3,500 depending on the level of expertise you desire. Before making the investment, a wise person would explore this industry further.
What’s the difference between licensed and certified home inspectors?
In the end, how long it takes to become a licensed home inspector is largely up to you. Both of these groups have their own courses, exams, and requirements to remain a member in good standing. As long as people are buying homes, there will be a demand for home inspectors. Sign up to get the latest HomeGauge news, learning articles, and announcements sent directly to your email inbox. You need your approved paperwork to open this type of account.
And according to data from the American Society of Home Inspectors , 77 percent of all homes are inspected before a purchase. Homebuyers, sellers, homeowners, and commercial building owners all need the services of a good inspector. Home inspectors help people by providing an invaluable service!
Pros and Cons of Being a Home Inspector
Unlike appraisers, home inspectors don’t place values on homes, but rather point out existing defects or potential problem areas. If you want or need to bring in more money, schedule more inspections. Being self-employed involves a certain degree of risk and requires self-discipline and determination to succeed. Your income and success will be directly related to the amount of time and effort you’re willing to invest in your home inspection career. If you would like to oversee the construction of homes instead of inspecting homes, you might want to look into being a construction manager.
A home inspector is more than someone that has some construction knowledge or experience. Home inspection is a business and to be successful, it must be operated as such. A home inspector must have specific skills and be willing to plan. This starts wtih writing a solid home inspection business plan that will provide a path to follow. A home inspection career doesn’t necessarily need to be a full-time job.
There Can Be a Lot of Competition in Your Home Inspection Market
A home inspector’s task is to represent the voice of the house. A good inspection report will tell a person precisely the condition of the house at the time of writing. A well-written report will direct an owner, buyer, or seller to any action that is required to bring a house up to good condition relevant to its age. Even the most in-depth certification course will take mere weeks to months to complete. Once you have your certifications, software, and devices to work on, you are free to begin taking on clients and building your reputation as an inspector.
Since the average home inspection brings in hundreds of dollars for a few hours of work, part-time home inspectors can earn a substantial wage even when doing inspections as a side hustle. Of course, you’ll still need to market yourself and network enough to land jobs, but overall, part-time inspecting is very doable. To really put paperwork on a fast track, you’ll need to use fantastic home inspection software like that which is offered by HomeGauge. This will allow you to take notes on the spot and turn them into thorough, easy-to-read reports in less time. You’ll also be able to insert videos and photos with labels to document all that you’ve found onsite.
If you don’t have all of these skills, it will be difficult for you to succeed in this career. In order to be successful as a home inspector, you need to have a range of skills. Another downside of being a home inspector is that the work can be time-consuming. While this can be advantageous in some ways, it also means you have a lot more work to do in order to keep your business running smoothly. This means you are not technically employed by anyone and, as such, you are responsible for your own taxes, insurance, and other business expenses.
These requirements usually include specific coursework and a designated exam, potentially along with other requirements like an application or registration fees. The good news is that the more reports you write, the easier the writing gets. Still, if you haven’t spent time typing up a report since your school days, getting back in the habit can be tricky. Additionally – while all home inspections are similar in what they cover – your state and locale might have slightly differing inspection standards based on, for example, the regional climate. As a case in point, if you’re inspecting a home in low-lying south Louisiana, spot-checking for water damage or mold growth is part of standard inspection. Home inspection is a growing field with many opportunities for inspectors.
New home inspectors need to go through training – even if your state doesn’t require it. I would also highly recommend doing field training with an instructor. The opportunity to practice real home inspections, report writing, and client communication at real homes, alongside an instructor, is invaluable. It will lay a strong foundation for the home inspection process and better prepare you to start out on your own when you’re ready. I usually set up my digital inspection reports the night before an inspection.
Though this can vary depending on how densely populated your region is, most new home inspectors cast a wide net to attract as many new clients as possible. While that can be great for your bottom line, it can be hard on your truck — and your own rear end. Here’s what you can expect as you embrace the life of a professional home inspector. After passing the FHIE, you must also obtain a commercial general liability insurance policy in the amount of $300,000.
In order to do a thorough job, you often have to spend a lot of time on each inspection. This can be frustrating if you are trying to juggle multiple jobs at once. Since it is a popular career choice, there are many people who have the same skills and qualifications as you.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the career outlook, licensure requirements, and process of becoming a successful home inspector. But while you have lots of flexibility, you’ll still need to cater to your customers’ needs — and, often, the expectations of local real estate agents. If you’re not used to being your own boss, mastering scheduling can be tricky. An online scheduler, which comes with a HomeGauge subscription, will make a huge difference, allowing you to block out the times you do and don’t want to conduct inspections.
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