Interesting. Never thought of doing it that way.
I’m embedded in HomeGauge though.
Website. The whole works
You can start by not getting involved in all the stuff that other people make money on (ancillary services, warranties etc…). Home Adviser is a good example. They stage a bidding war, driving down your prices and overall industry prices and quality. They advertise providing professional contractors when in fact a professional does not have the time or desire to deal with a Home Adviser client who’s first objective is obvious when using Home Advisor because it is “Totally Free to Use”. That’s because your funding this whole scam.
Next, instead of trying to do more inspections per day, you do better inspections where your expertise and advise is invaluable to your clients and even REA’s (who are your source of referral).
When you get calls asking for assistance and opinion vs. another inspection because you can stamp out so many reports, that is the indication of the true opinion people have of you. That is when people ask if your available to help them vs. how much do you charge…
Want to make more money? Quit trying to make more money and find a way to do a better job. Ask any retired or crusty old inspector still hanging around who made more money in the last year of service trying to slow down and retire. Jacking up your rates to avoid a job, and they hire you anyway.
An insurance company called me Monday about doing a small thermal job for a customer. I gave them a $1,200.00 price. They replied that they had someone else do a similar job for $650. “That’s nice”. Their customer hired me anyway. The job turned out so easy I gave them a $200 discount. They gave me a yearly contract…
This is how making money goes…
You can’t get there pissing off and fighting with Realtors, Contractors, AHJ’s and other Inspectors. Provide the services your clients want and need, not a cheap price. You can’t get there through shortcut schemes and apps. You have to do the time. If you last, and realize when your not competing against everyone anymore, you can make some good money.
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Ssmith49- I typically walk around with a floor plan and make notes on it so I know where things were. Then take a lot of photos. 200+.
I then go home, upload the photos, and start writing the report using both. Again though, the floor plan is really more of a guide to where I observed something. Just short notes.
I have the HomeGauge Companion on my phone but have never gotten into using it. I’m sure this is because I’m not good at using it, but I find that it slows me down tremendously at the inspection and there is always someone that has somewhere to be that doesn’t want me to take any longer than needed.
I’ve considered that if I maybe used the HomeGauge companion on a device with a stylus and handwriting recognition (if that’s even possible) that would maybe be helpful.
The desktop app is just way easier for me.
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Radon, termite, sewer video scope all raised my hourly rate and are easy to write reports.
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Darren,
I was struggling with the same dilemma a year ago. I was inspecting “on the fly”, taking pictures on my phone, jotting down notes, etc. and then writing the report using some antiquated software that was inexpensive when I was first getting started. The report would take me all night and sometimes next morning to complete. Much of that was having to find the appropriate picture(s) in a file explorer, place them into the proper spot in the report, edit them with highlights, etc., caption them, and so forth. It was killing me, needless to say. I was starting to wonder if I had made a good choice LOL. I am a very detailed inspector and it sounds like you are, too. There is nothing wrong with it, but you have to find a way to be efficient while still being detailed for your customers. Switching to Spectora changed the game for me. I spent A LOT of time setting up my templates and comment library, but it has been worth it in the end. I use the mobile app on my phone on site and I can get 75% or more of the inspection done right in the app. My eventual goal is 90+% on site, if not 100%. I set up my template more or less as a checklist that reminds me of all the things I need to check room by room and system by system. I rarely forget anything now. Also, pictures and short videos get placed right into the report as I go now. Occasionally I will find a defect that I do not have a comment for already and the app lets me create a new comment and take the pics/videos and add it to the new comment on the fly and then I just add some language to it later before publishing. When I do these new comments, I also make sure I check the box for “add to template” so I am building my comment library/template every day more and more. If I want to add in some additional photos/videos later to the report from other camera(s), using 2 screens on a home office PC lets me drag and drop the photo/video right into the report exactly where I need it. This works well for drone pics, pole pics, and infrared pics, too. See if there is an inspector in your area using the HG companion (I hear it is similar to the Spectora mobile app) and see if he/she would be willing to let you tag along on an inspection or two to get the hang of how they do things efficiently. Stick with it and make a goal each day of trying to do something new/different to see if you can improve even in some small way.
As far as ancillary services, DEFINITELY do that! I do Radon, Mold, and Water Sampling. If you do Radon, invest in a CRM - it gives quick turnarounds for results and you save money in the long run not having to deal with lab and shipping fees. As far as mold testing versus the Mitigation companies, I sell my testing as “independent”. I do not do remediation, so I have no skin in that game. I tell my customers to have me do independent testing both before AND after mitigation. Water testing is easy to do as well, just check your local requirements for certifications and protocol. I offer all 3 ancillary services as independent services, too - I just charge more (a trip fee) when I am doing them standalone as opposed to “bundled” with the Inspection.
Hang in there - you’re wise reaching out for advice and you are getting quite a bit of good advice here so far!
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asleezer-
Sure. I just redacted all the personal info from one of my reports. I removed the summary, invoice, and agreement to make it shorter for everyone. It’s not necessarily one of my best. Just picked at random.
My reports are normally uploaded to HomeGauge where they look their best. When I print a report to PDF as I did here, all the formatting gets wonky, and some parts do not neatly fit on one page as they do in the online version. So my apologies for the layout.
I know reading and evaluating someone else’s report is time consuming so I just want to say “thank you” in advance to anyone that does this for me. I really do appreciate the insight and advice.
Don’t beat me up too badly but be honest, lol. I haven’t been doing this as long as many of you.
Sample Report.pdf (7.8 MB)
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From just a quick look at your report, I would stick to noting deficiencies not things that are correct. adding correct things noted on your report takes away from what is a defect. Things like arrows on pictures and wording at the pictures is only helpful if it adds. If you have a defect that is clear in the picture there’s no reason to add additional.
Several places in your report you define what items are. If they need further clarification they can always ask but they can Google the definition of flashing… this is causing your reports to be longer than most people will want to read. You may want to adjust Picture sizes.
2.2 number one windows you said you observe some deficiencies which will be noted below in the report. I think it’s redundant.
If there’s no deficiency. We market inspected and move on we don’t put a picture of it in the report. (we do take extra pictures, but many of these do not end up in the report)
Several places you say things like can likely be fixed using a PVC joint compound. It’s your job to identify the defect it’s the contractors job to determine how it should be fixed.
There’s no reason to identify the defect in both of the description and at the picture location.
Take a look at the sample report I have on my website. If you would like some more to look at let me know when I can send them to you.
All intended to be constructive criticism. Report looks thorough looks like you’ve got some good knowledge!
-Drew
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Do you draw the floor plans ?
Ok after page 26 I have had enough. It’s too much useless information. Sorry I don’t mean to be mean!
You asked us for tips on making more money. Before I got into home inspection I spent over 40 years building as a licensed General Building Contractor. I’m still active and the background gives me credibility.
Tip #1
You must have the practical experience building for money. Hopefully licensed.
The gentleman that mentored me was a 30year home inspector veteran who also taught grammar school for 35years.
Tip#2
My mentor enlightened me to the fact that most people have a 6th grade reading level and comprehension. So keep your report simple. Not long. A 13-15 page report at about 18 font with 8-10 photos will be enough.
Provide an on site inspection checklist of about 6 pages with your written comments (notes) being a separate report. You can call it your Field Report. The client can use it as a punch list for repairs.
Tip #3
Build a generic template using a Word program. With general terms that you commonly use.
Example: Heat is provided by a -year-old, ,000 Btu, electric, gas, wall, forced-air, condensing, furnace by, located in the (see below).
Photo
So eliminate what’s not the correct description and add what is needed.
Building a Template will take some time initially. But you should only need to spend 90 minutes preparing and sending your written report out.
Your goal should be to make $100 per hour. A
12-1500 sq ft. House you should inspect on-site in 90 minutes.
Total time ideally 3 hours.
As hard as you’re working now you should be able to do 9-10 Inspections per week if you execute these 3 tips.
My first year out was nearly a 100k year in earnings and 188 Inspections.
The fact is that your clients don't want to read about loose door knobs. That's not what will cost them . Deficient systems will cost them $. So stick to reporting only on the SOP.
Be proficient on the SOP before adding specialty Inspections. I hope something offered here will help!
Darrin,
I’re read your report and it looks incredibly detailed and informative. Is this the type and quality of product that other inspectors are providing in your area?
It may be that you’re an outlier. Providing a MUCH higher level of product than the rest of the inspectors in your area.
I think, like others have said, you should charge more. The alternative would be to compromise your quality and increase your volume.
Think of this business like the car business. You have Chevrolet that turns out thousands of cars each year, most of them pretty good. And Rolls Royce that turns out hundreds. Also pretty good cars. But they’re marketed to different segments of the market.
If you’re going to be a Rolls Royce of inspection reports you have to charge appropriately for it and market that product to a very specific segment.
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If that’s all I got, I’d ask for my money back.
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No. I don’t draw my floor plans.
Here in the NYC area, I look the property up on StreetEasy, Zillow, or similar, and most of the time there is a floor plan with the listing. So I save those to my computer, and then delete all the square footage, names of rooms, etc. leaving me more room write on it. This is a pretty quick and easy process. I do it before each job if possible. If there isn’t a floor plan then I usually sketch a sloppy one onsite, but I wouldn’t include my sloppy floor plan in the report like I do with the real ones.
Using a floor plan helps me a lot as I’m no good at using the HomeGauge mobile app. Granted I haven’t tried to master it either.
Thank you everyone that took time to look over my report and offer your insights. I haven’t yet had time to really absorb it all but will soon. It looks like a lot of constructive ideas and opinions and I am grateful for your honestly.
It seems the first order of business would be to make my report writing faster.
Some mention ancillary services. I realize that helps make more money for inspectors but I often feel like that’s what those services are intended for (making money) and not always necessary for the client.
Here in the NYC area we have very low radon levels so, while I do have a digital radon meter, I have never used it aside from on my own home for fun.
With mold, you can often see it. Once you identify it there doesn’t seem to be much reason to lab test for exactly which mold it is. You just get rid of it.
I do carry lead swabs for testing suspect chipping paint.
I don’t do anything special for asbestos, but compared to the others that does seem maybe more worthwhile for the client since it can be hard to identify. Currently, I will just mention that something might contain asbestos. I don’t send anything to a lab myself.
It also sounds like most of you don’t feel the extra licenses are that worth it: quicker report writing is more important. So I guess working on my reporting will be the first order of business.
Something I didn’t mention: I sort of started this with the idea in my mind of providing a report (especially to first home buyers) that doubles as almost like a manual to the home. Showing them where everything is and basically how it works to help make it all seem less overwhelming. This seems to have made me stand out compared to some other inspectors in the area but sadly it may be too much work to be worth it unless I were to offer that type of report as a more expensive option rather than just doing it that way all the time. It also came sort of naturally due to how detail oriented I am - so in that way I am being true to myself so to speak, doing what I do best, or what fits me more, but yeah… It seems I’ll have to change to make the process more lucrative.
I could charge more, but honestly I think that would lose me jobs over other inspectors. Most of my business is from real estate pros. They give 2-3 names to their clients and then they choose one. If I’m the most expensive I may get less jobs than I do now. At least that is my concern.
That’s funny Stephen,
If your report was complete and addressed all the requirements of our SOP. Why wouldn’t A 13-15 page report at about 18 font with 8-10 photos be enough?
Time is money and lots of extra paper and information is irrelevant to your buyer anyway.
To this day I have never been asked for a refund.
It’s perfect… If that’s the service you’re offering. I couldn’t find an example when I looked for one, so it appears that your end product doesn’t figure prominently in your marketing - no mystery there.
I’ve personally never inspected a house where you could possibly cram all of the deficiency descriptions in 8-10 pages, even using an 8pt font, much less a bloated 18.
BTW: I’ve used Stephen’s services. I can assure you that If he had sent an 8-10 page report, I would have requested my money back.
I’m all for exceptionally detailed inspections and reports, but as you have learned, that comes at a significant cost in time and effort. You can’t charge average prices and be exceptional in service and still be successful in your business. You need a business plan and you need to be analytical in your pricing Working RE Home Inspector: How to Price Your Services? If it’s going to take you two days to produce an average report, your average fee needs to be well north of $1,000
Looking at your report, I didn’t read every word and none of your clients will either, there’s a lot of custom written filler that doesn’t really add value. Remember, when they’re in the process of buying a home, they have a hundred priorities going on and limited time to devote to any of them. It’s not the time for them to read a whole house manual. They need to know those things that are important to them in making an informed decision about their home purchase. Anything outside of that in your report is a distraction.
Much of the content of your report is “example photos” (i.e., non-defect related) and custom-written captions. These consume your time, bloat the report (I don’t mean that pejoratively) and make it more difficult for your client to get the info that they need because what’s important to them is buried amongst the inconsequential. This IMO not only consumes great quantities of your time, but it also diminishes the value of your work product for the purpose that your client hired you for - it’s completely counter-productive.
Be true to your nature. Be ruthlessly thorough in your inspections and reporting, but apply your efforts where they will actually benefit your client. Think back to when you bought your own home and all that you were going through in that compressed timeframe. Put yourself in the client’s position and consider what they really need and can absorb in that timeframe. Scour your reports and eliminate anything that does not directly contribute to their immediate needs.
If you’re going to deliver exceptional service, then you need to charge exceptional rates to stay in business. That means you’re going to lose a lot of potential sales due to price. That’s OK. Not every prospect is really a candidate for your service. Let those folks hire the guys that produce 8-page reports in 18pt typeface. There is a market for people who want exceptional service and will pay for it because they understand the difference between price and value, let these people be your clients. That’s the market I targeted https://homecert.com/sample-reports/
Ok let me clarify my comments on making better money in home inspection. My reports consist of 2 separate reports. 1) A written Report. 2) A Field Report.
The Field Report is a custom designed 6 page checklist of the SOP requirements by category. With extra room for specific notes like for example missing closet doors or wall blemishes. Failing window seals etc. The Field Report is used and marketed as a repair checklist with extra details.
The Written Report is the real meat of our services. SOP ;Foundation,
Roof/Attic, Electral, Plumbing, Heating/A/C, Exterior, Interior.
These areas of possible deficiencies are the possible deal killers.
I’m in this business with the real building background to make money while providing an accurate assessment of a given property.
I have not met a client yet who cares about a loose door knob or squeaky hinge. So if members here feel that reporting on items that will not kill the deal are the mark of professional reporting, then continue on limiting your income potential. A 60-125 page report may make an inspector look smart. But your clients aren’t reading it. And the point is to produce a reporting system that’s easily absorbed by our clients. A report that assists them in their investment decision. And a Report that helps us make consistent money.
I would be very interested to know what the hourly goal is for members here? I have already stated $100 per hour for myself. I don’t want a plumber making more than me!
There are clients for every service tier.
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I am of the belief that most reports go unread, in many cases just the satisfaction that a professional home inspector found no major issues is all they really wanted to know.
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I am also a HG user. I see you are not in the FB HG Users group, here is the link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/HomeGaugeUsers/. Many great tips on speed. Your pictures are too huge and the spacing on your pages has made your report too many pages.
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