Starting a Home Inspection Business
A few years ago all people could talk about was the how the real estate business was doomed. While the prices of real estate fluctuate constantly, one thing is consistent: people will always need to buy and sell and build houses. We all need a place to live. Sometimes people relocate for their jobs. Other times, families need to buy a bigger home to make room for a new arrival. Seniors often purchase smaller homes after retirement.
Because of this constant buying and selling of homes, people will always need home inspections. Most banks require a home to be thoroughly inspected before the mortgage will be processed. So starting a home inspection business can be a great way to break into the world of self-employment. Eventually you can build the business into a solid company company that provides a consistent source of income.
If you think you might want to start your own business as a home inspector, here are a few important things to keep in mind:
* Think about how you plan to build your brand. It is important to have a company website where potential customers can learn about you and your business. Develop a logo and use it on everything you can from advertisements to uniforms and lanyards. Today ribbon lanyards can be imprinted with your business name, logo, and colors. Use them for you and your employees or give them away as marketing materials.
* If you don't know much about the rest estate business, find a way to learn all you can about it. You can take some classes and train under an established home inspector before you decide to break out on your own. By doing this you will learn how to avoid costly mistakes and the best and most efficient ways to operate on a day-to-day basis.
* Most professional inspectors get more business when they join a professional association like the ASHI or the NAHI. These affiliations give potential clients a feeling of integrity and security when they hire you. These associations also provide plenty of mentoring, professional development and resource opportunities for you and your growing business. These tools will be helpful down the road if you decide you want to expand.
* Learn from a professional. Just because you've purchased a home before doesn't mean you know what to look for when it's time to inspect a home. You need to be able to identify issues like leaks, cracks in the foundation, and roofing problems. Things that look small now can become huge problems later. You will be responsible for explaining the cause of these issues to homebuyers and help them understand what might be required to repair them later.
* You should never operate without obtaining errors and omissions insurance. This business insurance for home inspectors protects you in the event you miss a hazard or problem during one of your inspections.
Starting a home inspection business can be rewarding and lucrative for the right person.
Because of this constant buying and selling of homes, people will always need home inspections. Most banks require a home to be thoroughly inspected before the mortgage will be processed. So starting a home inspection business can be a great way to break into the world of self-employment. Eventually you can build the business into a solid company company that provides a consistent source of income.
If you think you might want to start your own business as a home inspector, here are a few important things to keep in mind:
* Think about how you plan to build your brand. It is important to have a company website where potential customers can learn about you and your business. Develop a logo and use it on everything you can from advertisements to uniforms and lanyards. Today ribbon lanyards can be imprinted with your business name, logo, and colors. Use them for you and your employees or give them away as marketing materials.
* If you don't know much about the rest estate business, find a way to learn all you can about it. You can take some classes and train under an established home inspector before you decide to break out on your own. By doing this you will learn how to avoid costly mistakes and the best and most efficient ways to operate on a day-to-day basis.
* Most professional inspectors get more business when they join a professional association like the ASHI or the NAHI. These affiliations give potential clients a feeling of integrity and security when they hire you. These associations also provide plenty of mentoring, professional development and resource opportunities for you and your growing business. These tools will be helpful down the road if you decide you want to expand.
* Learn from a professional. Just because you've purchased a home before doesn't mean you know what to look for when it's time to inspect a home. You need to be able to identify issues like leaks, cracks in the foundation, and roofing problems. Things that look small now can become huge problems later. You will be responsible for explaining the cause of these issues to homebuyers and help them understand what might be required to repair them later.
* You should never operate without obtaining errors and omissions insurance. This business insurance for home inspectors protects you in the event you miss a hazard or problem during one of your inspections.
Starting a home inspection business can be rewarding and lucrative for the right person.
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