Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I am a contractor and have been in the “trades” over 20 years. I am thinking about the home inspection industry. I believe I already know enough about how houses are put together, so why would I need to take a formal course? 

Answer: This is probably the most asked question we get. The fact is, you may know a lot about construction, but do you know about the home inspection business? Do you know about your contracts, standards of practice and liability?

The other problem is, we are finding out more and more, some building practices that were once quite acceptable are now not. There are long term issues that many builders do not see 5, 10, 15 years down the road.

Most states are now licensed, or registered for home inspectors. So formal education is required. Most professional organizations recommend training and require continuing education.

We can honestly say, we have never had a contractor, engineer, architect, or appraiser take our course and say they did not learn a lot. Mostly about things they took for grant it, or had not seen the long-term ramifications of certain practices.

Question: I have never built a house and have no “trade” back ground, but I am interested in becoming a home inspector. Is it possible?

Answer: Of course!!! What makes a good inspector? A naturally curious mind. Someone who sees a situation and needs to “pull-the-string” and find out what caused it. Technical knowledge is just one piece of the “inspector pie”. You need good communication skills, good people skills, and if you intend to do this on your own, good business skills.

You may be the best inspector technically, but is you can not communicate that knowledge in writing, if you do not have good interpersonal skills, and don’t have good business knowledge, you will still not be a home inspector.

We teach you how to inspect to a standard, and we teach those standards. We also take you along on virtual inspections during class time to hone your skills then you will go on inspections during class to apply your knowledge.

Question: I am a woman who would like to start a home inspection business. I understand there aren’t many women in the business. Any advice?

Answer: Good training, first and foremost. Then, if you know what you are doing, and are confident, it shows. As a woman inspector, I have found men will approach me with questions they would not a male inspector because they do not what the inspector to know they don’t know.

Women, who comprise the fastest growing segment of buyers, are very comfortable with a woman inspector. We communicate better in terms other woman can relate too, and take the fear out of home maintenance.

If you are well trained, and confident, you will be as successful as a male inspector. 

Question: I noticed you do not offer Home Inspection and Mold Inspection on-line, yet you do other courses, why?

Answer: There are simply some things we feel you need the instructor/classroom interaction. We are the “general practitioner” of the home maintenance/inspection set. I do not believe you would want to find out your family doctor was trained on the internet, or by correspondence.

The classroom lets you see senarios you would normally not think to ask about or areas to look at. Your instructors have years of experience for you to learn from and ask questions of. They are also there for you after your classes to help if you have questions.

Question: How busy will I be as a Home Inspector?

Answer: Ahh the million dollar question. If we could all predict the future. There are a lot of variables to your question:

• What is the housing market like in your area?
• What is the density of inspectors with more than 5 years experience in your area?
• How are you at marketing yourself?
• What is your availability to inspect?
• Do you already know real estate agents in your area?
• HOW WELL TRAINED ARE YOU?
• What makes your services unique?

Don’t be discouraged, these are questions you need to ask yourself no matter what business you are thinking of going into as a small business owner.

Also, don’t be discouraged by the inspector who tells you they (personally) do a year. You know the: I did 400-700 inspections last year type? Just do the math. Average 3 hours per inspection, travel time, bio-calls, on 365 days a year. Also take into consideration, 5 months out of the year we have short daylight, holidays, some time off….you get my point. 

So, I can not answer your question. However, the more trained, and prepared you are, the better your chances of being busy!

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