How to start a home inspection business?

[Bill Morrison]

Hi guys,

I've been reading the board for a long time and have finally decided to take the plunge and become a home inspector and hang out my shingle. I lost my corporate job last month due to downsizing and have been living on savings. I know the market is horrible, but I figure that there's no better time to get in than right now. If I can make it now during the tough times, I know I'll be able to make a great living during the boom times. I'm basically looking for someone to give me some personalized direction about the best way to start and basically any hard earned advice anyone can offer.

I have almost $35,000 in the bank of which I need to fund my business startup and living expenses for my wife and I. My wife is retired and has a small pension, but that's about it. The job I lost paid about $40k/year. Can I ramp up my business fast enough and not run out of money?

A friend of mine who runs a pretty successful one man inspector business in south Texas who is really too busy to help me directly recommended Ken Compton's Home Inspection Startup Growth program. He told me that it was invaluable to him when he was ramping up his business. I googled it and found audio of a radio interview that the guy did (starting a home inspection business) where he talks a good talk, but before I invested my money I wanted to get a sense here if anyone had anything good or bad to say about what he's offering. He also told me I should join NACHI right away.

If no one's heard of the guy, then any tips or advice would be more than welcome. I've read through the forum and really have learned a lot, but I'm curious to hear people's thoughts based on my actual situation and if anyone has been where I am.

Thanks!

Bill

[tdietrich1]

Where are you located?

[Bill Morrison]

Tempe (AZ)

[tdietrich1]

Good you aren't in my area.

Actually I sent potential clients to my iNACHI buddies, they will vouch for me.

Now to the serious side. If you are collection unemployment or a severance package dished out over time, don't mess it up (you worked for it). Start the business in your spouses name, and volunteer your time towards it.

Get experience. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity type of our that will teach you hands on how a house is built in your area.

Get education. You will find tips in the board.

Get a license. Even if your state doesn't require it, get a license in something you can plug about your skills. Even certs for radon testing can help.

Be back, my daughter needs a nap.

tom

------ Back ------

Get into networking. Tap into the local knowledge base by attending iNACHI chapter meetings.

Plan Yourself. I've told this advice to anyone I know that wanted to change their career. Write a make-believe resume of who you are/skills/experience for the job you want in a year. This case a Home Inspector, then work on filing your resume with reality, by using it as a check list for goals.

We/I can go on and on, but there is enough there to start, and you will be flooded with information soon in this thread and others.

BTW, take my advice with a grain of salt, like others. Not all things work for everything. However mins like education, license(s) and experiences seems to be very common among everyone as a recommendation I've seen in the past. Now experience might mean this will be a 5 year plan for you to work towards.

IMHO,

tom

[dharris]

Originally Posted by Bill Morrison

Tempe (AZ)

Bill.

For AZ state lic. info. check out the BTR site.

You can also get unbiased info from local inspectors , by attending local nachi or ashi seminars.

[Bill Morrison]

Thanks for the good advice.

How long does it take, on average, to get completely up and running? I realize that everyone is different, but there must be some kind of rule of thumb?

[dharris]

Originally Posted by Bill Morrison

Thanks for the good advice.

How long does it take, on average, to get completely up and running? I realize that everyone is different, but there must be some kind of rule of thumb?

By the time you complete the required HI class room and field training, BTR process and review, apx 6 months.

[Bob Elliott]

Bill what is your background.
If your background is corporate ,what in your background is leading you to think this is the right career choice?
I have had my license for three years and only now am trying to make a go full time.
I hope you have a background in building trades or this will turn into an expensive pipe dream.
Very few do more than make a passable living in this trade so I would suggest working on a second source of income while you deside if you love inspecting.
There is a lot more to it than hanging a shingle and collecting checks.

[Bill Morrison]

Thanks, Robert. Don't the courses teach you what you need to know about the building trades? I'm not that handy, but I thought that these were supposed to give the background needed to be successful?

[tdietrich1]

Originally Posted by Bill Morrison

I thought that these were supposed to give the background needed to be successful?

I learned some years ago: I ran an after school home work tutoring group. It was in a building where we were all squatters(the building was abandoned and I quickly learned how to do plumbing/electrical/etc. see background is experienced not taught) and many welfare families. In a short time, I showed how to do homework faster/efficiently based on how the text books were written. Soon I had kids passing with flying colors. One was even accused of cheating on a test. Soon my group was dissolved due to lack of interest by the children, heck they were now passing.

What I learned is, you can teach people to pass exams, but you can't teach ambition, or success.

tom

[dharris]

Originally Posted by Bill Morrison

Thanks, Robert. Don't the courses teach you what you need to know about the building trades? I'm not that handy, but I thought that these were supposed to give the background needed to be successful?

Bill.. In the required min. 80 hr training you will learn very little, when comparing what you need to know.
If you proceed, be sure to look for 4 or 5 AZ inspectors with many yrs of exp, for your required 30 inspections with an AZ lic inspector, with them you will learn a lot more than any training out there.

Unfortunately too many here [ in AZ] look for the cheapest quickest route, opposed to spending a few extra $s and utilizing all the knowledge that you can obtain from seasoned inspectors.

HI boards, including this one, has good info. providing the information is provided by experienced inspectors, or professional trades men, opposed to new inspectors with little field experience, and big egos..
www.inspectionnews.com www.inspectorsjournal.com are also a good source of info.

[Bob Elliott]

Bill the courses are designed to help you pass the tests.
The tests have nothing to do with the real world of the trades.
You seem like you are eanest and I have a hard time grasping the concept of a real person thinking they can jump into this with no prior knowledge in the trades.
The membership here is very helpful, but sometimes are so eager to help a new guy they forget that we also get people from other boards trying to discredit us by coming in here as moles.
I am not saying you ae so let me just say that if you have no background in electrical , plumbing,roofing,carpentry,heating,airconditioning , or any construction related field what so ever, this may be the wrong job for you.
You seem intelligent which makes me wonder if you are real.
Sorry if this is harsh but if you are legitimate then a time of crisis is not a time to fritter money away on an advertising campaign which will land you in court being sued for what ever you have left.
I suggest you get a job in one of the major trades and go from there .

[dharris]

Bill.
A little info about AZ inspections in the summer.
Attics are 130-150 degrees, to do a through attic inspection on a 1500-2000' home it will take apx 30-45 min.
Roofs, tile or shingle are so hot that you will burn your hands and knees when inspecting them, again for 30-45 min.

[Bob Elliott]

Dan is that his first lesson?

[dharris]

Originally Posted by relliott

Dan is that his first lesson?

It is


Back in my younger days, I spent 3 summers installing ceiling fans,and crawling attics to wire and brace them.
Forgot all about that untill my 1st summer inspecting, 20 yrs latter.