East Coast Inspectors needed for Draw Inspections ASAP

[bskinner]

You Do Not Have To Be Certified To Be A Draw Inspector....no Classes.....no State Exam.....and In Some Cases, No Insurance!!! The Only Overhead Is Getting Your Butt Back And Forth. Comparing Draw Inspections To House Inspections Is Like Comparing Apples To Oranges. Anyone Can Do Them That Has Some Concept Of Construction. So Why Do You Assume The Going Rate For Draw Inspections Is So High? I Hate To Tell You Guys This, But Its Not!!!! These Companies Do Not Make As Much Per Inspection As You Might Think. If Its Too Far Away Don't Do It.....no One Can Blame You For That. I Will Not Do One More Than 25 Miles From My House. I Will Say This, I Do Really Good With My Draw Inspection Business Considering I Started It Over 2 Yrs Ago.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by bskinner

You Do Not Have To Be Certified To Be A Draw Inspector....no Classes.....no State Exam.....and In Some Cases, No Insurance!!!
You don't even have to be a certified inspector!
That is why they get all of these lowlife scumbags who do these inspections for six dollars and up!


The Only Overhead Is Getting Your Butt Back And Forth. Comparing Draw Inspections To House Inspections Is Like Comparing Apples To Oranges.
Yes like I said, you don't even have to be an inspector!

Anyone Can Do Them That Has Some Concept Of Construction. So Why Do You Assume The Going Rate For Draw Inspections Is So High? I Hate To Tell You Guys This, But Its Not!!!!
You think $45 is high! What planet do you live on?

These Companies Do Not Make As Much Per Inspection As You Might Think.
How do you know how much they make?
Do you have an "inside track" or does one of your friends or relatives work for this company and you have some inside information?

If Its Too Far Away Don't Do It.....no One Can Blame You For That.
I guess we're all in agreement on this issue!

I Will Not Do One More Than 25 Miles From My House. I Will Say This, I Do Really Good With My Draw Inspection Business Considering I Started It Over 2 Yrs Ago.

The question is are you getting paid six dollars? $20? Or a grand total of $45?

It is garbage like this that is holding our industry down!

Take for example the "Wind Mitigation Inspection thread".
Inspectors in Florida are charging in receiving $150 for a wind mitigation Inspection.
The Customer is saving from $450.00 to $1500 a year.

Yet There are some companies That are paying $50.00 for this Same inspection.

And it is sad to say that there are some "inspectors" who were willing to sell themselves for $50.00 lousy dollars!

Once again ..... it is garbage like this that is holding our industry down!

I charge of hundred $150.00 for each and every draw Inspection.
I know what I am worth and I charge accordingly.

Those who charge six dollars per or 20, 30, or $45 per Inspection know what they are worth and get paid accordingly.

[Linas I. Dapkus]

My net income for draw inspections alone in 2007 was almost $25,000. With a 50% profit margin, that left me with over $12,000 of which I spent $10,000 on a BCam, training and other related equipment. I couldn't have done that waiting for someone to call me with their offers of $150 draw inspections. Full blown condo inspections go for $200-$225. I can have 4 draws done and submitted by noon. Gotta love it. And for all those in my area that get a call from these draw companies requesting your services, please don't accept them for under $150. Send them to me. If you take any more than 15 minutes on-site doing a draw inspection......you're lost or can't grasp the concept. Many here on the message board do these inspections. A few of us acknowledge that we do them. Some keep quiet and do them and some are jealous and can't get away from their full time job to do them and make the easy money. To each his own. God Bless everyone and God Bless America.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

My net income for draw inspections alone in 2007 was almost $25,000. With a 50% profit margin, that left me with over $12,000 of which I spent $10,000 on a BCam, training and other related equipment.
So that means that you were doing these inspections for roughly $27.50 each! Way to go champ!
You and the other low ballers are what are strangeling our industry.
This makes these type of companies look at us with no respect what so ever!

I couldn't have done that waiting for someone to call me with their offers of $150 draw inspections. Full blown condo inspections go for $200-$225.
NOT according to other inspectors in YOUR state!
I guess that you are also undercutting the $200.00 $225.00 fee.

I can have 4 draws done and submitted by noon. Gotta love it. And for all those in my area that get a call from these draw companies requesting your services, please don't accept them for under $150. Send them to me. If you take any more than 15 minutes on-site doing a draw inspection......you're lost or can't grasp the concept. Many here on the message board do these inspections. A few of us acknowledge that we do them. Some keep quiet and do them and some are jealous and can't get away from their full time job to do them and make the easy money. To each his own.
I had no idea that you were a "mind reader" and had this ability to see into other inspectors lifes.

God Bless everyone and God Bless America.

Hey Linas,
It is 2,021.2 miles from my town to your town. It would take you 1-day and 11 hours & 35-minutes to make the drive.


We routinely decline these $45.00 inspections so ... Why don't you make the drive and you can "clean up" in New Hampshire!

• You know .... it is funny .... these same company's pay us $150.00 for a draw inspection but they pay you $45.00 for the same thing.

I'll bet that if you went down to $25.00 per inspection that they would be more than willing to pay you $25.00 or even $20.00 per inspection.

• One IDIOT even posted that he is doing them for $6.00 lousy dollars.

I guess that you are lucky that he does not live in YOUR area or you might be as disappointed in him as many of us are in you.

On second thought... forget my invitation to come up here and RUIN our business..... it was a bad idea!

[Linas I. Dapkus]

DON'T BE BLUE FRANK!

[bskinner]

I believe that you have ever collected $150 dollars for a RESIDENTIAL draw inspection. But I can see it for a COMMERCIAL draw inspection.
Since you charge $150 per residential draw inspection it is not hard for me to guess how many you have done........A BIG FAT 0.

Since you are wanting us to state facts with our post, I thinks time you started using them yourself.


Have a great day,
Bobby

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by bskinner

I believe that you have ever collected $150 dollars for a RESIDENTIAL draw inspection. But I can see it for a COMMERCIAL draw inspection.
Since you charge $150 per residential draw inspection it is not hard for me to guess how many you have done........A BIG FAT 0.

Since you are wanting us to state facts with our post, I thinks time you started using them yourself.


Have a great day,
Bobby

Bobby, just so you know I have two local banks that pay me $125.00 for each draw inspection, when they write the loan they include 5 draw inspections which is incorporated into the loan, if the builder requires more than 5 draws then the home owner eats the extra inspections.

I not only see this as an inspector but as a contractor too. I created my own excel spreadsheet to cover all the construction costs and can be used as a working budget for the lenders.

I just finished a second story remodel where the bank was using the appraiser to do the draw inspections. I made an appointment with the construction loan officer, guaranteed them 24 hour turn around time and now I am going to start doing their draw inspections.

As a builder I have been very frustrated with national draw companies because by the time the inspector gets the inspections many days have already gone by. Every lender I work with guarantees me payment within 48 hours, timing is so crucial to keep the project on time that these draw companies fail constantly.

Offer your lenders quick turn around times, an excel spread sheet for a budget and do what you do for the big draw companies and you can keep the profit for yourself. $125.00 per draw and $750.00 per build is not uncommon so do some marketing and go for it.

PS don't forget this includes remodels as well, credit unions are are good source too as they like to keep things local.

[bskinner]

Peter I come from a construction background. I am not a home inspector and at this point do not have plans on being one. I have been doing draw inspections for my area for over three years now, two years on my own. So I understand the process for the loans for builders. Some banks offer draw inspections included in the loan, some come straight from the builder's pocket, and the last that I have seen is the draws are free to the builder and the bank pays for them. I am glad to see in your area that banks and builders are willing to pay that much for one. But from what I have read on websites and hear from others around the country that is not the case. The most I have seen in my area being paid for a draw inspection is $60.

This is what I offer banks I do business for:
24 hr turn around (put a big emphisis on "time is of the essience")
I put out the lender signs if they are not over 3'x3' (the cheap stick them in the ground and go signs)
pictures
I let them know of any suspicious activity on site
A competitive price. (price break if there is more than one house in one subdivision)
E&O insurance coverage on me (some banks require it)

I do a lot of remodel inspections for banks. Most of the time they are with smaller banks.
But if I were to charge more than $60 on an inspection in my area....I would be out of business.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by bskinner

Peter I come from a construction background. I am not a home inspector and at this have not plans on being one. I have been doing draw inspections for my area for over three years now, two years on my own. So I understand the process for the loans for builders. Some banks offer draw inspections included in the loan, some come straight from the builders pocket, and the last that I have seen is the draws are free to the builder and the bank pays for them. I am glad to see in your area that banks and builders are willing to pay that much for one. But from what I have read on websites and hear from others around the country that is not the case. The most I have seen in my area being paid for a draw inspection is $60.

This is what I offer banks I do business for:
24 hr turn around (put a big emphisis on "time is of the essience")
I put out the lender signs if they are not over 3'x3' (the cheap stick them in the ground and go signs)
pictures
I let them know of any suspicious activity on site
A competitive price. (price break if there is more than one house in one subdivision)
E&O insurance coverage on me (some banks require it)

I do a lot of remodel inspections for banks. Most of the time they are with smaller banks.
But if I were to charge more than $60 on an inspection in my area....I would be out of business.

To bad, sorry to hear about your market. Do you work directly for the lender or a middle man?

If you do work for the lender what type of report do you produce? and do you meet with the builder in advance to go over the budget so all or the details are worked out in advance. This is something I offer as part of my service which takes some of the work load of the lender.

[bskinner]

Originally Posted by prussell

To bad, sorry to hear about your market. Do you work directly for the lender or a middle man?

If you do work for the lender what type of report do you produce? and do you meet with the builder in advance to go over the budget so all or the details are worked out in advance. This is something I offer as part of my service which takes some of the work load of the lender.

I work directly for the lender. I have four banks that I work with. I do some for DDN and Trinity but not many. Most of the banks already had a draw sheet that they were currently using before I was doing draw inspections. One bank was new to the business and I helped them comstruct some draw sheets. These are simple excel spreedsheets that show total percentages of completion broken down into differnet phases of construction. With all the banks I am able to partial percentages.
I try not to have contact with builder. It usually turns into them wanting me to give them funds for something that is not complete. With sheets I use with the banks it is easy to incorperate it into a budget. Plus the builder has the ability to make changes with the draw sheet to fit his budget but that only happens to 1mil+ houses that have elevators or other extras that are not normally found in houses. I will PM you one of the sheets I helped make. Maybe you could use it to make your draw inspections easier.

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by bskinner

I believe that you have ever collected $150 dollars for a RESIDENTIAL draw inspection.
Bobby!
Thanks for the laugh ... I needed it!
FYI ... I have been doing this since 1972 and I use to get paid $50.00 to $75.00.
Since the mid 90's I have done THOUSANDS of RESIDENTIAL "Draw" inspections for $150.00 each.

But I can see it for a COMMERCIAL draw inspection.
Nope .... Commercial Draw inspections are priced according to the size and scope of the project.
Depending on the size and scope of the project, you can spend all day on a single "Commercial Draw" inspection

Since you charge $150 per residential draw inspection it is not hard for me to guess how many you have done........A BIG FAT 0.
Oh Pleeaassee!

Since you are wanting us to state facts with our post, I thinks time you started using them yourself.

Have a great day,
Bobby

From your other posts I see that you are NOT an inspector.

That explains everything including your hesitation to charge a fair price according to your education and abilities.

I wish you luck!

[bskinner]

Originally Posted by fcarrio

From your other posts I see that you are NOT an inspector.

That explains everything including your hesitation to charge a fair price according to your education and abilities.

I wish you luck!

OK Frank lets get some things straight. Because I'm not a home inspector does not mean that my opinion is not valid. The only reason I come into these threads is to help home inspectors that have questions about draw inspections. I have over 5 thousand draw inspections under my belt so I would say I have a lot more experience than a lot of people in here!!!

It is apparent from two of you guys that the going rate in NH is $125-150. That's great, I wish it was that way around the entire country but it's not!!!
So, since I'm not a home inspector, I do not charge the same price you do. My education.... I bet you can not guess my education level!!!! YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!!!! So my area has to bow down to your area demands. UHH, thats not how FREE MARKET WORKS!!
SUPPLY AND DEMAND=BASIC ECONOMICS. Frank you might need to find your local community college and take a course on it.
If I were to charge even $100 Dollars for draw inspections I would lose all the banks I do business for.
Heres another thing Frank that I know your superior intelligence will understand. From what I have seen, it takes any where from 2-3 hours on-site to do a home inspection & then there is paper work you have to do at home. So lets say for time's sake that it takes 4hrs to completely do a home inspection. Just, for example, you get $400 for that inspection. So that means you get $100 dollars an hour for that inspection.
OK, now draw inspections. It takes, at the most, 10-15 mins on-site. Go home and email; under 2 mins. Drive to and from the site, lets just say you drive 40mins total. That would be almost one hour for $150 to do a simple draw inspection. So you're making more money doing draw inspections than home inspections. Why do home inspections? It seems that's just chump change (home inspections) for someone that has done thousands of draw inspections.

How much did you spend on education for draw inspections? $0
How much did you spend on a license or certification for draw inspections? $0
How much do you spend on gadgets, like the ones needed for home inspections? $2 FOR A PEN!!!!
How much money total do you spend on draw inspections? GAS and E&O Insurance if required Only & most lenders do not require the insurance!!!

So why do you think you deserve the same, or in your case, more money to do draw inspections than home inspections?!!! A DRAW INSPECTION HAS NO WHERE NEAR THE SAME OVERHEAD AS HOME INSPECTIONS!!! A DRAW INSPECTION IS SOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE SIMPLE THAN A HOME INSPECTION. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT THEN YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR EDUCATION LEVEL. To me you are ripping off the builders. I come from a construction back ground and almost have my contractors license. So I promise that you or anyone that charges that much for something so simple will not be doing my draw inspections. I am suprised the builders in your area let the banks agree to pay you that much. If the price goes against the loan or the builder pays for it...it still counts against his profit. I would say there are some unhappy builders in your area!!

[bskinner]

all day on a commercial draw inspection!!! You need to trade in your walker for a wheel chair so you can get around faster. lol

[Dennis R. Goudreau]

Originally Posted by bskinner

OK Frank lets get some things straight. Because I'm not a home inspector does not mean that my opinion is not valid. The only reason I come into these threads is to help home inspectors that have questions about draw inspections. I have over 5 thousand draw inspections under my belt so I would say I have a lot more experience than a lot of people in here!!!

It is apparent from two of you guys that the going rate in NH is $125-150. That's great, I wish it was that way around the entire country but it's not!!!
So, since I'm not a home inspector, I do not charge the same price you do. My education.... I bet you can not guess my education level!!!! YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!!!! So my area has to bow down to your area demands. UHH, thats not how FREE MARKET WORKS!!
SUPPLY AND DEMAND=BASIC ECONOMICS. Peter you might need to find your local community college and take a course on it.
If I were to charge even $100 Dollars for draw inspections I would lose all the banks I do business for.
Heres another thing Peter that I know your superior intelligence will understand. From what I have seen, it takes any where from 2-3 hours on-site to do a home inspection & then there is paper work you have to do at home. So lets say for time's sake that it takes 4hrs to completely do a home inspection. Just, for example, you get $400 for that inspection. So that means you get $100 dollars an hour for that inspection.
OK, now draw inspections. It takes, at the most, 10-15 mins on-site. Go home and email; under 2 mins. Drive to and from the site, lets just say you drive 40mins total. That would be almost one hour for $150 to do a simple draw inspection. So you're making more money doing draw inspections than home inspections. Why do home inspections? It seems that's just chump change (home inspections) for someone that has done thousands of draw inspections.

How much did you spend on education for draw inspections? $0
How much did you spend on a license or certification for draw inspections? $0
How much do you spend on gadgets, like the ones needed for home inspections? $2 FOR A PEN!!!!
How much money total do you spend on draw inspections? GAS and E&O Insurance if required Only & most lenders do not require the insurance!!!

So why do you think you deserve the same, or in your case, more money to do draw inspections than home inspections?!!! A DRAW INSPECTION HAS NO WHERE NEAR THE SAME OVERHEAD AS HOME INSPECTIONS!!! A DRAW INSPECTION IS SOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE SIMPLE THAN A HOME INSPECTION. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT THEN YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR EDUCATION LEVEL. To me you are ripping off the builders. I come from a construction back ground and almost have my contractors license. So I promise that you or anyone that charges that much for something so simple will not be doing my draw inspections. I am suprised the builders in your area let the banks agree to pay you that much. If the price goes against the loan or the builder pays for it...it still counts against his profit. I would say there are some unhappy builders in your area!!

Bob
why do you have to attack Pete this way HIS EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, for your information Pete is a builder & HI & does IRT,

and yes there are some unhappy builders around here

[bskinner]

I accidentially wrote Peter, but i have already edited it.

Thanks