Reality check

[scorcoran]

Local to me I know of an inspector who fits the "hobby" inspector. Although he is one of the busiest guys in town. I was recently on an inspection with him where I witnessed him turn down 4 jobs not for any other reason than he already had two booked that day and his golfing schedule was more important than the money. He drives a Lincoln Navigator and lives in a nice home. I see this as successful.

I think one of the things I considered getting into this business is similar to the point of this thread... is there enough demand to enable me to make the kind of money I want or need to make. I answered that question with another question "what is it I can offer to someone that would have them call me rather than the next guy?" The answer for me was simple. Technology, energy, enthusiasm and customer service. I noticed recently that customer service as a whole in Canada has really deminished. When is the last time you really felt a company was grateful for your business? I noticed that when you go through a drive through they no longer say thank you have a nice day rather just "here's your food". They could care less if I come back tomorrow, tell a friend about the meal I had or even share a negative experience.

I think in many industries we can find people lose the enthusiasm for their work and for customer service. I noticed a comment "crawling through attics" or something to that effect. When I read it, I couldn't help but feel this is something the writer isn't passionate about, does excite them and as such probably comes across to customers that way.

Long story short, what I feel I can do to ensure I have steady business is demonstrate my enthusiasm for my work by continuing to educate myself, provide above average customer service and overall my genuine enthusiasm for this profession will be evident. I really think when the day comes that I no longer want to crawl through an attic (which I can appreciate isn't always the most pleasant thing) or overall I lose the spark I have today I could only expect my business to decline and will look to diversify myself into perhaps a related field or even something completely different.

The one thing I can't help but think of regarding this subject is that all the home inspectors I know are also entrepreneurs. As such the spirit of an entrepreneur is to seek out new business ventures and use their creative minds to satisfy a new demand in an industry.

Rudolf, the other thing to consider is: not everyone wants a single income family. I couldn't imagine my wife not working. The accomplishments she has achieved through her education and through her work are a good part of what makes her so wonderful. She makes a meaningful impact with her grade 11 and 12 students and I know they are better off for having her as their teacher. I understand your question is "can HI income support your family" in my case the answer is I'm glad it doesn't have to for not just financial reasons. As I said above my wifes job adds to her character and she enjoys it. Not everything is dollars and cents.

Sorry, I know I'm long winded... I'll stop now

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by vmitchinson

The longer I stay in this business the more I'm convinced that we must expand our knowledge and broden our scope to cover all aspects of an inspection, To do that a geewizz two week course is not going to do it. To be fully trained and compedent the future inspector will have to take at lease a full time two, three, or even four year traing and internship to qualify as a professional.

Put this in a personal Email to Nickey, Vern, and try to let him spin it!!

[Rudolf Reusse]

Good Morning Sean Corcoran:

I admire your enthusiasm about the choice of your new occupation - and your expressed philosophy regarding this matter. I wish you all the best - and hope that your strategies will bring you success.

RUDOLF REUSSE - TORONTO

[scorcoran]

Thanks Rudolf...

I know it's easy for me to say... I guess only time will tell!

[William R. DeVries, CMHI]

Rudolf
to answer your question, yes you can provide for a wife four kids and have a stay at home mom, the kids love it, I like the fact my wife is there when the kids get home, she helps a blit with orginising the office, If I have a slow morning I can have coffee with her, or do some shopping, viceversa for the after noon, we live a good life, have fun all summer , travel, enjoy special occasions, and party when it is possible.
Are there hard times, sure everyone has them, thats why diversifacation id so important, ancillary inspections opens the door, and a wide ranges of services also makes for better appeal to clients.

[Nick Gromicko]

I worked every day except for Christmas for 5 1/2 years as an inspector. After my first 60 days I never had anything less than a packed schedule. I never took home less than $1,000 a day. After feeding my family I saved almost 1 million dollars in the bank during my career. I know of only 4 inspectors who have done better. Now working hard isn't what I recommend. You can run around your house all day carrying a cinder block on your head. You'll have done a lot of work but earned nothing.

The first way to do well in today's market is to get rid of the word "home" from everything: Your brochures, your websites, your brain. Evolve. Become an inspector, not a home inspector. See www.nachi.org/ancillary.htm

The second way is to understand the miracle of synergy. Today you can't just do one thing well and hope your phone starts ringing. See www.nachi.org/success.htm

Those are the top two things to know about being successful in this biz and InterNACHI is geared to helping you with both.

[Claude Lawrenson]

Originally Posted by vmitchinson

The longer I stay in this business the more I'm convinced that we must expand our knowledge and broden our scope to cover all aspects of an inspection, To do that a geewizz two week course is not going to do it. To be fully trained and compedent the future inspector will have to take at lease a full time two, three, or even four year traing and internship to qualify as a professional.

Thank you Vern, this is not a new concept, in fact it was on the table for National Certification at one point. As part of the original members of the National Iniatiative, a number of facts and experiences tempered the ideal background model of what education and experience is required to become recognized as a professional home inspector.

This model required a graduate of a 2 or 3 year college program with technical competence from the areas of architecture, civil engineering or construction, along with 1 year of specialized training that was specific to home and building inspections.

Now it appears that many would rather seek how to include the lowest common denominator, rather than maintain a reasonable certification level reflective of other professionals.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by clawrenson

Thank you Vern, this is not a new concept, in fact it was on the table for National Certification at one point. As part of the original members of the National Iniatiative, a number of facts and experiences tempered the ideal background model of what education and experience is required to become recognized as a professional home inspector.

This model required a graduate of a 2 or 3 year college program with technical competence from the areas of architecture, civil engineering or construction, along with 1 year of specialized training that was specific to home and building inspections.

Now it appears that many would rather seek how to include the lowest common denominator, rather than maintain a reasonable certification level reflective of other professionals.

Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what that is? Nick, you can't respond......you have a natural bias!!! This is your baby.

[Nick Gromicko]

Recently we've gone beyond just getting state approval of our courses for licensing purposes (right column of www.nachi.org/education.htm) and have begun the process of getting all our courses approved for actual college credit (in U.S. and Canada), a first for the inspection industry.

And right behind that we are proposing a new B.A. program with a major in inspections.

Our requirements at InterNACHI have advanced well past what one would expect in a mere certification process. We are now converting it into an actual college degree.

[John Allingham]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Recently we've gone beyond just getting state approval of our courses for licensing purposes (right column of www.nachi.org/education.htm) and have begun the process of getting all our courses approved for actual college credit (in U.S. and Canada), a first for the inspection industry.

And right behind that we are proposing a new B.A. program with a major in inspections.

Our requirements at InterNACHI have advanced well past what one would expect in a mere certification process. We are now converting it into an actual college degree.

Nick
Please clarify.
Up here you get a college diploma or a university degree.
The Carson Dunlop courses are already college accredited.
So did you mean a college diploma or a university degree.

[Claude Lawrenson]

This program was approved several years ago already in Canada by the Ministry of Colleges & Universities - Postgraduate Home Inspection Program. Glad to see others may follow.
http://postgraduate.humber.ca/31531.htm

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Recently we've gone beyond just getting state approval of our courses for licensing purposes (right column of www.nachi.org/education.htm) and have begun the process of getting all our courses approved for actual college credit (in U.S. and Canada), a first for the inspection industry.

And right behind that we are proposing a new B.A. program with a major in inspections.

Our requirements at InterNACHI have advanced well past what one would expect in a mere certification process. We are now converting it into an actual college degree.

Please don't offer it through the University of Phoenix and make it the laughing stock of the industry!!

[Nick Gromicko]

We won't. We'll be offering it through InterNACHI University.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by gromicko

we won't. We'll be offering it through internachi university.

rotflmao!!!!!

[Rudolf Reusse]

Unsubstantiated claims made by franchisors - course providers - and trade organisations about the income potential from "home inspections" have flooded the marketplace with an unhealthy number of newcomers hoping to make an easy buck.

Mr. Gromicko’s published statement that he never has - except for the first 60 days - earned less than $1.000.00 a day as home inspector - and that he was able to save one million dollars in 5 ½ years is one example how a home inspector turned promoter - has convinced thousands of naive followers to become a fee paying member of his organisation. Collecting $289.00 - without any exposure to risk - from thousands of NACHI members obviously beats his income he generated from home inspections.

The aforementioned example proves my point that becoming a home inspector these days is not a guarantee to advance from rags to riches anymore. The highest monthly income I have ever achieved was $16,725.00 in March of 1991 when the average rate per inspection was $275.00 and the market was hot in Toronto.

RUDOLF REUSSE - Home Inspector since 1976 - TORONTO