New Member Post: Thinking of becoming a Home Inspector

New Member Post: Thinking of becoming a Home Inspector

NJ · Member since 2020 · 9 posts · 3 votes

Hi Everyone. My name is John and I'm from Northern NJ. I'm in the middle of transitioning from my former career to a new one. Real estate is something that caught my interest as of last year and I just started listening to the bigger pockets podcast from the beginning of this year and reading books. It's been a fun and great experience so far.

My goal is to be able to purchase my first real estate property before the end of next year and I'm beginning to develop a plan as I learn more. I know from listening to the podcast that many times things don't always go as plan which is not my biggest fear. My biggest fear is just knowing enough to do the first purchase which I know can lead to analysis paralysis. 

In the meantime I'm looking to get into the field of real estate (directly or indirectly) to work in so I can educate myself two fold as I begin my journey of investing. One of the fields that truly interest me is becoming a home inspector. Thought this was a great way to still meet others and learn about the conditions of houses and what to look for as I search for my own investment properties. Licensing in this state is not cheap and was hoping that maybe I can get help by getting some insight on how the market is for home inspectors. 

I've run my own business for several years so hard work and perseverance is not a problem. My worry is not knowing if there's enough work out there for me to make a decent wage throughout the year to keep supporting my family at home. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to something I can just google to see if anyone is hiring and if it is the case then I know there must be a problem because I don't see any post out there. I apologize ahead of time if this is too off topic as I know this is a real estate podcast; however, I was hoping someone on here knows something that could maybe help answer some questions for me or provide some insight. 

Thank you ahead of time and I appreciate you taking the time the time to read my post.

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  • Flipper/Rehabber · Phoenix Arizona · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 686 votes
    5y

    Do you have any construction background?

    Are you able to pull out a ladder and go into an attic access and on a roof?

    Two area's to think about first!

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Phoenix Arizona · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 686 votes
    5y

    Can ask me any questions or concerns it is good business if you can do 2-3 a day.

  • NJ · Member since 2020 · 9 posts · 3 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @David Avery:

    Can ask me any questions or concerns it is good business if you can do 2-3 a day.

    Thank you for taking the time to reply. I greatly appreciate it.

    Long story short is I come from a food auditing background for larger food manufacturing companies. I spent the last 6 years running a food business and now looking to educate myself and start something new. 

    I have no construction background but have no problem doing the grunt work. Getting into crawl spaces or on roofs wouldn't be a concern for me. 

    My thought was to get my licensce and work for a company for the first couple of years until I can feel comfortable developing my own processes. Then I would venture off on my own. My worry is I saw no job postings that were looking to hire home inspectors. So I thought maybe there's not a market for them or there mainly independent ? Not sure. 

    Is 2 to 3 inspections typical all year around? Is there a slow season for home inspectors? Coming from Jersey I'm sure it's different because of the climate changes but curious to what your experience has been. 

    Again, thank you in advance.

  • Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Johnathan Gonzalez:

    Hi Everyone. My name is John and I'm from Northern NJ. I'm in the middle of transitioning from my former career to a new one. Real estate is something that caught my interest as of last year and I just started listening to the bigger pockets podcast from the beginning of this year and reading books. It's been a fun and great experience so far.

    My goal is to be able to purchase my first real estate property before the end of next year and I'm beginning to develop a plan as I learn more. I know from listening to the podcast that many times things don't always go as plan which is not my biggest fear. My biggest fear is just knowing enough to do the first purchase which I know can lead to analysis paralysis. 

    In the meantime I'm looking to get into the field of real estate (directly or indirectly) to work in so I can educate myself two fold as I begin my journey of investing. One of the fields that truly interest me is becoming a home inspector. Thought this was a great way to still meet others and learn about the conditions of houses and what to look for as I search for my own investment properties. Licensing in this state is not cheap and was hoping that maybe I can get help by getting some insight on how the market is for home inspectors. 

    I've run my own business for several years so hard work and perseverance is not a problem. My worry is not knowing if there's enough work out there for me to make a decent wage throughout the year to keep supporting my family at home. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to something I can just google to see if anyone is hiring and if it is the case then I know there must be a problem because I don't see any post out there. I apologize ahead of time if this is too off topic as I know this is a real estate podcast; however, I was hoping someone on here knows something that could maybe help answer some questions for me or provide some insight. 

    Thank you ahead of time and I appreciate you taking the time the time to read my post.

     Johnathan, great to have you!

  • NJ · Member since 2020 · 9 posts · 3 votes
    5y
  • Inspector · Fort Lauderdale · Member since 2019 · 223 posts · 51 votes
    5y

    Dmitriy Congrats on your desire to be more independent, First visit nachi.org, or ASHI, this are the best home inspector associations in the nation. you might not see many job posting for home inspectors because most of them are one man business. Once you get a license that you need per your state than you need to find your state or local trades association or club, kind of like a union but different, you are not required to belong to any of them. But it helps, then with in those groups you will find people hiring for inspectors. If you have no experience I recommend working with one of this groups. then you can go independent. 

    Good Luck

  • Investor · Malakoff, TX · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    You don't have the background. It would take years for you to learn what is necessary to be a home inspector.

  • NJ · Member since 2020 · 9 posts · 3 votes
    5y

    @Reinaldo Lopez Thank you for the input. I will definitely look out for those groups. I definitely agree with going to work for someone for sometime before going on my own. 

    @Eric James This true. However, I would assume this would be from anything. Even real estate in itself takes years before learning everything properly. I know it won't be easy but anything that's worth it never is. Thank you for your response.

  • Investor · Malakoff, TX · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Johnathan Gonzalez:

    @Reinaldo Lopez Thank you for the input. I will definitely look out for those groups. I definitely agree with going to work for someone for sometime before going on my own. 

    @Eric James This true. However, I would assume this would be from anything. Even real estate in itself takes years before learning everything properly. I know it won't be easy but anything that's worth it never is. Thank you for your response.

    In that case, yes, you could do it. Go work construction for 5 years then start moving into home inspection. 

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