I have decided to take the plunge and start my own business. Since I have a lot of real estate experience, I have jumped into the Home Inpsection field. I have been working the past few months getting the state issued licenses, insurance, equipment, software, met with an accountant, etc. I just got the final paperwork from the state, so I got a website going. I am planning to go and network with realtors as much as possible for the next few months. Hopefully I can make a buck or two before Christmas!!

www.cooperhomeinspection.com

You better make plenty of money to get Angie's 69 RS/SS like she wants it !!!:beers:

Know about the NACHI forums?
http://www.nachi.org/forum/

I wish you the best in this endevor. My hat is off to you. Be the best you can be. I say that because some inspectors just do a half butt job. I have learned to hire an inspector that is insured.

Luck to you for sure, realtors are a clickish group, you have to call each and everyone every week to get business.....they FORGET real easy. I was attempting to buy a house before this one, the realtor said ..."I'll get my inspector he takes good care of me"
So I said okay, what I learned later was he takes good care of "ME"(aka the realtor) not the buyer or homeowner. Upon inspection inspector guy is doing his work, I am present, he looks at my shoes "you going on the roof? I wouldn't all the grain has washed off the shingles...those won't last a year"

The report showed "roof in good shape on one torn needs replaced!!!!!! I told the realtor "I'm not paying for that report" he said "YOU HAVE to pay for it or he'll sue you"
I laughed at him and said "Let him sue me and I'll call your stupid azz as a witness and tell the court how you falsified a report". Didn't hear another word of it.

i am going throught the 'inspection process' right now...all i can say about is this: it is a total racket. just the fact that realators/buyers have 'their guy' should tell you that its a BS practice.

home inspector can write his opinion on just about anything, and the language used on that report can be interpreted by the buyer/seller to their advantage and used as leverage.

i'd be all for it if the reports would also offer (neutral) realistic findings/final fixes and approximates of cost for those fixes. instead, the inspector's opinion will be used to justify further inspections by qualified electricians/structural eng's, etc...racking up further bills.

hence it's a racket.

you should do well-you'll be busy.

When we bought our first house, we were mildly impressed by the guy. He did a good job, not outstanding, but good.

When we sold that house, my wife called me to say she wanted to hire the guy the other couple had hired for when we needed to inspect the new house. She was thoroughly impressed with his attention to detail and how he spent so much time going over everything with the buyers. He used a pre-printed survey sheet and added notes for everything, then enters it all into the laptop, then you get a printed report right then and there. He takes the time to go over it with you. I bet he was here for 3 hours.

The house we bought (in now) was a foreclosure, and I told him at the scheduling time that it was an as-is sale, so we wanted the most thorough job he can do. He said there was only one way he does inspections, and there was no additional charge. I still have the 3 ring binder he gave us with the 1/4 ream of paperwork he included-mostly specifics to our house. This guy was in the attic, the crawl space, checked EVERY outlet and switch and the panel. He found coners of carpet to take up looking for water damage, etc. He also had an approximate price list from Home Depot for parts (and what was better choices) as well as a ballpark for contracted work for each job that needed attention. When we went to fixing the stuff that needed attention, he was within 10% of the prices.

the guy on my experienced missed several things....I pointed them out and he said ...."how do you know that"

LOL I told him I was the State Auditor For Inspectors....thought he was gonna turn green. But then told him I was kidding. I didn't have a problem with him personally.....just the AZZ Realtor he was friends with.

I've considered this as an occupation as well. Just didn't think I'd make enough $$. Maybe when I retire I'll take a crack at it. Like others have said here, the inspectors are in bed with the realtors or they are not working much. If you screw up a sale for them, they don't refer you to other buyers.
I glanced at your website....pretty slick! You charge about one-third of what they get here. Of course, we also have the high-end inspection service around here that serves the Greenwich/Wilton area. Does a great job but starts at $1,200. :eek:

Good luck!

I have a friend of mine is finishing up his schooling to get into this. He doesn't know squat about home inspecting or general construction for that matter. But he was a former sales person and he can network like a pro so he will get work. He has told me that the laws are changing to hold inspectors more accountable since there is so much crap getting thrown up these days. Good luck to ya and make sure you have good insurance.

I wish you luck my friend. Go out and make a ton of money.

Thanks guys. Maybe I can save up enough to make James' Elky as fast as my Lil Red Express... Right...

:noway: :noway: :noway: