Interested in becoming a Home Inspector?
 

Read our list of the top 10 reasons to join the chapter here!

So you're thinking about getting into the business of Home Inspections.  Although it is an interesting and challenging profession, there are quite a few misconceptions about it.  

First, there is no other profession or line of work that would fully prepare you to become a home inspector.  Although construction related fields require an understanding of how homes are built, they almost never deal with the extended use and age related deterioration of components that the home inspector encounters daily.  You will need extensive detailed knowledge in many areas such as electrical systems, plumbing systems, heating and cooling systems and roofing.  You will also require knowledge of components that are obsolete yet still in service.  

Although the business may look easy, it is not.  You will find it to be extremely demanding both physically and emotionally.  When you are crawling through a 130 degree attic or a damp, insect & critter infested underhouse crawl space, you will ask yourself just why you ever wanted to get into the business.  You will also find yourself immersed in a transaction that has extremely important financial and emotional implications for all of the involved parties.  Since you will often be the bearer of bad news, you will be called a liar and unjustly accused of all sorts of misdeeds.  Problems, both real and imaginary, are the nature of this business.  Your inspection and report will have created problems and as a result you will find that your job is not done when you deliver the report.  You can expect to receive and make many phone calls regarding this inspection and spend countless hours answering questions and explaining the report.

The basics of getting into any business is getting the experience and education and having the financial depth to start a business.  Please consider the following:

1.  Getting educated - There are several training schools and courses available which will help. 

2.  Getting Experience - Although most inspection companies in your proposed marketing area are unlikely to want to train you to compete with them, most ASHI members in other areas may be willing to take you along on a few inspections.  Another approach is joining an inspection company as a trainee.  Obviously, only multi-inspector firms would do this.  You need to make some phone calls to find out who they are.  A list of SunCoast chapter members can be found here.  Check the yellow pages for others.

3.  Getting Credentials - The best credential in the home inspection profession is membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors.  ASHI Certified Inspectors are widely recognized as the best.  The road to membership involves experience and testing.  Anyone interested in the business should become an associate as early as possible.   The American Society of Home Inspectors website has excellent information about becoming a Home Inspector.  It discusses background necessary, education, what is involved, liability issues, etc.  Click here to go to the ASHI page on becoming a Home Inspector. 

4.  Getting Started - Before even attempting to start a business of any kind, you need to have the financial depth to get it off the ground.  According to the Small Business Administration, 65% of new small businesses fail in their first year.  Most of them were under capitalized.  As a minimum you will need a reliable vehicle, a computer and $25,000 in working capital.  This is a conservative figure and could be a lot higher depending on your market area and your ability to sell your product.  Don't think for a minute that revenue in a service business is all profit.  If you do, you will become an SBA statistic.  We see a very high percentage of failures in this marketplace every year by inspector "wannabees" who ignore this advice.

5.  Liability - Home Inspection is a very risky business.  To survive, you will need to be very good and very careful.  Sharing ideas and experience in the business helps, but you must know what you are doing and consistently do it well.  Errors and Omissions Insurance coverage is available at a high cost.  National statistics show that you can expect to be sued one out of every 800 inspections.  Even though you are not at fault, your legal costs will run into thousands of dollars just to defend yourself.

In closing, if you decide to proceed, please consider membership in an ASHI Chapter.  The local camaraderie and exchange of ideas can be extremely valuable in keeping your business going.  Click here for information about the local chapter.