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New Home Inspectors - #1 Making the decision

When it comes to a business or career, there are two types of people. Those that just kind of fall into the business and those that decide to do it. Both ways can be successful and rewarding. I have completed and retired from my first career, the US Navy which I just kind of fell into. My dad was Navy, two brothers and one sister were in the Army, one brother in the Air Force and then the countless cousins, uncles and other family members that did their time in the military. Who was I to break tradition and do something different?

But my second career was of my choosing and that is what I want to talk about today. It may seem simple, but it can be the most important and a common cause of failure of new businesses or careers, but you must decide you want to do it. I mean really decide. I have seen many people in many industries do things half heartedly then wonder why they failed. I am firmly of the opinion that you must fully commit to a decision to obtain the best chances of success. I’m not saying you have to quit everything your doing, sell your belongings and join a cult. This is purely from a mental stand point but critical none the less. If you’re not committed to your decision, then you won’t commit to the steps required to be successful.

If you see that ad in the paper, or the commercial on TV that says, “Make $1000 a day, be a home inspector” and decide to do it, you are coming up short. First you must realize, that ad is trying to sell you something. And just like most advertisers, they always want to state the best case scenario and act as if that is the normal event. You need to find the truth because you and your family are the ones that will face the consequences. You need to immerse yourself in as much information about the industry as possible. Find out what it really takes to earn that $1000 a day. Determine if you have the resources to actually do it. Most importantly you need to figure out if you have the guts to really try. You need to make an informed decision; your future depends on it. I highly encourage you to talk to your family and anyone you can find who is in the related field. But in the end, there is only one thing you must do, and no matter what anyone else tells you, you are the only who can do it. You must decide.

Coming soon, step #2 - OK, I've decided to be a home inspector, now what?

Note: If you are thinking of becoming a home inspector, even if your my neighbor, contact me because yes, I'm willing to help.

John E. Coker

Family Home Inspection LLC

www.familyhomeinspection.com

john@familyhomeinspection.com

(757) 202-3282

Posted by John Coker - Virginia Beach Home Inspector on 01/19/2008 10:26 PM

Comments (4)

new home inspector, new career

This post has been included in Virginia Information Virginia Beach City County, VA Information Virginia Beach, VA Information
Post is included in group: Property Inspection Discussion
Post is included in group: Ethics and the home inspector
Post is included in group: Home Inspections
Post is included in group: Newbies Again

4 Comments on New Home Inspectors - #1 Making the decision

JAN

2008

All so true! It is sad at times.

JAN

2008

John, I hope you're putting this stuff on localism also.

Kentucky Home Inspector Startup

I'm also glad to see you're willing to help the local guy. The stronger we are as a group, the better it is for all of us.

A lot of inspectors don't recognize that, just worrying about their little piece of the pie.

$1,000.00 a day. Those schools like to push it out there. And it can be done. But what about the day before and the days after. People need to stretch that out to an annual projection. I know of no inspectors who are making $365,000 a year or even close to that.

A lot of inspectors don't recognize that, just worrying about their little piece of the pie.

Patience & persistence pay off. Good luck with your second career.

FEB

2008

Good luck John. I have been a home inspector 4 /2 years with 1538 inspections performed so far. I have made as much as $1580 in one day, doing 4 homes in summer with the long days, starting the first home that was vacant at 4:30 am so I could do the inside before the sun came up then doing the outside and finished by getting home about 9:30 pm. It was a killer day to say the least. No time for lunch, or breaks, just a marathon run all day long. Now, who wants to do that 6 or 7 days a week!? Not I! On average I will do 400 inspections a year, a lot of days in the summer doing three a day. That is about $1100 a day and is a full day but not a killer. But to be real, 2 a day is average. My AJS runs about $340. Do I like the job? Yes, it is a good job, but a heck of a lot of hours behind the scenes, on the phone, marketing, sending out reports, visiting real estate offices, answering idiot calls about the inspection like, Duh, where is my water heater? Oh, you have not been in the garage yet?? it is a lot of long hours. Typically I get up 5:15am each day, hit the paper work or marketing until 6:30, get cleaned up and out to the job at 7:15. Home about 5 or 6 in the winter time, home about 7-8 in the summer months. Well, one more thing about being a home inspector that brings a smile to me still is when you hear these comments "I never saw that how did you find it?" or "The INSPECTOR found this and I am sure glad he did" or "I have shown this home several times to clients and I never saw 'that'" So the job does have its good and bad side.

my ulr www.pillarposthomeinspection.com if you care to swap links just let me know

Yeah John, a series of posts about starting over and being a newbie again! Awesome, keep them coming! And, thanks for posting them in our group!

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