full time vs partime

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Nick, it is always nice to here all the good stuff the Association is putting out to the members and how well it is doing, but to tell someone to quite his day job. Don't know about that one.

We don't all live in a place like Denver with a population of 557,917 people.

The whole Kenebec County which includes the state captol for maine only has 117,114 people and home sales last year reached a staggering 558 and that is down 20% this year.

Oh, and my day job don't exist anymore now for 3 months and scrambling to market, my home inspection business, and also market my trade qualifications and abilities, and with the two combined, I am lucky to get 0 on some weeks.

Some areas of this Country right now is not the time to start a business.
There is just not enough spending occurring.

[Nick Gromicko]

I hear ya. I just generally think it's best for our profession if the part-timers go one way (quit) or the other (full time) without taking too much time in limbo (part time).

Also, life is short. Take some risks. Fear of failure is a great self-motivator.

I'm motivated by fear to an extent. I keep worrying that any day, ASHI will come out with its first membership benefit (other than that $4 magazine subscription discount) .

[James H. Bushart]

Nick is right.

No one is served by a part time home inspector.

Ever wonder how that guy can make ends meet who is doing $125 inspections across town from you? Easy. His full time job pays his bills. He inspects for beer money. The public doesn't know that his isn't really a home inspector. They think they are getting your level of expertise at his low fee.

There are a lot of guys who come on this message board and talk a big game....but have yet to do their third home inspection....and have their name before yours on the inspectorseek database.

Becoming a successful, self-employed and full time home inspector is a decision...not something that just automatically happens to you.

We have too many guys hanging around here thinking that, someday, they are going to steal second base but who are too afraid to step off of first. Like Nick says....do it, or quit. They are no good to anyone until they do one or the other.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

I almost feel like some of those statements were pointed at me for some reason James.
That might be true in some occurrences James, but not in my case.
Building Construction Residential and Commercial for me is my life and a passion.
Home Inspections is something I got into to better serve some of the public in the area, and preparedness for any future changes and retirement work at a later date.
I charge more than many in this area and do fewer do to the price I charge and the shopping around.
I will not leave the house for less than $350, so there, I am not relying on my full time position to pay for home inspections. They pay for themselves.
So I think some of your statements are pointed and do not reflect a true picture for all. Some, but not all.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by mcyr

I almost feel like some of those statements were pointed at me for some reason James.

I assure you, they were not. I was not aware of your individual status. If you published it, I missed it (I do more skimming than actual "reading" unless it is a technical thread).

If I said anything to offend you, I apologize. If I said anything to motivate you to tackle this wonderful profession and commit to it, full time, ....then....you're welcome.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Thank you James, and I hope that this economy will soon turn so all of us Americans and our Canadian friends can all prosper in the Home Inspection Business.
Like most all and any trade out in this economy, they are all suffering right now and being a free Country, I can not downgrade anyone attempting to start a new business career. As always, some are a lot better than others. That applies to any type of service out there.

Jumping into a new career and leaving a full time job is not always as easy as described.
When a person has the money to start a new career, he usually does not have the time and when you have the time, you usually do not have the money.
I have been out of my full time job for three months, and although I have the money to pursue something else, one has to be careful in the expenditures.
There are a lot of variables in one's personal live that will either help or place limitations as to whether or not he is capable of changing careers.
Some will gamble against the odds, and not make it in this type of economy.
But, on the other hand, some are more aggressive, and might.
Quitting one's day job may not work for all, that is all I am saying.

I just hope that we all stick together as an Association and help when we can to hurdle these tough times.

Thanks

[James H. Bushart]

Again...Nick has given you guys nuggets of gold in advice.

Do you think that, when things begin to improve in the economy and more and more competitors decide to go full time, is the best time to make that commitment?

I had dinner with some friends in real estate a few weeks ago and the main topic of conversation was how the industry, today, reflects the true professionals. Right now, the fly-by-nights and the charlatans have been forced out by the bad economy. What is left are the pros.....be they realtors, inspectors, lenders etc....

When times get better, those of us who weathered the storm will know who we are and know who we want to do business with.

Like Nick says....your market share is here for the taking. Bold and skilled inspectors will build their canals now, during the drought, to have them filled to the brim when the rains finally come. The rest of you will wonder why you cannot have the same degree of success....

[Marcel R. Cyr]

There is a lot of truth to that James and that is why I started Marketing in a manner that I am comfortable with.
Having Dominic design me a Website, getting a Domain name, marketing to real estate offices, word of mouth.
Every little thing helps and Inachi is right there to help us. Thank you.

When one has been out of the picture for 40 years in the residential market, switching to a new career is not as easy as pumpkin pie.
The biggest thing is realizing that most full timers are going out of business due the economy and I am just waiting as a part timer to jump in.
I don't feel bad in being called a part-timer. Just not enough here in this area to support my needs. Plus, I can do both.

How many Inspections have you done this year James? Hey, I am on my third one. ha. ha. How many Inspections constitutes a Part-Timer?

Well, considering that there are over 60 home inspectors available in my county and only 528 homes were sold and that is down 28% this year, I feel I am full time. We just don't have the volume to survive on this one trade.
Referrals is what I get, all the ads are just trying to sell yourself in a different Zone.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by Dan Wynans

Just working on starting my own business just wondering how many inspectors are full time and how many are part time?

Dan,

Do you have a rainy day fund?

I hope so, because it will absolutely rain on your parade! Just like any new business, the 1st year (or two) will be very rough. It may take you anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to even get to the point where you’re bringing in a comfortable steady income.

Many Home Inspectors came into this business by doing home inspections on the side or on a part time basis. That is the exact approach I would advise any new inspector to take. Don’t quit your day job just yet!

[James H. Bushart]

.....just understand that the months or years spent as a part timer do not count toward that 1 to 2 year struggle to make it.....you are not on your way to second base while your foot is still on first base.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

James, one could call it an apprentership, and after a few years of internship, you might hit a homerun, where you can comfortably leave first base and walk to second.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by mcyr

James, one could call it an apprentership, and after a few years of internship, you might hit a homerun, where you can comfortably leave first base and walk to second.

I suppose one could call it "Bruce" or anything else they wanted to call it, and...as you say....can dream of "being discovered" at a sandwich bar in a drug store like Lana Turner. If nothing else, it helps to pass the time.....

It doesn't change the bottom line and the high turnover statistics which do not begin to calculate until the first day of full time home inspecting.

I won't speak for Nick...but I will express my opinion as to how much restraint he is using, since such a large number of NACHI members are newbies with very few (if any) home inspections under their belts. While he is risking alienating a large number of the members, he is living up to his duty to provide them with meaningful and sound advice. He would be remiss if he were to encourage anyone to seriously consider any kind of a future as a part time inspector. Without the skills and awareness that comes with total immersion into the field, each inspection (with weeks in between) is an invitation to a lawsuit that most newbies can ill afford. Nick owes them the truth and he is providing it.

Membership in NACHI is essential to begin to learn to be a good inspector...but membership in NACHI is not, itself, a "credential" that entitles inexperienced part time inspectors to represent themselves as anything else but inexperienced part time inspectors. Nick is fulfilling his duty to them to point that out.

[Robert W. Jude]

Ive been licensed since mid July and have done just 12 inspections... its going to take time and a whole lotta money to get where you need to be to be a viable competitor in the market place.

[Nick Gromicko]

Robert, try to look at time and money as just two sides of the same coin... units of energy if you will. If you have more money than time, spend that on your biz. If you have more time than money, spend that on your biz. But be careful not to get forever stuck behind the bell curve. You have to push hard enough to get over the hump. I define the hump as the point in your business where the money you put in (including your time in units of money) is less than the money the business puts out... or... true profitability. Spend enough time and money fast enough to have enough momentum to get over that hump.

[Chris E. Donofrio]

I wasn't following Nicks advice but I did quit a fulltime job, went in debt to buy an existing HI buisness in June and have spent a lot of time and effert on education, marketing and meeting realitors etc. I averaged about 10 inspections per month up here in Northern Ontario, and it just paid the bills. Now I have not done an inspection in 11 days and if this is an indication of the season to come than I wish I still had full time job because a part time one won't pay the buisness bills but yet if I had a full time job than I am not available to run my buisness properly. I am all for taking chances but I think I might have screwed myself . I am doing all I can to promote my business full time but the market doesn't support it. I am good at what I do but maybe went about it the wrong way.