If Your Thinking About Becoming A Home Inspector....

[Chuck Forman, CPI]

David,
I wish I could wave a magic wand and make things better for all of us, but truth is it is tough out there these days. I just started my inspection business 2 months ago, and have only had a few inspections so far. I have been in the residential construction business for over 30 years, and started to do this several years ago while still living in Texas, but was still paying child support and trying to stay ahead of the ex so I had to keep doing what I was doing. My wife and I moved to Colorado less than a year ago. I moved here opening a division of a construction company out of San Antonio, and then they decided that they didn't want to be here. I finally told my wife that it was time for me to do what I love and be happy. She agrees, and knows that it will be hard, but I have dedicated myself to this so failure is not an option. I spent way to many years doing things that I didn't want to do just to keep others happy. I market myself continuously in every way I can think of. I have performed inspections for many years, just not for myself. Now I am in it for the long haul so I will keep on keeping on. If it is truly something you want to do, and you have experience in this area, then keep working at it. It will get better.

[Steven J. Wessler]

James, Your inner meanness is showing. Active Rain is used by alot of the inspectors on this board. Its done more for me in marketing than anything else.
And James, I'm still new, in my second year and have work hard with you to rid our industry here in missouri of the state license proposal. Also there is nothing easy about becoming a GOOD and INFORMED Inspector. Have a Beer. Please!

[Gary Farnsworth]

Agents are going into houses, running faucets, checking switches, turning on heat and A/C, opening doors and windows, all for prospective clients, so they can save $400 or so. Homes are being sold as is anyway, so why get an inspection? Some lenders are bring in their own "home evaluators" from out of state, and appraisers are telling lenders about home defects. Contractors of all types are doing "checks" for free. Roofers are checking roofs, foundation repairmen are doing free foundation inspections.

All in the name of licensing.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by swessler

James, Your inner meanness is showing. Active Rain is used by alot of the inspectors on this board. Its done more for me in marketing than anything else.
And James, I'm still new, in my second year and have work hard with you to rid our industry here in missouri of the state license proposal. Also there is nothing easy about becoming a GOOD and INFORMED Inspector. Have a Beer. Please!

Steve....I publish a blog at Active Rain, too. It is heavily Googled and helps me a lot with internet presence. I was referring to just one inspector, Russel Ray.

There are people who honestly believe that the number of closes they attended as a realtor have prepared them to be home inspectors, and have posted this on the message board. I know that you would agree that such folks are not prepared to be home inspectors.

And as far as "meanness"...IMO, the meanest thing we can do is hide the facts from our own members.

Hiding these facts and lying to people with hokey and "positive" thoughts does them more harm than good.

IMO, at the earliest point in which a person recognizes that this is not the career for them....this is when they need to leave. Why waste another year or two at being unsuccessful and enduring a low income? Why waste more money on tools and training? why throw away more money on advertising? Vendors won't tell you this....because they count on your dollars....but your fellow inspector should be a source for real information, not hyperbole and "feel good" talk.

I know with your skills and, more than that --- your courage and lack of fear in putting your name on what you believe and what you stand for ---- you will be a respected inspector known for his integrity as well as his skill.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

You are coming along pretty good on your site, Steve. Keep up the good work, and you can raise your prices on mold testing. I have been getting $125 per sample when I am called down in your area without any arguements so far.
I was just in Camdenton last week. It was a repo that a mold remediation company charged the bank $19,000 to remove the mold. They just tore out some drywall out and sprayed a lot of bleach. Sad but true.

[James A. Levy]

Originally Posted by belliott

David ,it runs in cycles.

keep your goals focused on the future rather than the now.

Holy SH!T Bob! we agree on something.

[Brian K. Smith]

Originally Posted by gfarnsworth

Agents are going into houses, running faucets, checking switches, turning on heat and A/C, opening doors and windows, all for prospective clients, so they can save $400 or so. Homes are being sold as is anyway, so why get an inspection? Some lenders are bring in their own "home evaluators" from out of state, and appraisers are telling lenders about home defects. Contractors of all types are doing "checks" for free. Roofers are checking roofs, foundation repairmen are doing free foundation inspections.

All in the name of licensing.

And they will get sued! they are not very smart realtors if they are doing that...there day will come!

[James H. Bushart]

The Kansas used house salesmen realize that they pushed a law that harmed home inspectors for their own gain and are rightfully fearful that many inspectors who catered to them...no longer will.

They are hoping that they can put enough of them out of business and then embrace the newbies coming out of the schools their law provides for...bringing them up on being dependent upon them for work and knowing that they will lose that work if they step out of line.

What is most amusing is that a large number of Kansas inspectors refused to stand up and fight the law in fear that they would lose their referrals. They did anyway...and many are now working in other jobs.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jlevy1

Holy SH!T Bob! we agree on something.

Do not get used to it.
That is only now.

[Jeff Merritt]

And in IL we have the Dept of employment security telling unemployed people to get HI their license. and you can make a good living, the people I get calls from do not know the first thing about a home. it's incredible.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jmerritt1

And in IL we have the Dept of employment security telling unemployed people to get HI their license. and you can make a good living, the people I get calls from do not know the first thing about a home. it's incredible.

True ,they are selling it like it can be learned totally in a book.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jmerritt1

And in IL we have the Dept of employment security telling unemployed people to get HI their license. and you can make a good living, the people I get calls from do not know the first thing about a home. it's incredible.

Exactly.

And the schools are set up to encourage them...for a tuition...and turn them loose on the market.

Considering the fact that this thread is in the public domain and being Googled, I hope that it helps a lot of people who are being misled into believing the fairy tales about what we do and who does it.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Exactly.

And the schools are set up to encourage them...for a tuition...and turn them loose on the market.

Considering the fact that this thread is in the public domain and being Googled, I hope that it helps a lot of people who are being misled into believing the fairy tales about what we do and who does it.

With today's RE market you would be crazy.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

H-e-l-l, in the better times, only 1 in 10 might make it as an HI!!!

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by dselman

Just frustrated today I guess.

David, I understand your frustration. I'd encourage you to beef up your website. Enhance it. Read the SEO threads and make sure it shows up well in search engines. Add some content such as sample reports. What cities/counties do you serve??? Add that so that is shows up in search engines. (I doubt most people search for "home inspectors in north texas".) Do what you can to get some reviews on Angie's List, if you have that out there. Perhaps give Realtors a 1st time discount and see if you get repeat business from them. Promote letting them pay at closing (and charge $50 extra). It is slow, but keep on plugging.

And get your wife to clip coupons (mine does and she's saving 50% on our grocery bill. Every little bit helps. )