What does a home inspector do?
I inspect homes before buyers purchase them to make sure everything is OK. Basically, a home inspector looks for structural and operational problems in a house.
Why did you choose this field?
I’m a plumber by trade. But I can’t physically do the work anymore. I’ve had two back surgeries, and the work is just too taxing. But I had been doing home inspections on an informal basis for about six years because I’d been working with a general contractor. So, I figured that would be a good field to get into.
I already knew the basics of how to conduct a home inspection. After working with a general contractor for all these years, I knew what to look for. Once I started having my injuries, I couldn’t think of a better field for me.
What is your educational background?
I have a high school education and I took a home-inspector certification course in 1997. The course lasted seven days, about 10 hours each day. They crammed a lot of information into it. I took my course from the American Home Inspection Training Institute. They run a top-notch course. After all the instruction is done, they take you out on an actual home inspection so you can see how the process works.
I also took a marketing course. That’s been really important. You have to get out there and try to separate yourself from everyone else in the field. That’s hard to do, so having the marketing skills helps. It helps you figure out how to get to your customers. It helps improve your communication skills.
What’s an average day like?
I check my calendar to see what’s on it. Then before heading out to an inspection, I make sure I have all the right tools.
I like to go to my inspection sites early to get a feel for the area. I look at the other homes in the neighborhood to see how well they’ve been maintained. Then I go to the door and introduce myself to the owners of the home I’ll be inspecting. Until the real-estate agent and the buyers arrive, I stay on the outside of the home.
When the agent and buyers arrive, we all make our introductions. Then I encourage the buyers to go right along with me as I do the inspection. I want them to see what I’m looking at, to see what I find. This way I can answer any questions they might have. It’s also a good chance for them to see where everything is in the house they’re going to buy.
I’m pretty calm during an inspection. I’m not an alarmist. When I see something that might be a problem, I’m not going to throw up my arms and say, “You’re going to buy this house? What are you thinking?”
I’m just going to calmly explain to them what the problem is and what needs to be done to fix it. Everything can be fixed. That’s what people have to keep in mind.
I pride myself on education. I want to educate the buyers. My average inspection takes about two to 3 1/2 hours. Of course, that depends on the size of the house or condo. I am a thorough inspector. I don’t breeze through it.
When the inspection is over, I give the buyers a copy of my report and keep another copy for my records. I find out the buyers’ closing date. I always make sure to call the real-estate agent to see how everything went at the closing. I believe in following up.
When the market is good, I can work some long hours. I might do up to three inspections a day.
What’s the best thing about the job?
I like dealing with people. I like putting people’s minds at ease. Buying a house is the biggest investment these people are going to make. I like the fact that I can make them comfortable.
I always tell the buyers that certain parts of a home in five years will wear out. I warn them to put their money away so they can pay to repair or replace them.
I like when I’m finished and my buyers come up to me with a big smile on their face and tell me, “Mike, you did a fantastic job.” And when they tell me they’re going to recommend me to their friends, that’s a great feeling.
What’s the worst?
The most challenging thing is inspecting a home that has been neglected, or inspecting older homes. A lot of things are usually wrong with homes like that. Those inspections take more time. With older houses, people have to realize that there are going to be things that are not working. All things wear out with time.
What three attributes are essential to doing your job well?
You need people skills. You have to be able to communicate well with your clients.
You need knowledge of construction. Anyone can go through a training course. But if you already know construction, that puts you ahead of the game.
And finally, you have to like the challenge of being a detective. You have to look through a home’s crawlspace and attic. You have to make sure you don’t overlook anything. That’s a challenge.
Where would you like to go from here?
I hope to one day employ a couple of inspectors. I’d also like to get into commercial inspections. I’d like to expand my business.
What advice would you give someone interested in this field?
Do your homework. Study. There are lots of materials out there for home inspectors. Also, you should be sure to take a certification course. The education is priceless.
