Considering making a living in the HI industry.

[Nick Gromicko]

Chad writes:

That brings up another question. How do most of you have your business set up? Sole proprietor or L.L.C.?

Good question. www.nachi.org/inc.htm might help.

[Richard W. Washington]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Out of my HI class in 2003, only 3 of us out of 21 are Home Inspectors.

My HI class of 2003 has about 4 out of 25 still in the bus. Marketing, marketing, and more marketing. If you're not understanding that then it does not matter how much knowledge you have or how good you do an inspection. 70% of this bus is marketing.

You must have literally live and breath hi to make it.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by Chad Monsen

This is all really good info. Is the program offered by Allied a good place to start? BHHI and logo is just for the avatar on this site. Full name is Black Hawk Home Inspections. I will not be using the acronym anywhere else.That brings up another question. How do most of you have your business set up? Sole proprietor or L.L.C.? Thanks in advance. This site has been great in helping me to take this step.

LLC as a sole proprieter. Nicks guys, LLC advice is not current, at least not for AZ.

[Russel Ray]

Any time is a good time to start if one understands how to market one's services, is not afraid to market one's services, and, if marketing is not one's forté, is prepared to hire people to help one market one's services.

[David K. Lee]

Get all of the education that you can. Then take the Nachi Exam and the National Home Inspection Exam. Allied is a good place to start. If your state has licensing check to see what schooling is required. Some states do not accept online training. Good Luck

www.leehomeinspections.com

[Nick Gromicko]

www.nachi.org/education.htm

and

www.nachi.org/success.htm

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by gromicko

www.nachi.org/education.htm

and

www.nachi.org/success.htm

One...Two...Punch...

[Scott Gilligan, CMI]

Originally Posted by Adam Veitenheimer

I think Allied is a good course study to use, just became a certified home inspector today as a matter of fact with the course. It has a few flaws but nothing major, there onsite dvd needs alot of work, and the pocket PC ins't worth it. But all in all it covers everything you need to concern yourself with in this industry as far as a basic home inspection, so if you have any other questions specific to Allied let me know, no problem on giving you the heads up...


Adam T. Veitenheimer
A NEW HOME INSPECTOR

Wow...You mean to tell me I could have gotten all my education I would need to do a basic home inspection from a DVD? I sure went about things the wrong way!



You shouldn't have any problems passing the entrance exam for InterNACHI now.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by Chad Monsen

BHHI is an acronym for the proposed name of my HI business. This is all good info. The state of Utah does not currently require licensing. I feel that this is in my favor right now. Do you all agree?

Actually, licensing would be of benefit to you. The state would lay out the basic minimum criteria to be a home inspector, you would acquire these minimum basic qualifiers, and then suddenly leap to being state approved and as skilled/competent as all of your more experienced competitors.

Without licensing, you have the difficult task of convincing the consumer that you are worthy of hire without the aid of the state. You will find that it is a lot easier to fool a legislator.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

So True

[Nick Gromicko]

Licensing helps all the newbies as it dilutes existing inspector's earned market share.

[David A. Andersen]

I have trouble conceptualizing that a home inspector that must meet a state licensing requirement is getting a big boost up in the marketshare department as he is perceived by the general public as being competent.

I started when there was no licensing requirement. I was successful because of my clients perception when they called me to inquire on an inspection and because after the inspection they were impressed with the work that was performed and began referring me.

I guess you are saying that the client is forced to search around for a competent home inspector when an unlicensed state allows anyone to hang up their single (and this is a known fact to the client).

The reason I'm having trouble with this conception is that even when a doctor is licensed and has a degree, we still look for his competency. Just because someone gave him a degree and he holds a license does not mean he is equal to all other doctors out there. It does however identify a doctor practicing without a license!

Licensing does set a minimum standard, no matter how bogus it may be. Does this "lower the bar"? I don't think so. Established home inspectors who are exceeding the minimum requirement are going to continue to exceed that requirement is a marketing strategy. I will assure you that I did not look upon the reduced standard as an easy way out.

As a matter of fact, I use the states minimum standard as a positive thing for a comparison when a client comes a calling, price shopping. When I price a $400 inspection against a $295.95 inspector, I advise the client that all inspectors must meet the minimum requirement of the state and I can do that for $295.95 but I have found that most of my clients require more information on the home they are purchasing. I then elaborate. I get the job. If I don't, I didn't want that client anyway!

I think this perception comes from established home inspectors that are just pissed off because there is no way to separate the men from the boys so to speak.

I also have not been following, nor do I understand why the great influx of the number of home inspectors in a state that becomes licensed. To start with, there is no way of knowing how many home inspectors were practicing in a state that's not licensed other than the telephone book. I am not and never have been in the telephone book so I'm one of those numbers that have been overlooked. When I got my license I became a known factor.

General contractors who were the only legally authorized new construction inspectors in Tennessee are listed as General contractors, not inspectors. State licensing threw out all General contractors as inspectors unless they became home inspectors. So if we did have a good list of previous home inspectors, how can we determine the the actual number of home inspectors when we don't know the number of General contractors that were doing home inspections as they are not listed as such?
Statistical data can be incorrect.

I guess I'm missing something here. I will be enlightened!

ps I do not endorse State Licencing when they start dictating crap like TX, LA, MA, NY, NH etc.
These are cases where special interest groups are getting their fingers in the pudding. The State of Tennessee utilized an older version of a home inspector associations SOP. Until they start messing with the recipe, I'm perfectly satisfied as it is home inspector based.
There is a big difference in licensing.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Licensing helps all the newbies as it dilutes existing inspector's earned market share.

Only if the existing inspector doesn't understand marketing (which means persistent and consistent marketing and not sitting on one's past laurels) and the newbie does.

[Adam Veitenheimer]

Originally Posted by sgilligan1

Wow...You mean to tell me I could have gotten all my education I would need to do a basic home inspection from a DVD? I sure went about things the wrong way!



You shouldn't have any problems passing the entrance exam for InterNACHI now.

I figured you'd quote me. No in fact I was meaning to say that the DVD was the worst part of the course, as we had previously talked about that at the meeting. The actual study information I personally think was very extensive, but with the fact that I have only taken this one course I would have no idea if it's any different from any other course. Currently waiting for my certification paperwork from the school, then I'm off to start my membership here, and get the rest of that testing done. What's goin on with next months meeting?

[Nick Gromicko]

David writes:

I also have not been following, nor do I understand why the great influx of the number of home inspectors in a state that becomes licensed. To start with, there is no way of knowing how many home inspectors were practicing in a state that's not licensed other than the telephone book.

What we can quantify, is the number of home inspection schools that pop up shortly after licensing is adopted. These schools, of course, pump out competitors, each waving the exact same state-issued credential (no better or worse) that you have.

Anyway, here's a $4 course we just released: http://www.nachi.org/notchesholescutsppv.htm