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For many, it might take just a few months to go through the proper training courses and pass a certification exam. Being a home inspector means you’ll spend a good portion of your day talking. Throughout the inspection — or at least at the end of the inspection — you’ll be keeping a running dialogue going as you narrate everything you find.
Clients are satisfied and grateful for your services – and you’ve done a great job. I’m the only one accountable for my business, and I prefer it that way. This is a great field if you’re a self-starter who truly wants to work and grow your business all on your own terms. In order to become a home inspector in Florida, it takes about 2 weeks time. You are first required to complete the 120-hour home inspection course and then pass the FHIE examination. Another disadvantage of being a home inspector is the limited income potential.
You’ll set your own schedule
The property a home inspector specializes in also makes a huge difference in pay rates. Average total income for home inspectors ranges from $30 to $90 thousand annually. Home inspector’s salary can vary greatly depending on their location, how much they work, how much they charge for their services, and what types of properties they specialize in.
And according to data from the American Society of Home Inspectors , 77 percent of all homes are inspected before a purchase. Homebuyers, sellers, homeowners, and commercial building owners all need the services of a good inspector. Home inspectors help people by providing an invaluable service!
Home Inspector Jobs
This gives me a chance to walk around the property a few times and get the majority of the exterior inspection done before my client and their real estate agent arrive. When my client and their agent show up, I greet them and walk them around the finished exterior. After inspecting the home’s exterior, I’ll inspect the garage, the interior, and the basement – all while explaining my findings to my client in a non-alarming manner. Many employers want to make sure a home inspector has a driver's license. This is crucial because the home inspector has to visit many different sites in the same day. Communication skills are also highly sought out amongst home inspectors since employers want people capable of conveying the violations and other issues a house has to the homeowner.
Unlike appraisers, home inspectors don’t place values on homes, but rather point out existing defects or potential problem areas. If you want or need to bring in more money, schedule more inspections. Being self-employed involves a certain degree of risk and requires self-discipline and determination to succeed. Your income and success will be directly related to the amount of time and effort you’re willing to invest in your home inspection career. If you would like to oversee the construction of homes instead of inspecting homes, you might want to look into being a construction manager.
Southwestern College
A home inspector’s task is to represent the voice of the house. A good inspection report will tell a person precisely the condition of the house at the time of writing. A well-written report will direct an owner, buyer, or seller to any action that is required to bring a house up to good condition relevant to its age. Even the most in-depth certification course will take mere weeks to months to complete. Once you have your certifications, software, and devices to work on, you are free to begin taking on clients and building your reputation as an inspector.
Good home inspectors have a number of traits in commonthat allow them to succeed in this industry. While there are different nuances to success in a home inspection career, there are a few main truths that are undeniable and are consistent for most business ventures. Be knowledgeable, have attention to detail, be willing to continually learn, and finally have great customer service. If you're interested in designing buildings instead of inspecting them; consider becoming an architect.
You’ll deal with all types of people
Inspecting homes often requires climbing up and down ladders, crawling through tight spaces, and maneuvering around furniture and appliances. The job demands a high level of technical expertise, as well as good communication and problem-solving skills. Now that you know the benefits, challenges, and what you need to succeed as a home inspector, learn how to become one. A home inspector examines a property from top to bottom, inside and out, closely checking the following areas.
They help home buyers in their community and answer questions the average person may not know to ask. No matter the result of the home inspection, as a home inspector, you can help buyers make an informed decision about their home purchase. When they find a problem, they suggest a fix, estimate possible repair costs, or recommend a more thorough inspection from a licensed contractor.
New home inspectors need to go through training – even if your state doesn’t require it. I would also highly recommend doing field training with an instructor. The opportunity to practice real home inspections, report writing, and client communication at real homes, alongside an instructor, is invaluable. It will lay a strong foundation for the home inspection process and better prepare you to start out on your own when you’re ready. I usually set up my digital inspection reports the night before an inspection.
It also lets your clients schedule directly from your website, so you won’t waste time picking up the phone when you’re on an inspection. Startup costs like reporting software, the devices you perform your inspection on, and any marketing tools are typically one-time initial fees. If you choose to get a software subscription, this is a yearly expense and so is the annual license renewal that is required in some states. This turns nearly all of the money you make into your personal income.
If you’re willing to put in the work to build a client base and strong reputation, the benefits outweigh the costs of becoming a home inspector. Research more about your state’s requirements and getting certified to get on the right track. The education requirements to become an inspector are low intensive. Anyone minimally proficient in technology with good observation skills can learn what it takes to be a successful home inspector and run a profitable business. When training to become home inspector, you’ll notice quickly that every state has different requirements for licensing. For example, in Wyoming, there isn’t a training requirement to become a home inspector.
Working for yourself is great for work-life balance and allows you to operate your business in the way you would like. If you thrive in a position that requires constant progress and change, a home inspection could be a great fit. Home inspection regulations and policies are constantly changing, and you need to be flexible and knowledgeable of these changes. If you enjoy doing something different every day, you could thrive in becoming a home inspector. Home inspections are crucial to ensure that people are making the correct decision for themselves.
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