As savvy homebuyers, bolstered by increasing regulations in the real estate market, insist upon home inspections as a contingency of a loan offer, the business of providing home inspection services enters a new era.
Across the nation, home and commercial building inspections are on the increase and training facilities and programs for building inspectors have sprung up seemingly overnight. With an influx of new home inspection software on the market designed to print customized reports, an inspector can spend more time in the field and less time sweating over paperwork.
Field inspection companies employ regional inspectors to handle the increasing need for residential and commercial inspections. The key points to consider when starting an inspections company include:
- Locating training programs for building inspectors.
- Choosing professional affiliation within the home inspection community.
- Comparing home inspection software.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Prepare to get a home inspection license or certificate
State requirements for home inspection businesses vary by state. Most states require home inspection licenses that are awarded after an exam.
I recommend: Check the
laws of the state where you want to begin your business. Enroll in a
trade school that offers a home inspection program as a part of a larger real estate major. Some states allow you to
get your certification online from a distance-learning school. Other states require that you attend a
home inspection training program in person.
Associate with the professionals
You may know everything there is to know about home inspection but without verifiable certification, you won't have the credentials that open doors. Although there is no single national organization that determines building inspection practices, many independent governing bodies oversee and regulate their members.
I recommend: Join the
National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) or sign on with the
National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers (NABIE) if you’re a licensed engineer. If you plan to take your career overseas, contact the
International Society of Home Inspectors (ISHI) for information on becoming certified to offer home inspection services in other parts of the world.
Compare home inspection software
The days of recording long detailed lists of every mechanical defect found during the home inspection are over. Today, home inspection report software offers the building inspector predetermined categories where he chooses from multiple-choice options. Individual comments customize the report back in the office. With so many options on the market it's important to compare home inspection software.
I recommend: InspectMaster offers building inspectors a range of report options and includes easy access to building codes. Try
HomeGauge when you want a mobile PC program with voice recognition to record your observations and turn them into text. If you’re happy recording the home inspection information on paper, try
Home Inspection Report Creator for presentation purposes.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Designate a space solely for your home inspection business. It may be a large office in a strip mall or a corner of your basement, as long as you can keep all your information in one place.
- Take out a listing in your local business directory under providers of home inspection information.
The official source of Starting a Home Inspection Business is
the Home Inspection page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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