I have no prior home inspection/construction experience. I have started Carson Dunlop online home inspection education. Due to my full time job (which I need to keep), I’ll likely only have time to be inspecting on weekends. Is this possible or should I reconsider? Anyone out there who does the majority of their inspections only on weekends? Just trying to see if its possible or not before I waste my time. Don’t sugar coat it, be real please. Thanks.
IMHO, No.
People who need home inspections generally need them with in the next 2-3 days.
Inspection contingencies are usually only 5-10 days, and time is of the essence.
Not to mention, the 1st year, getting your name out there and marketing is a full time job into itself.
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You must be able to perform inspections during the week. I was able to start inspections at 4:30-5pm and keep my other job from 8-4ish. Like Ian said agents and buyers are going to expect you to be available in 2-3 days. Otherwise they will schedule with your competitor.
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yeah thats what ive been thinking… If i was available at around 6 or 6:30 on weekends, do you think thats too laye?
Are you looking for a hobby or a career?
IMO… with your limitations… don’t bother!
Take the weekend off and go fishing with the kids!!
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Chase… There are no weekends in the real estate business. Marketing will take a lot of time the first couple years. To get business in this business, you’ll have to prove that you know what you’re doing, prove you are flexible, prove that you can respond quickly, prove that you’re reliable, prove that you can be trusted to follow up with clients in a timely manner etc etc etc. When I’m not inspection, I’m chasing work, quoting/selling, responding to emails and still do some marketing. It’s rare that I can dictate when the inspection happens. There’s a lot of moving parts and I’m the lowest on the rung. Buyers, sellers, agents and inspectors all have to be involved when an inspection is scheduled. The current RE market dictates fast turn around from all involved. It’s rare that I’m booked more than 3 days in advance but I stay pretty busy and I’m just about always booked out 2 to 3 days. Then add radon pick up 2 days after the inspection so that has to get juggled in too. My reports are always delivered the same day as the inspection so I don’t like to book anything past 4pm but sometimes I have to. If I only worked weekends, I doubt I could generate enough business to cover my expenses. I also doubt I could generate enough referral business to grow the business.
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How do you intend to inspect EXTERIORS in the dark??
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Hello Chase,
I started my HI business while keeping my 9-5 back in 2015. I took inspections whenever I could, if it was during the week I took a personal day either full or half a day. Doing inspections around 4:30 in the afternoon was OK during the longer days, once winter set it that time was lost. My work flexibility allowed me to schedule the inspection around the requested time. As mentioned in this thread, some realtors will want an inspection in 2-3 days, with a quick report turnaround.
If you want more info you can email me at brickbybrickhi@gmail.com, glad to help out.
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Hey Charles,
I think that’s where we differ… even 4:30 doesn’t work with me because I’d still be at work. Depending on where the inspection is within my city, I wouldn’t be arriving till 5:30/6… do you find there were/are enough weekend inspections to keep you going?
Hi Chase - I started out using Home advisor. They are costly but did provide leads. The problem is you have to call back the lead as soon as your notified
and if you don’t connect or the caller just wants a quote you’re still charged. I think now it’s $27 bucks.
Their reviews are a big thing people look for the reviews when they are looking for an inspector on HA…
I did start out doing some inspections on the weekend, but there weren’t all that many, most needed the inspection it in a day or two.
What part of the country are you in.
Charles Catania
Chase - if you want to do this part time… all of the above advise is pretty accurate. You will never get a good footing with an agent referral as they need someone that can flex for them. I would suggest you cut ties and go full tilt, or get a job like Uber driving that will allow full time flexibility so you can be available as needed. It may not be glorious, but doing this part time will not work. You may be given a shot or two in desperation, but all of the agents I have that use me frequently would put me to the bottom of the list or the “Do not call” list if they could only use me on possible weekends and after 6. You have to earn their trust and respect for this to work. Their is not any other way for it to work.
And in reality, if you put yourself in their shoes, would you as a RE agent want to refer someone to do a job that does this full time and is serious about it and efficient and effective, or someone that does 1 or 2 a month and has not been able to do many inspections…or…Would you rather fly in a commercial flight with a veteran pilot, or the guy who flies a Cessna when he has a little free time and his schedule allows. I am all in for option A. But good luck in your efforts.
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IMO, you are destined for failure. A lot of good advice given out. If you are serious about becoming a home inspector, save enough money that will support you and your family for 3 years and then go full time. The first year will be tough,so you may want to see if you can pick up some part time work-landscaping, handyman, something without a dedicated schedule.
Good luck and keep us updated on how you are doing and what direction you have decided on.
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Unlike a lot of the others on here, I started part-time. I traveled in my full time job and was con the road monday to friday. I did inspections Sat and Sun.
When someone would call, I would say … I’m fully booked this week, BUT tell you what, I NORMALLY charge $100 more for the weekend, BUT for you I’ll do it for my normal fee cause you seem like nice folks
That may not work for other BUT it carried me for several years till I went full time
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Yea, but aren’t you pushing something like 90’s now?
People don’t think like it’s the 70’s anymore!!
Did you mean 1870’s? 
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Chase. I’ve started 3 businesses. The 1st business was a learning experience and it didn’t do well. The biggest problem was that I didn’t have enough money to float my income while I built the business. Most books about starting a business recommend having 2 - 3 years in savings so you can pay yourself while you build the business. If you haven’t read any books about staring a business, marketing and sales… you really should before you ruin your finances. Simply going into business, printing cards and posting a website won’t work. It takes a massive load of time, learning and energy and money. I have an extensive background in sales and it helps a lot but that took years to accumulate. That being said, by the time I started my inspection business, I knew exactly what to expect. Most new business owners don’t invest the time to learn about business or have the money to make ends meet for the first couple years when the phone isn’t ringing.
You might consider getting your education and your license and then go to work for a multi inspector outfit. Just don’t sign a non compete contract or make sure your state doesn’t honor them. I think only Maryland and Utah “typically” won’t honor them but that might only be for franchises. It’s been 10 years since I had to look into that stuff. I had a franchise once and got out of it in Maryland but it was still a risk and I had no control over it. I like control. Multi inspector firms do a good bit of business and know how to sell and market. “Big” sells. You won’t have to do your own marketing or sales but you will split your income with the mother company. You might want to talk to inspectors employed by this type of company and get their feedback. There’s several inspector facebook groups and I’m sure you could get some feedback, They may not talk to you openly on facebook but you can hold a private conversation with them in other ways.
Going into this business was the best thing I ever did and I should have done it 30 years ago. I have made more money in the past but it’s not all about money… In my case “I don’t work well with others”. But I couldn’t have done it if I didn’t have another established business that payed my bills so I didn’t need several years of income saved to do this.
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The only way you may be able to do this is to work for another inspection company that is booking inspections all week long and looking to have His/Her weekends off. But if you are planning on trying to do this on your own there are a lot of reasons why probably isn’t going to work.
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Jeffrey you’re close. Pushing 80.
Like I told the OP … my way may not work for others but it worked for me for a long time. However like one of the posters said many of our newer inspectors get caught up in the “WE need it in 2-3 days” gambit. If thats their mindset, I’m NOT their guy. During the Covid shut-down my cardiologist decided to retire. He was a younger guy, just turned 78, so I had to get on board with another heart doctor. The first 9 heart specialists I called were booked till November or December … Unreal
I specialize in 3 things … stucco, commercial and larger houses (over 7500sf). I do 3-4 jobs a week MAX. Like others sometimes its slow BUT most of the time I book 8-12 days out front. I promise a report in 2 - 5 WORKING days after the inspection (weekends are not days I work). If that does not work for them AND they’re not stout enough to stand up to an agent OR seller and demand it … I’m NOT their guy … No hard feelings.
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While I’m sure that works (or has worked) for you, that ain’t going fly for most people, especially with the contractual obligations of the inspection contingency.
It has nothing to do with “newer inspectors”.
Remember the MLS used to be printed in a black & white book, delivered to RE offices monthly. Times change.
Chase, I’m still doing it “part time”. I was down sized out of my regular construction management job, and decided to become a home inspector. While I was taking the on-line course a contractor we used at my old job wanted me to help with some projects with my old company, so I agreed (didn’t have to deal with my old department). However, in order to do inspections when needed, I arranged the employment arrangement so that I was a 1099 Consultant, worked for an hourly fee and no benefits. I’m former military so have some heath benefits, and my wife works so we get some benefits through her, none though my company. Boss said just get the work done, he didn’t care my hours. Sweet. I can arrange inspections whenever I want (without missing meetings and stuff) and not have to worry about asking for time off. I created a web site, and then signed up with Home Advisor and Thumbtack. First year, I had 55 inspections, and had to turn some offers down due to other work travel. 2nd year only 35 inspections (I was gone all of June and July traveling), and last year only did 5 inspections. I would try to arrange most inspections late afternoon so I wasn’t hurting the main job, starting them after 2 pm and at least 1 hour before dark. I even advertised that I was the guy to call for odd hour inspections…late in the day or on weekends, and that worked. The “busy” inspectors are all rigidly booking 2-3 inspections per day, one in the early morning, next one early afternoon, and most of them won’t consider any other times as it is just too disruptive to their busy schedule. After 3 years, I’m still waiting to get big enough to go full time Home Inspector and quit the other job. I gave up on Home Advisor, they cost too much and I just wasn’t quick enough to get the work. Each lead was costing $23-$35, and when you only book 1 out every 6 leads I was losing $150 per inspection. Thumbtack has a different approach and I wasn’t losing as many leads, but they aren’t as busy in my area. But as others said if you don’t jump in head first and do the marketing, which takes a considerable amount of time unless you get lucky and get hooked up with a couple BUSY realtors who will recommend you, you just won’t grow the business. I’ve never taken in enough money to buy the better tools than my starter set, and not enough money to buy more “toys”, i.e. essentials like infrared camera, new radon units, drone, fancy ladders and roof shoes, sewer scopes, etc. Costs to just stay in business add up quick: Web site monthly maintenance fees, insurance, InterNACHI dues and monthly meetings, calibration of equipment, purchase of new equipment, “donations” to get your name out there to increase sales, etc. Be ready to invest money from your main job to keep the inspection job going and building until you feel it’s time to jump to full time. My suggestion would be try to rearrange your schedule with your current boss to work longer hours on some days to enable a day or afternoon off every week, like maybe a Thur afternoon off. On that day off schedule inspections and do marketing. Most inspectors will tell you they get a lot of calls on Sun -Tues, as people make offers over the weekend, then counter offers etc and finally get accepted deal on Mon-Tues. Then they start calling for inspectors, and want an inspection that week or weekend. But if you don’t get out and market yourself, you won’t grow out of it being a part time business. You have to be proactive in getting that business. Good luck.
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