Anyone here in the home inspection business? Looking for some supplemental income and seriously thinking about taking the necessary courses and becoming certified/licensed. Was planning on pursuing this once I retired, but figured now's a good time as any to go part time before then. Anyone have any good or bad experiences/pointers on pursuing this? For reference, I'm currently in oil & gas, but have a Cosc degree with minor in business. Worked as a superintendent/pm for 7 years before jumping into O&G.

You might want to consider doing inspections for lenders on construction draws.

COSCAG67 said:

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You might want to consider doing inspections for lenders on construction draws.

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Not a bad idea. I also looked into becoming an appraiser, but man there's a lot of red tape involved.

I looked into that as well…. It's the years of apprenticeship that were a no go for me. I have a couple cousins that do it and they warned against it.

I was actually going to post soon about a good friend of mine that's currently a home inspector for last 6 months and trying to figure out his path.

He had similar thoughts that it sounded like an interesting and potentially rewarding gig, be his own boss, etc. He started with an inspection company that sold more opportunities for inspections per day than it ended up being (inspectors were doing three houses a day when he was talking to the owner, now he gets two houses a day max and some days just one). The percentage he gets of each inspection also isn't that high so at the end of the day with mileage and gas prices so high, he doesn't make a ton per inspection.

If you can find a hookup to have a flexible schedule (most folks are referred to inspectors by their realtors, so thats the way to get in the door), have all the inspections in a small radius of you (to save gas $, and vehicle wear and tear), and have a fair bit of time and some cash for the certification process, then doesn't sound like a bad gig. If not, it seems like it would be tough for it to be worth it.

When I was a kid, my dad did home inspections as a second job after work and on the weekends. He stopped in 08 when home purchases drastically slowed down and the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.

Between driving to the home, doing the actual inspection, and then typing and delivering the report, it would take him between 3-4 hours.

FancyKetchup14 said:

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When I was a kid, my dad did home inspections as a second job after work and on the weekends. He stopped in 08 when home purchases drastically slowed down and the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.

Between driving to the home, doing the actual inspection, and then typing and delivering the report, it would take him between 3-4 hours.

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This is along the same lines as I want to do. Just want to inspect a couple a week, and then maybe go full time in a few years when I retire. Any type of supplemental income right now is better than nothing!

Aggie521 said:

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FancyKetchup14 said:

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When I was a kid, my dad did home inspections as a second job after work and on the weekends. He stopped in 08 when home purchases drastically slowed down and the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.

Between driving to the home, doing the actual inspection, and then typing and delivering the report, it would take him between 3-4 hours.

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This is along the same lines as I want to do. Just want to inspect a couple a week, and then maybe go full time in a few years when I retire. Any type of supplemental income right now is better than nothing!

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What city are you in?

COSCAG67 said:

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Aggie521 said:

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FancyKetchup14 said:

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When I was a kid, my dad did home inspections as a second job after work and on the weekends. He stopped in 08 when home purchases drastically slowed down and the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.

Between driving to the home, doing the actual inspection, and then typing and delivering the report, it would take him between 3-4 hours.

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This is along the same lines as I want to do. Just want to inspect a couple a week, and then maybe go full time in a few years when I retire. Any type of supplemental income right now is better than nothing!

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What city are you in?

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Beaumont - MidCounty area

My FIL took this up as a retirement hobby and dropped it after 6 months or so. Just wasn't getting enough business to make it worth it.

Username Absolute is/was a home inspector (and a really good one!).

May want to send him a PM

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You might want to consider doing inspections for lenders on construction draws.

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Interesting idea.

Does each lender have their own people who do this? Any certs needed? Or do the banks/lenders just pay to have someone take a draw sheet to the construction site, compare it to the progress, and give a quick report Yay or Nah that work is being completed in accordance with draws?

My FIL tried the home inspection gig for retirement income. Less than a year in - he sold me his inspection tool bag and it's contents for $80 and said no more, never again. His biggest issue was customer base. The guy he started with was a couple hours from the house and that's where he was getting referrals. He didn't have an in with local realtors to get established locally.

X2 about what someone else said, lender inspections on residential construction. My cousins quit her teaching job and her husband may quit his paramedic job to pursue these type inspections full time.

TikkaShooter said:

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Quote:

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You might want to consider doing inspections for lenders on construction draws.

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Interesting idea.

Does each lender have their own people who do this? Any certs needed? Or do the banks/lenders just pay to have someone take a draw sheet to the construction site, compare it to the progress, and give a quick report Yay or Nah that work is being completed in accordance with draws?

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That's a part if it, but they expect you to keep them updated on the schedule, change orders, lien waivers, material testing reports, and a few other things.