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Anyone here do home inspections for a living?
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:35 pm
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:35 pm
Possibly interested in doing this as a career and just wanted to get thoughts from anyone with experience. From what I can gather, it seems as though there's just a 90 hour online course and then 30 hours of live field training before someone can be ready to rip. Avg. Louisiana salary is 69k as well. Thoughts? Experiences? Advice? 
8
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:36 pm to dualed
Not homes. Just pussy
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:36 pm to dualed
What do you do now? Hopefully you are in some field of construction and not just looking for a career change.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:38 pm to Dont_Call_Me_RAY
It would be a career change. Why is that a bad thing?
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:39 pm to dualed
quote:
It would be a career change. Why is that a bad thing?
You should fit right in at FEMA
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:40 pm to dualed
We do structural inspections for foreclosed homes up here in NY as part of our services, typically like $700-1000/each for inspection and report. Everyone doing it is either a PE or EIT, but I am sure that's not necessary in La.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:41 pm to dualed
I think spicystacey does inspections around SE La for bank repos. Not sure if it's the same thing you are talking about.
She is also a slut.
She is also a slut.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:46 pm to dualed
quote:
it seems as though there's just a 90 hour online course and then 30 hours of live field training before someone can be ready to rip.
Lol. That's why I wouldn't trust a home inspector to do anything but a mold check.
quote:
Avg. Louisiana salary is 69k as well.
Lol, I'm very doubtful on that figure. That sounds like a straight 40 a week job. I'm very doubtful those guys are getting 33+ an hour. $20/hr is probably average.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:49 pm to NYNolaguy1
quote:
structural inspections for foreclosed homes up here in NY as part of our services, typically like $700-1000/each for inspection and report. Everyone doing it is either a PE or EIT, but I am sure that's not necessary in La.
I'm sure you can work under a PE's license. But that pe isn't hiring anyone who only has 120 hours of training and zero experience.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:55 pm to CCTider
quote:
I'm sure you can work under a PE's license. But that pe isn't hiring anyone who only has 120 hours of training and zero experience.
That's true at least where I work, but I have heard of non PE's doing home inspections- I have no idea what their qualifications are or who would hire them, however.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 3:57 pm to CCTider
quote:
Lol. That's why I wouldn't trust a home inspector to do anything but a mold check
Lol ok fair enough. And I got the 69k figure from the ICA website.
How would you guys advise getting experience then? I don't think I'd go the route of starting my own business because I obviously don't know shite about it.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 4:02 pm to dualed
69K sounds a little high, but I guess it depends on how busy you are and where you work.
FWIW, my dad did home inspections in the Cenla area for several years, and I helped him out as a summer job. If you have the demand and bust your arse, you can get 3 done a day, but it was a side gig for him so we just did 2 if needed. You're right in that it isn't too hard to get into, but it takes a lot of overhead to get started (ladders, tools, infra-red thermometers, etc) in order to do the job right.
One of the more trying parts of it, and which is what led him to eventually get out of it, is that there is a fine line you have to balance between kissing the arse of realtors (as a lot of your work comes from them recommending you to clients) and being truthful in your reports so as to not screw over your client (which can sometimes tank a home sale and get the realtor pissed/slander you). A lot of inspectors out there tend to place the realtor (the source of clients) ahead of the individual client, which is why the profession tends to get a bad reputation.
FWIW, my dad did home inspections in the Cenla area for several years, and I helped him out as a summer job. If you have the demand and bust your arse, you can get 3 done a day, but it was a side gig for him so we just did 2 if needed. You're right in that it isn't too hard to get into, but it takes a lot of overhead to get started (ladders, tools, infra-red thermometers, etc) in order to do the job right.
One of the more trying parts of it, and which is what led him to eventually get out of it, is that there is a fine line you have to balance between kissing the arse of realtors (as a lot of your work comes from them recommending you to clients) and being truthful in your reports so as to not screw over your client (which can sometimes tank a home sale and get the realtor pissed/slander you). A lot of inspectors out there tend to place the realtor (the source of clients) ahead of the individual client, which is why the profession tends to get a bad reputation.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 4:09 pm to dualed
I do home inspections on the side. Im in Tennessee, and the licensure requirements vary by state. I did the home inspectors course through AHIT, but I had over 10 years of construction experience prior to getting my license. I do not think the online training can prepare you for home inspections if you do not have prior construction experience. That's just my opinion though.
As far as salary, I operate my own single member LLC. Like I said, I do inspections on the side so I usually only do 1 or 2 per week. Sometimes more if I need to. I make anywhere between $250 to $400 depending on the size of the house and location and a few other factors. Even if I did it full time, I could probably only do 6 or 7 per week. The reports take a while to do once I'm back at my home office. I also don't like doing multiple inspections back to back because it increases the likelihood that you will miss things in the report.
Getting into the business is very difficult, at least in my area. It took several months of marketing and making contacts before I did my first inspection. Even after that for the next 3 to 4 months I was only doing a couple a month.
It took me almost a year to make back my initial investment, which was close to 5 grand when you start adding up course fees, testing, licensure fees, LLC fees, e&o insurance, liability insurance, reporting software, marketing materials etc.
All that said, I really enjoy doing them, and it is a great way to make extra money. I can't really imagine doing it full time. There is too much volatility, and if we experienced another market crash you will be looking for a different line of work.
As far as salary, I operate my own single member LLC. Like I said, I do inspections on the side so I usually only do 1 or 2 per week. Sometimes more if I need to. I make anywhere between $250 to $400 depending on the size of the house and location and a few other factors. Even if I did it full time, I could probably only do 6 or 7 per week. The reports take a while to do once I'm back at my home office. I also don't like doing multiple inspections back to back because it increases the likelihood that you will miss things in the report.
Getting into the business is very difficult, at least in my area. It took several months of marketing and making contacts before I did my first inspection. Even after that for the next 3 to 4 months I was only doing a couple a month.
It took me almost a year to make back my initial investment, which was close to 5 grand when you start adding up course fees, testing, licensure fees, LLC fees, e&o insurance, liability insurance, reporting software, marketing materials etc.
All that said, I really enjoy doing them, and it is a great way to make extra money. I can't really imagine doing it full time. There is too much volatility, and if we experienced another market crash you will be looking for a different line of work.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 4:10 pm to MDTiger 13
Had a friend doing it in central Louisiana. Some electrical knowledge would be very helpful. He took some classes and had to pass a state test. It was difficult....a lot of building codes to know. He started out on his own so charged a little less than his competitors. He made $350 an inspection, he did fairly well although he had to spend money on advertising. As far as field experience, he went down to Nola to train with someone for maybe a week then he was on his own. He liked it, but IF you do this beware.....you will have to go into every attic (unless it's impossible to access) and there are a ton of attics where my friend army crawled around to inspect things. Also, you will sweat your balls off if doing this in Louisiana. If you go for it good luck and hope you are successful.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 4:11 pm to MDTiger 13
Believe there is an Internship obligation. Check it out.
Posted on 4/16/17 at 4:14 pm to MDTiger 13
There is a difficult balance between properly reporting, and not pissing off agents. Luckily, I only work with one agent. The majority of my business comes from real estate investors, and referrals. I actually tell everyone I know to never use the inspector the agent refers. Call around, ask for some references, and hire your own. The chances of getting a thorough report will increase significantly
This post was edited on 4/16/17 at 4:16 pm
Posted on 4/16/17 at 4:15 pm to bigwheel
Alright this is good info. So far you guys are successfully informing me this may not be the right direction 
. Maybe I should keep holding out for an operator gig.
. Maybe I should keep holding out for an operator gig.Posted on 4/16/17 at 4:50 pm to dualed
I got licensed to do inspections in LA about 10 years ago. I, also, thought it would be a side gig. I went as far as getting e&o insurance and then decided against it. The successful inspectors are not successful because they are thorough, it's because they find a delicate balance of keeping realtors happy and finding issues. With any sort of engineering background it's difficult to accept. Inspectors are trained to perform, not analyze.
You will have to pass the state test, then go through live inspections where YOU have to pay a licensed inspector to let you tag along. I will say that the state board (based in BR) doesn't play. They fine and suspend inspectors regularly.
ETA:. NACHI and ASHI both have good resources for new inspectors.
You will have to pass the state test, then go through live inspections where YOU have to pay a licensed inspector to let you tag along. I will say that the state board (based in BR) doesn't play. They fine and suspend inspectors regularly.
ETA:. NACHI and ASHI both have good resources for new inspectors.
This post was edited on 4/16/17 at 4:53 pm
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