Do home inspectors make good money? An overview of home inspector career path
Many people believe a career in home inspection would be a great way to earn a living while working independently. The work is also interesting and rewarding since the inspector gets the chance to see many different homes, meet new people and gain access to parts of buildings that nobody else sees.
It has been seen that some home inspectors get to travel around the world as part of their job. One has to certainly consider home inspection when considering career paths.
The following is the career path of a home inspector:
Education
The first thing one has to do is acquire enough knowledge of the profession. There are different
ways for this, but if you’re interested in becoming a home inspector, you must attend classes at one of the reputed schools that offer the best online home inspector courses.
Course completion would provide the necessary certificate, though it can be challenging to find employment unless you have additional certifications.
Many of these courses offer opportunities for students to get accredited which allows them to join professional organizations and become part of a larger community of professionals dedicated to keeping standards high within the industry, which would be necessary to your career as a home inspector.
Experience
There are only two ways to gain experience in this profession: by working for someone else or with no assistance. Starting with an experienced inspector is highly advisable since they can guide you through the process and offer advice on how to do things or find information that will help you network and establish yourself in the field before you branch out on your own.
The other method is to work for free until you get enough experience and somehow discover how to start a business that is successful.
Appraisal route
Once you have gained some knowledge in this field, it would be possible to take the exam and become a certified appraiser. The first step toward this is to complete another course and study hard to pass the exams with good scores.
An appraisal will not only put money in your pocket but also give you additional business opportunities, as many people can benefit from hiring a home inspector.
Licensing
If you want to become a home inspector, you must pass the licensing exam. Certification is essential no matter what profession you enter into since it shows that you are knowledgeable. Getting licensed would allow you to work for other home inspection companies before branching out on your own, which means more money in your pocket.
You must renew this certification/license every few years, so you must remain up-to-date on the latest laws and requirements.
Self employment
Suppose you’re ambitious enough after gaining some experience through working for others or your free business model. In that case, you can consider becoming independent and establishing yourself as a self-employed inspector.
As many people believe, this is where the real money lies since you cut out all middlemen and get to keep 100% of the profits.
Home Inspection companies are looking for someone who will be able to inspect homes and find ways to make money for them. For this reason, it’s crucial to have some business skills and be knowledgeable about home inspection.
You can certainly consider receiving additional training in areas such as marketing and management so that you have all the necessary skills for success.