As most experienced home inspectors know the first 100 or so inspections they did as new inspectors were really on the job learning. Most home inspection companies are single inspector so you are really on your own and frankly learning at the customers expense.Most new Realtor's have a big advantage in this area because the office will usually provide mentoring.
When the Washington Home Inspector's Legislative Advisory Group was crafting the language for Washington Home Inspector law we felt strongly that there should be a mentoring component. Ultimately this turned in a 40 hour component which is a drop in the bucket compared to the 1 year apprentice appraisers are required to do.
Many people who enter the industry feel they can transition from swinging a hammer doing construction to home inspection. That is so far from the truth its laughable. In the old days builders used to do it all and had a broad range of framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical and heating skills. Today all builders use subcontractors who specialize in a given trade so very few are generalists. Home Inspectors are generalists who need to be knowledible in all areas of the home. Take heating for example there are baseboard, force air, radiant and radiators. Possible energy sources are electric, gas, LPG, thermo and solar. We need to know each combination, correct installation and what could possibly go wrong. In most cases there is not enough time in the classroom to teach this stuff and mentoring is one opportunity to give the new inspector some experience on the systems.
Another area that schools don't do a great job at is business practices. This area ranges from taking customer inquiries to handling complaints. The mentor can actually show the student how an inspection job starts in the office to when the inspection report is delivered and the records are stored.
Many inspectors fail due to the lack of business process, good financial management and lack of marketing. A good mentor program will show them how the pieces fit together in a live, working setting.
Our Washington Home Inspector Mentoring page
Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
Washington State License #312
ASHI Certified #249557
NAHI Member of the Year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764
;)
;)
When I was a general contractor in Texas, if the plumber didn't show up, I did plumbing that day.
If the electrician didn't show up, I did electrical that day.
If the roofer didn't show up, I did roofing that day.
We had to know it all.
The benefit was that our projects never came in late or over budget.
Out here in California, if the plumber doesn't show up, oh well. Now we're a day late. If the electrician doesn't show up, oh well. Now we're two days late.
There's a reason why California real estate is expensive and there are many reasons why construction out here never comes in under budget or on time.