Hello all,
I’m currently going through InterNACHI course to get certified and start my own business. I am new to this and met a inspector doing well who told me I’d be a good fit and gave me the info to get started.
He offered to be my mentor for the 100inspection, Home Inspector Internship, minimum in CT to get you license.
He’s asking for $14,000 for this “training”.
Is this worthwhile? Industry standard? Or would is this a scam?
Really enjoying this InterNACHI course and it is the first career opportunity in my life that feels right and I really want to do it.
Appreciate all your time.
Anthony
Anthony, you may want to contact some CMIs or CPIs within 40 to 50 miles, or closer, to your area and communicate with them. Maybe one, or more, will help you. Some inspectors feel as though they are training their competition by ride-alongs or mentoring or hiring.
So, that works out to $35/hr. for each (4 hours) of Inspection/Report writing/ and Misc. training time.
My time is worth a hell of a lot more than that.
I would make a contract that includes the right to Cancel after 10 Inspections in case he turns out to not be a ‘match’ for you. Every inspector is different, and it doesn’t matter what he charges if he sux as an inspector or mentor/teacher!
I have mentored inspectors many more times than 100 and didn’t charge a penny but I have already made my money myself and felt good about “paying it forward”.
Good luck to the OP finding a Licensed Inspector willing to Mentor for 100 inspections, and sign off on the necessary paperwork for the State… for FREE!
Thank your for your help. The inspector I met is an InterNACHI member CPI and I think is on the CAHI board.
We connected well and had similar background and motivations. So I don’t think he is trying to take advantage of me.
Now, as I’m pretty far into program, I’m wondering if that cost is on par with the industry. In truth this is a career shift for me and I’m anxious and excited to get started.
I’ll take your advice and reach out to local CMI’s. Also a High School acquaintance is a home inspector I have a call scheduled with him.
Just a quick look at Connecticut’s 100 “Supervised” inspections, it appears only 10 have to be direct under supervision (maybe on site inspections?) and the rest can be indirect supervision (maybe reviewing inspection reports, critiquing and signing off on them?)
$14k seems pretty steep for that, but I have no idea if that’s the going rate.
Seems kind of steep for simply mentoring, by that I mean if these are simply ride alongs, but if he’s mentoring you on how to start up & run a business, preping for tests, how to perform an inspection, software set up and report delivery, etc., then his mentoring is worth whetever you’re willing to pay.
On a side note, my start up costs 20 years ago were actually more than 14K, and that was doing it all on my own.
Yeah, it does, specially to someone switching careers. I get it, I switched out of a high pressure, high wage job and am now doing this, but even with my resources, it’s a decent hit to get everything up and running. Adding 14k on top of it would be a no-go unless there was some guarantee of future returns and there really isn’t.
Maybe he can do a pay-as-you go and pay per ride-a-along. Heck, he may hate being in Attics or crawl spaces or just hate dealing with the whole thing.
Thanks, I am trying to proceed cautiously. I’m also trying to be very thorough with my training so I can get to my end goal sooner. Working for myself. If I continue to put in 80hr weeks I want it to feed my family not someone else’s.
I’ll do some digging in the InterNACHI mentor forum and see what I can find.
We have spoken about this. He does do pay as you go. Basically every 10 rides. So it ends up being about $1k “installments”. Not giving me a business plan but I will get to seed his work flow and such.
I’ll make some more connections. Thanks for your time.
My two cents. At some point during these 100 inspections his workload “should” actually decrease. Possibly with you performing the majority of the inspection and report writing depending on your competency.
Therefore, it may be possible to negotiate a descending scale. Ultimately, your goal must be to become an outstanding inspector. Your mentor will have a huge impact on this. Choose wisely.
Hi Anthony
Where are you located. I am in IL… I was in the first graduating class of NACHI … that class was in Boulder CO… My advice would be take the class there, it is less expense and teach by CMI. The education and touch and seeing the House of Horror is priceless of an education.
Julie
