It is pretty safe to say that there will always be a need for home inspectors.
Regardless of where you live, people will need your services.
When buying, building, or restoring a home after it is damaged, your services will be required.
Home inspectors make sure that the building is safe for habitation.
They identify any issues that may be significant.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests stability in the home inspector job market.
Pros of Being a Home Inspector
1. You Are Your Boss
Being a Home Inspector allows you to express your entrepreneurial flair.
If you have a commitment that doesn’t allow you to work on Tuesdays, no problem.
If you prefer not to crawl into tight spaces, you can refuse the job.
You decide when and where you want to work, and that is something that is a big pro for most people.
You only have to impress your clients with your work, not a boss who can be difficult to please.
2. You Can Make a Very Good Living
The median pay for a Home Inspector is $72,120 nationwide.
The range is from $46,000 to $122,000, depending on your experience, reputation, and location.
The time of year can also affect income.
The average salary is $34 per hour.
Your ability to earn will be affected by the level of market saturation for home inspectors in your location.
A normal home inspection takes between two and four hours, depending on the size and condition of the home.
3. Expected Job Security
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently over 140,000 jobs for home inspectors.
15,000 jobs will be available every year through 2033.
Growth in the industry is stagnant, but people will move to other jobs or retire from their current jobs, leading to openings.
As the economy improves and interest rates decrease, more homes will be listed for sale and require home inspections.
4. You Get to Work Outdoors
While not all the aspects of a home inspection are outdoors, some of them are.
Checking the windows, siding, roof, and chimney is all done from the exterior.
Looking for signs of termites, wood rot, and water egress will keep you outdoors.
If the home has a well and/or septic tank and leach field, these will be in the yard.
5. It Is Not an Expensive Career to Get Into
Home inspection is a career where on-the-job experience is more important than education.
A Home Inspector certificate can be obtained through many community colleges and online universities.
Having a Bachelor’s degree in architecture or a trade school certificate in electrical or plumbing will be useful.
The tools of the trade include a ladder, tape measure, flashlight, and voltage meter, for starters.
Each state has its own licensing and permitting requirements.
Ongoing education will keep you at the top of your game.
6. This Career Allows You to Use Your Construction Skills
Construction skills help you understand how a home should function.
Home inspection requires knowledge of construction, plumbing, and electrical systems.
An inspector with construction skills can determine whether cracks are due to normal settling or subsidence.
Knowledge of heating and cooling systems is also a big plus.
Knowing what is acceptable when it comes to masonry and foundation is a skill that will be used.
7. You Can Become a Specialized Home Inspector
If a home inspector detects specific issues, they may call in a specialized Home Inspector.
If the home is damp, the services of a Specialized Home Mold Inspector may be called for.
If evidence is seen of an insect infestation, a Specialized Home Termite Inspector should be contacted.
Once you have experience, it can lead to a state or municipal position with great benefits.
Cons of Being a Home Inspector
1. If You Are Claustrophobic, This Might Not Be the Right Career for You
In many parts of the country, homes do not have a basement.
This means that to examine the plumbing, you may have to crawl under a home.
Checking for termites and carpenter ants also requires getting underneath a home.
Not every home has an attic that you can stand up in.
Going up into the rafters of a garage or home may also require crawling on your belly.
If tight spaces disturb you, a career as a Home Inspector may be a challenge.
2. You Must Work in All Kinds of Weather Conditions
Neither rain nor snow, nor dead of night, will stop a dedicated Home Inspector from going about their assigned duties.
Home purchases and construction don’t stop when the weather goes bad.
You will need to have gear for all types of weather and be willing to go out when you would rather hunker down at home.
Customers won’t want a delay when they are waiting for their inspection.
They want to close on their home sale or move back in.
3. If You Are Afraid of Heights, It Is a Negative
Checking the roof, the guttering, and the chimney is all part of a home inspection.
If heights make you nervous, it is going to be an issue.
You will likely have to not only climb up to the edge of the roof but also get off the ladder onto the roof.
You need to be comfortable walking and climbing several stories above the ground.
4. If You Are Self-Employed, You Need to Provide Your Benefits
When you work for an employer, it usually provides employee benefits.
These can include health and life insurance, pension, workers’ compensation, and more.
You will also need to pay both the employer and the employee parts of Social Security and Medicare.
You also don’t get paid leave in the form of vacation and sick time.
If these are important to you, choose an occupation that provides them.
5. You Need to Be Knowledgeable About Local and State Standards
You will most likely have to take a certification test.
Many states and localities use the National Home Inspector Examination.
You need to study and be familiar with local standards and codes.
You will need to renew your certificate or license to make sure you are in compliance.
6. You Need to Do Ongoing Education
You will need to take continuing education courses yearly.
Standards are constantly changing.
It is important to keep up to date on the latest upgrades.
You may also need to upgrade the tools you use to meet the latest standards.
This is both a pro and a con; it is a lot of work, but it increases your value.
7. Competition May Be Very Keen
Depending on where you live and how active the home market is, you may have a lot of competition.
Make sure your reputation is stellar if you want to achieve success.
You need to rely on word of mouth from happy customers to help promote your business.
Making friends in the real estate community will help you get recommendations as well.
8. You Will Need to Build a Good Reputation
How much work you get will depend, in a large part, on how well you perform your inspections.
You need to be reliable and have reliable transportation.
Being timely will help to build your reputation.
Nobody likes to be kept waiting.
Networking will help you get your name and qualifications out there.
Hard work and accurate inspections will help you build a good reputation.
9. You Need to Maintain Your Standards Even Under Pressure
When you are under the gun, you still need to do a complete and accurate job.
If you do a shoddy inspection, you can be held to account by your client and the local or state authorities.
You may need to speak up and be sure you give your clients all they expect, even if they have to wait.
Being prepared to meet deadlines is a vital part of this job.
Be sure you are where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there.
Pros and Cons of Being a Home Inspector – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Home Inspector | Cons of Being a Home Inspector |
|---|---|
| 1. You Are Your Boss | 1. If You Are Claustrophobic, This Might Not Be the Right Career for You |
| 2. You Can Make a Very Good Living | 2. You Must Work in All Kinds of Weather Conditions |
| 3. Expected Job Security | 3. If You Are Afraid of Heights, It Is a Negative |
| 4. You Get to Work Outdoors | 4. If You Are Self-Employed, You Need to Provide Your Benefits |
| 5. It Is Not an Expensive Career to Get Into | 5. You Need to Be Knowledgeable About Local and State Standards |
| 6. This Career Allows You to Use Your Construction Skills | 6. You Need to Do Ongoing Education |
| 7. You Can Become a Specialized Home Inspector | 7. Competition May Be Very Keen |
| 8. You Will Need to Build a Good Reputation | |
| 9. You Need to Maintain Your Standards Even Under Pressure |
Should You Become a Home Inspector?
If you are considering a change of career or looking for a first career, being a home inspector offers good-paying employment with ample opportunity for career advancement.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is optimistic about the future of jobs in this sector.
Home inspection is not currently a growing field, but it is expected to maintain its current level of employment for the foreseeable future.
If you have the physical ability, stamina, and knowledge, being a Home Inspector offers an interesting career with growth potential.
