
Should I become a home inspector?
Home inspectors are always in demand. As long as property is exchanging hands (which it always is), home inspectors are in business. By 2026, experts are predicting the housing inspection business will keep growing beyond the national average; homes will sell faster, and buyers will be younger, giving you repeat business down the road — meaning once you become a home inspector, you’ve got ...
How much does a home inspection cost?
Key Takeaways
- A home inspection usually costs between $300–500, but can run as high as $600–800 for a larger home.
- Buyers typically pay for home inspections and schedule them after their offer is accepted.
- Home inspections aren’t mandatory, but they’re the best way for you to be informed about the condition of your potential new home.
What does a home inspector look for?
Home inspectors look for signs of damage and deterioration. Anything in the home that may need to be repaired or replaced in order to ensure the house is fit for habitation. Standards are high when a home is inspected, and even the smallest defects will be noted down.
What does it mean to be a home inspector?
Home inspectors perform routine inspections for the purposes of purchase, sale, or maintenance. Home inspector responsibilities and duties may vary; generally speaking, a home inspector will assess and inspect the overall condition of the property.
Why do you need a home inspector?
What is the upshot of home inspectors?
Why do sellers need inspections?
How many homes were sold in 2020?
Is there a demand for home inspectors?
Do you have to inspect your home before closing?
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Is it hard to make money as a home inspector?
Home inspectors can make a substantial income, particularly if they own their own inspection company. But starting up a business can be difficult. “[My first year of revenue] was a very small number,” Ashburn said. “But I was working part-time doing three different jobs.
How do I succeed as a home inspector?
Technical knowledgeFind a mentor.Get licensed or professionally certified.Join a professional home inspection association, such as InterNACHI or ASHI.Continue inspection training.Go on walkthroughs with different specialists (even later in your career)Ask a lot of questions.More items...•
What is the future of home inspection?
The home inspection industry was a growing one before the pandemic, and it's still likely to continue that trend in years to come. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inspector employment is projected to grow at a 3% rate from 2019 to 2029.
Where do home inspectors make the most money?
Highest paying cities for Home Inspectors in CaliforniaSan Jose, CA. $70,855 per year. 8 salaries reported.Los Angeles, CA. $66,816 per year. 12 salaries reported.San Diego, CA. $65,323 per year. 15 salaries reported.Sacramento, CA. $65,110 per year. 10 salaries reported.Monterey, CA. $63,736 per year. ... Show more nearby cities.
What do home inspectors look for?
A home inspector will look at the interior and exterior parts of home like the foundation, structural components, roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, then provide a written home inspection report with results.
What does a home inspector do?
A Property Inspection is a detailed and systematic visual inspection of the property, its structures, design and fixtures that will provide a transparent understanding of the property's 'vital signs and condition as observed on the inspection date.
What are red flags in a home inspection?
Potential red flags that can arise during a property home inspection include evidence of water damage, structural defects, problems with the plumbing or electrical systems, and mold and pest infestations. The presence of one or more of these issues could be a dealbreaker for some buyers.
What are the most common problems found in home inspections?
The 10 most-common home inspection problemsProblem #1: Rundown roofing. Asphalt shingle roofs last 15 to 20 years. ... Problem #2: Drainage issues. ... Problem #3: Faulty foundation. ... Problem #4: Plumbing problems. ... Problem #5: Pest infestations. ... Problem #6: Hidden mold. ... Problem #7: Failing heating systems. ... Problem#8: Electrical wiring.More items...•
What are 5 very important things that are inspected in a home inspection?
The top five things home inspectors look forFoundation. The foundation is the workhorse of a house. ... Roof. Roof quality and performance can also make or break a house deal. ... Plumbing. Is there anything worse than a leak? ... Electrical systems. ... HVAC system.
What type of inspector makes the most money?
Federal government inspectors earn similarly to private sector inspectors, while state inspectors are paid the least....The industries with the highest pay are:Utilities, $85,800.Transportation and warehouse, $79,400.Manufacturing, $69,300.
How much do top home inspectors make?
A study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that the 2020 median pay for professional home inspectors throughout the country was just over $62,000 per year. Of these, the highest 10% of inspectors earned more than $97,000 per year, while those in the lowest 10% brought in less than $35,000 per year.
How much do Texas home inspectors make?
How Much Does a Home Inspector Make in Texas? The average annual salary for a home inspector in the state of Texas can exceed $100,000 per year or $48.07 per hour. Of course, if average is your goal, you won't be self-employed for long. You stand to make much more when you become the BEST.
What are red flags in a home inspection?
Potential red flags that can arise during a property home inspection include evidence of water damage, structural defects, problems with the plumbing or electrical systems, and mold and pest infestations. The presence of one or more of these issues could be a dealbreaker for some buyers.
How long does a home inspection take in Florida?
2 to 3 hoursA typical inspection lasts 2 to 3 hours. While you're encouraged to be at the inspection and ask questions, you also want to give the inspector an opportunity to focus on the home and their findings!
How long does a home inspection take in Texas?
two to three hoursTypically, a home inspection will take two to three hours or more and include a check of the home's structural and mechanical condition.
Who attends a home inspection in Florida?
In most cases, the property buyer will attend the inspection, either for all or part of it. Sometimes the buyer will bring along their agent or friends and family members. If the buyer is unable to attend the assessment, their agent will usually step in and accompany the inspector.
Everything you need to know about home inspector job prospects
Besides setting your own hours and the ridiculous paycheck, one of the best things about being a home inspector is that your services will always be in demand. The ebb and flow of the housing market might affect you (a little), but the gist of it is: As long as property is exchanging hands, home inspectors are in business.
Sign up. Get certified. Make money
ATI’s home inspection training courses get you trained, certified and ready to make more than you ever have before. Get certified, and do what home inspectors do best: make money. No excuses; ATI offers classes for any schedule:
How much does a home inspector make?
However, the average home inspector salary in the US is around $58,000 a year.
What is the job of a home inspector?
Type of Employment for Home Inspectors. Home inspector employment falls under two main categories, self-employment as an independent inspector or working for a home inspection company . Inspectors with the same employment status can have different incomes.
Why do inspectors make more money?
Areas with higher demand for home inspections are where inspectors will make more money, as a result of natural supply & demand.
What are the different types of inspections?
The most common types of employment in either category are: 1 Self-employed, solo inspector 2 Self-employed with 1 or more employees 3 Self-employed franchise owner 4 Employee/partner of solo inspector company 5 Employee of multi-inspector company 6 Employee of franchised company
Is full time inspectors paid more than part time inspectors?
An obvious factor, full time vs. part time employment determines salary. Full time inspectors will almost always bring in a higher salary than part time inspectors.
Do you have to be licensed to be an inspector?
Some states don’t require inspectors to be licensed, however clients often choose licensed inspectors over unlicensed ones. This is because having a license increases the trustworthiness of an inspector.
Can an inspector have different incomes?
Inspectors with the same employment status can have different incomes. This is because of the following factors.
How many home inspectors are there in the US?
The North American home inspection industry is made up of only about 30,000 inspectors in the U.S. and Canada (nearly 25,000 of whom are members of InterNACHI®), and most of you are about to get swamped with home inspection jobs. Start preparing now for the upcoming boom. I'll explain what is happening with this global coronavirus pandemic, what is going to happen economically, and what home inspectors should do now to succeed.
Why are home inspectors exempt from stay at home orders?
Furthermore, there are these the "stay-at-home" orders. It doesn't much matter that home inspectors are exempt because home inspections are an "essential service" (because we find safety and health issues). The orders prevent real estate transactions from occurring.
Why do people have to sell their homes?
Third, some people will have to sell their homes and move out because they've lost income and won't be able to afford to live in their homes any longer. That's simply a result of an abrupt disruption in the economy.
How does economic disruption affect real estate?
Disruption ultimately increases the number of real estate transactions, which, in turn, increases the demand for home inspections. So, you may be asking why this particular economic disruption will increase the number of real estate transactions. There are many reasons:
Is Internachi a home inspector school?
And, again, InterNACHI® offers 45 different certifications. InterNACHI® is the only home inspector school in the industry accredited by the U.S. Dept. of Education. Clean, organize and prepare.
Is there going to be an increase in demand for toilet paper?
People aren't holding back bowel movements until the virus pandemic ends. So, when it finally does end, there isn't going to be an increased demand for toilet paper. Americans may be hoarding toilet paper now, but they aren't going to need more in the future.
Is it illegal to fix the price of a home inspection?
Now, as the founder of InterNACHI ®, I'd love to be able to set the minimum price of a home inspection at $1,000 for the entire industry. But price-fixing is illegal. The Federal Reserve, however, fixes the cost of money all the time. They set interest rates for all of us. They do this because if interest rates were allowed to float, they'd rise, and we'd all have savings earning interest (which would be great). But the government wouldn't be able to service their debt and the U.S. would have to default again.
Why do you need a home inspector?
The vast majority of home inspections are tied to real estate transactions — specifically, a home buyer will hire a home inspector as part of their due diligence before the sale goes through. A thorough home inspection alerts buyers to major problems with a home that could end up costing them money down the line. This information empowers the buyer to negotiate a better price on the property or to walk away from a contingency offer if the property turns out to be significantly worse than expected.
What is the upshot of home inspectors?
The upshot for home inspectors? People aren’t giving up on finding their dream homes any time soon, and all those real estate transactions represent an enormous business opportunity for qualified home inspectors — especially ones who can move quickly to meet rising demand in hot markets.
Why do sellers need inspections?
Some home inspections are also done on behalf of home sellers, usually to help them focus on the most necessary repairs to make before putting their house on the market. A seller’s inspection report can be a value marketing tool for real estate agents and contribute to smoother transactions when offers begin to roll in.
How many homes were sold in 2020?
According to the National Association of Realtors, home sales in the year 2020 topped 5.64 million units — meaning that well over 5 million residential units were sold during the year of the pandemic.
Is there a demand for home inspectors?
Given the current real estate, labor, and economic trends, there’s plenty of reason to think that demand for home inspectors will remain high for some time to come. If you’re ready to start your career as a home inspector, HomeGauge is here to support you. Check out our Learning Center for advice on everything from getting referrals from real estate agents to advice about how much to charge for your services.
Do you have to inspect your home before closing?
and some furniture and appliances are backlogged by manufacturers, forcing construction companies to wait as the economy ramps back up. In the meantime, that means buyers are turning to existing homes — all of which should be inspected before closing the sale.
