Home Inspection Business
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A home inspection business is a way to cash in on the real estate market even when actual home sales are down. Home owners know that despite observing a house up close for a number of years, depreciation can occur behind the scenes and a thorough exam by a trained property inspector on a regular basis can help mitigate expensive repairs. Of course the most highly profiled job of a property inspector occurs before the sale of a house is finalized. Many unwise house purchases have been derailed by a thorough report offered by the agent of a home inspection business. Having the seller take care of needed repairs before the final sale of a house has saved countless new homeowners from important and costly repairs.
A home inspection business is most likely a home based enterprise. Entrepreneurs that run commerce ventures out of their residences account for over four hundred and fifty billion dollars of commerce each year in the United States. The ability to set one's own hours, be accountable only to the customer and have a sense of satisfaction in giving a buyer either peace of mind or important money saving information can be some of the most compelling reasons someone might want to be a home inspector. Billions of dollars of commerce in real estate transactions each year ride on the words of inspectors who crawl under, climb on top of and walk through countless American residences. And just like any other occupation, house examiners come in all varieties of thoroughness, ethical practices and repute.
Starting a home inspection business begins with an honest self examination. Does a person want to inch along in muddy or insect or even snake infested crawl spaces or go into attics that are a hundred and thirty degrees? If someone doesn't mind sometimes very trying work conditions and is highly detailed oriented and is willing to put a business reputation on each and every report issued, then property examination may be a good vocational fit. But even if the venture is a good personal fit, is it a good demographic fit? A thorough examination of how many other home inspection business enterprises there are in the area and the average number of closings each year is also important to ascertain. Will the amount of closings support a living for the number of other inspectors also following this line of work?
If there are already a number of inspectors in the area, the hurdle is how to make one's own venture stand out from all the rest. Real estate agents have their own favorite property examiners and use them again and again because of speed, price and quality of work. What is the game plan for making a new home inspection business stand out from all the rest and why should agents switch loyalties? Many inspectors are very good with their skills but have very unpleasing personalities or dress appearances and thereby shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to gaining the confidence of new customers. For example, if a person is unwilling to work on an introverted personality and become more friendly and interested in other people, this inward focus may come across as aloofness or disinterest in the customer, thereby hurting repeat business opportunities.
The two greatest expenses in starting a home inspection business are training and marketing. No exaggeration is made when stating that a big liability factor can rest on a home inspector for missing the obvious and maybe not so obvious major structural damage in a property. Even if a person has an extensive background in building, contracting, carpentry or other related vocations, in today's litigious world, licensing and bonding are absolutely necessary. And those legal protections cannot come without the proper licensures and licensures usually do not come unless one has all the necessary education. There are many online courses to aid in starting a residence examination business. Not all courses or training are the same, and one often gets what one pays for, so be very thorough in research when choosing online educational opportunities because many courses cost several thousand dollars.
Marketing and initial expenses are another large consideration in initiation and implementation of a new commerce venture such as a home inspection business. The cost of a good ad in the phone book, the price of developing a website, the price of gas traveling to different realtors to introduce oneself, business cards and a business cell phone are some of the initial expenses for this entrepreneur venture. Additionally, a vehicle that looks professional and that can haul ladders and other inspection equipment around and a computer from which to generate professional looking reports are all expense considerations for this business start-up. Counting the cost before starting beginning any venture is critical to its success. Jesus was making that very point to those who want to be His followers when He said, "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
If a person loves detecting and finding critical problems that can save a customer thousands of dollars, this vocation may be exactly for the reader. No two houses are the same, no two owners are identical and no two work days are ever alike in this business. One can turn down a job to go watch a child play baseball, or work until dark if desired. The money earned for such work is often very good, especially when one gets to inspect a very new home for the standard inspection fee. That report is usually very problem free and can quickly be made.
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