Property inspectors play a crucial role in real estate dealing. They perform evaluations to review the functionality and ensure the safety of the home for new buyers. This is an appealing path to pursue as you get the opportunity to choose your working hours. Are you planning to begin your professional journey as a home inspector? We have formulated this versatile guide for your convenience. So, let’s walk through it.
Step-by-Step Guide To Become a Home Inspector
As a property inspector, your responsibilities include evaluating the complete property and documenting the condition of all parts of the house. Does this profession fascinate you? Refer to the following steps to become a certified and licensed inspector.
Comprehend State’s Requirements
This is a necessary starting point for your journey. Every state has different requirements in terms of qualification for license and training. Some states require you to take a course and pass the exam, whereas others mandate job training and experience. Therefore, search online for the requirements determined by your home state.
Find Suitable Training Program
Not every state requires formal education, but if you are new in this industry and have no field experience, you can join a training program to start your career. These programs are designed to help you learn basic home inspection skills. You can combine these classes with business management if you plan to start your own business.
Do your research and attend the course that includes the following aspects:
- Types of homes
- Construction codes
- Infrastructure and HVAC system inspection
- Property inspection standards and ethics
- Light business management skills
- Customer services
Having hands-on experience with these skills can help you throughout your career.
Get a License (If your state demands it)
If your state requires a license, acquire it first-hand. To get the license, you need to pass an exam which consists of the following sections:
- Property inspection review
- Analysis of findings and report writing
- Professional ethics and responsibilities
In most states, you are required to take the exam. The fees vary depending on the state, but they generally range from $300 to $600.
Get Insurance
Whether you plan to join a firm or set up your own startup, you should definitely have general liability insurance and errors and omissions insurance. This protective practice aims to keep you safe and employed. Many companies offer plans for property inspectors. You can research and select the one that meets your requirements.
Market your Business
Once you receive the license and are technically prepared to begin your journey, you can expand your reach and market your business. You can build your website and maintain a strong social media presence for marketing.
Above all, it is imperative to build good relationships with real estate agents and house contractors in your area. When you get the business through online marketing and word of mouth, you will achieve your goals.
Is It Worth To Become a Property Inspector?
With every passing day, the scope of home inspector is increasing. Therefore, it is natural to wonder if your time and energy are worth it. Like every profession, it has pros and cons, which are as follows.
Pros
There are lots of perks of adopting home inspection as a profession. From flexible scheduling to the opportunity to work according to your convenience, it has many benefits, which include:
- You can work full-time or part-time.
- With the increasingly strict laws regarding construction, home inspector demand is consistently increasing, widening the scope of this profession.
- Provide crucial insights to help people make worthwhile investments.
- This profession allows you to learn lifelong, which keeps you active and sharp.
- It is a solid earning potential which helps you make some extra money.
Cons
Where there are so many opportunities, there are some downsides as well that you need to keep in mind:
- Sometimes, this profession can be physically demanding when you have many projects to handle.
- You need to follow the client’s schedule.
- As a property inspector, you provide an added layer of protection. Hence, there is no margin of error.
Final Words
Before stepping into a new profession, thinking it is worth the time and investment is natural. However, when it comes to becoming a home inspector, there should be no doubt regarding the profession. This blog clearly states the process and pros of becoming a property inspector. However, you can contact 1 Day Home Inspections for guidance if you have any second thoughts.
