[nmckenna]

Hello, my name is Nate McKenna and I am currently trying to get my business up and running "All In" Certified Home Inspections. I have held numerous positions in the Log Home Industry over the past 15 years and have been very successful but welcomed a change with the down turn in the housing market.
I am looking for advice on what you as seasoned professional inspectors would suggest for start-up marketing and tool selections, trying to keep the budget to a minimum. I am looking to keep my service offerings simple in the beginning while I continue to educate myself on additional extra services.

Any insight is appreciated.

Nate McKenna

"All In" Certified Home Inspections
nate@allinproperties.net
www.allinproperties.net
Maine

[James H. Bushart]

Do I understand you to say that the down turn in the housing market led you to be a home inspector?

That is kind of like saying that the Surgeon General's warning on the cigarette pack led me to smoke.

[kluce]

[QUOTE=nmckenna;634063]Hello, my name is Nate McKenna and I am currently trying to get my business up and running "All In" Certified Home Inspections. I have held numerous positions in the Log Home Industry over the past 15 years and have been very successful but welcomed a change with the down turn in the housing market.
I am looking for advice on what you as seasoned professional inspectors would suggest for start-up marketing and tool selections, trying to keep the budget to a minimum. I am looking to keep my service offerings simple in the beginning while I continue to educate myself on additional extra services.

Any insight is appreciated.

Nate McKenna

"All In" Certified Home Inspections
nate@allinproperties.net
www.allinproperties.net
Maine[/QUOTE]
Welcome to the site.

To get back to the question asked, I would first start by seeing what other home inspectors in your area are doing. The home inspectors that have been around for a while have gone through some of the "what works and what doesn't work". When I started in this area the phone book was great (priced right also) and the websites wasn't doing much. As time went on, the website became dominate and the phone book add went from a business card size to a one liner. Many home inspectors had business card size adds then and now only a few business side card adds are left (In my opinion, word of mouth is the best way to go. But that takes time especially in this economy.)

When it comes to tools, keep it simple. A basic moisture meter, screw driver, flashlight, voltage tester for outlets are some of the basics. I have a $120 flashlight that I love but no client is going to care what you carry. You will need at least two ladders so you can get into the attic and on a roof (largest ladder is for a two story house).

Once you get started, then go for the tools that will benefit you and/or will impress your clients.

Good luck.

Note: Knowing where your from might help.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Nathan,

Welcome...

I would recommend updating you profile (control panel) and then reposting you questions in the main MB section. This section is primarily "consumer" related, and open to the public. You will receive much broader responses in the members only section. I will respond with an "idea" for you over there.

Jeff

[nmckenna]

Thanks for the input guys. I have the tools mentioned so far and I will re-post in the other section.

I didn't think I was making a move to increase my income but more so to try something to continue educating myself and assisting people in the housing industry.

Thanks again, I welcome further input.

[John McKenna]

Go for it. Market, market, market.

Here is some great info on fixing up your website

http://www.homeinspectorpro.com/Table/Search-Engine-Optimization-For-Home-Inspectors

Here is some great tools to help as well

http://www.nachi.org/success.htm


and more...

http://www.nachi.org/benefits.htm?PHPSESSID=ec7ae18b68e121c7a0120638278dcbb7


Good luck

[Nick Gromicko]

The "downturn in the housing market" has been more a downturn in price, rather than number of sales. # of sales (extrapolated) is actually up from last year (from about 4.5 million in 2009 to about 5 million in 2010 in the U.S.).

Divide that by about 15,000 home inspectors in the U.S., subtract 10% for those homes that don't get a home inspection, and you get about 300 home inspections/year/inspector on average... or about a home inspection/work day/inspector on average.

[Bobby G. Michael]

I say welcome and listen to John.

[John E. Mullarkey]

John and Nick are 100% Also, learn and get into IR, it is the future, without it you will be yesterdays' news. IMHO

[Larry J. Michael]

If you can make it in this market, you can make it any.

[measter]

[QUOTE=gromicko;635785] subtract 10% for those homes that don't get a home inspection, [/QUOTE]

My informal surveys show that number to be about 60+% non-inspected around here.

That 10% number must be in states where a HI is required by law.

[QUOTE=jbushart;634084]Do I understand you to say that the down turn in the housing market led you to be a home inspector?

That is kind of like saying that the Surgeon General's warning on the cigarette pack led me to smoke.[/QUOTE]

LOL, I am glad to see that you are still you James.. ;)

Take care..