Everyone has been there, that very FIRST paid inspection. Being a new inspector, getting myself out there making connections, feed back I’ve been getting from agents, I can feel that first one is coming soon. Looking for any tips for getting through and surviving the nerves of your very first inspection.
How did yours go? I’d love to hear any dos and don’t and any and all advice! Thanks in advance.
Do’s - Take tour time and do as thorough as a job as you can possibly do.
Dont’s - Don’t keep yourself up all night like I did, worring about something you may have missed. Do the best you can do and sleep well knowing you did.
On my first couple of inspections, I made a printable checklist verbatim to my report. I had a clipboard, checked off boxes, took notes and took a lot of pictures. Took my time and went over everything while doing my report. I also told my clients that the report would be available within 24 hours after the inspection. Except for the clipboard, I’m still doing it the same way.
No matter what, walk in…
(Sorry, I know that wasn’t helpful) 
Take your time and take plenty of pictures. I didn’t have that good of software so I wrote some notes. My first inspection was a 3 family attached Row house in Brooklyn, NY. Each unit was 3 bedroom 2 baths and basement. It was old… All the units had Federal Pacific Panels, lead water mains, water intrusion, mold, you name it. Was there for 4 hours and took 400 pictures. That first report took me 5 hours to complete, lol. Try not to overthink everything. Best of luck to you.
I did something similar to @tglaze . I set up my very first report template per the Nachi SOP w additions so I was sure not to forget to check something and a list written down. I still carry a notepad to make quick notes about observations even though I have onsite report abilities. Old habits 
Take 3-4 times as many pictures as you think you might need, especially of things you are writing up. Close ups, further back, different angles, etc… Eventually the numbers will come down as you get a routine established. I still take 300-400 myself, for CYA purposes, even though only 10-20 will make a report.
Develop a routine and stick to it.
Request that the client isn’t there for the whole inspection, so you don’t get distracted.
Don’t over promise and be honest. It’s one thing to talk yourself up, but saying too much can lead to saying the wrong things to an observant client or agent. You don’t want to spend the whole evening after your first inspection trying to pull your foot out of your gullet.
Carry extra batteries.
I’m sure others will add more…
I also have a “checklist” I still use today every time. You can visualize yourself going through the home, and nothing is trivial. Common mistakes, such as not turning off the oven or forgetting to find the dryer vent, can be avoided with a good checklist. Then, set that checklist into a routine. If you hop around, you miss things.
Remember to stay on task
Just be Davin
Yeah, lots of pictures and be sure you have all the house “specs” down before you leave so you can complete the report. The biggest complaints about new inspectors is that they look lost and unsure. Have a rock-solid routine and walk with purpose… even if you’re backtracking because you forgot something… they don’t know that. Confidence is everything.
If you have a client with you or a realtor trying to lord over you, just go to your vehicle “to check/verify” something and regroup taking a break.
I try to do the same routine on all my inspections. I use a belt pouch and carried a tool bag for other tools and left that in the garage, in the kitchen, in the hall, in the basement…close to where I would need it. Start on the outside, in a clockwise or counter-clockwise fashion, grounds, around again for siding and windows/doors, foundation. Up to the roof. When you are done on the roof, put you ladder away so others can’t use it to climb up on the roof.
Same on the inside, and if there’s a crawlspace and the attic save for last… they’re dirty. Take an old sheet or 2 to cover clothes and floor for loose insulation falling in the closet where the attic access may be .
Don’t feel like you have to have any answer for questions that others may ask you. It is okay to say you’ll need to verify something. You can feel confident in letting them know you’ll check on anything and get back to them. BUT, make sure to get back to them later. You can ask the questions here first.
Taking pictures, many of them, is paramount so you have high quality pictures to post here for questions that we can enlarge to see what is necessary.
You’ll do fine and get to a point where you actually enjoy the process and seeing new and different things on a daily basis.
Good luck and let us know how it goes. 
I thought you were going to Yemen or Tanzania so everyone here could have a break from you.
Make it not your first inspection. Inspect your own home several times to figure out your routine, inspect your parents or friends home so you can have a “customer”. Do this until you’re comfortable, you have your process, and your software ready to go.
I don’t give a rats ass what some others tell you… DO NOT attempt to do “Onsite Reporting” on your first (or 20th) inspection! Your focus needs to be 1000% on inspecting and the process ONLY!
As mentioned, routine… find one that works and stick to it, if a client wants to pull you away for questions than set something down where you were, answer the question, and come back and pick up from where you were… don’t be afraid to trim your routine… I reworked my routine a couple of times till I found the most efficient (for me) routine…
Always double check yourself… for instance, I check burners to see if they are working (as a courtesy)… so I take a picture, turn them on, take a picture with them working, turn off and take a picture of it off. When in doubt take pictures…
Use a body cam, if you can, and (as mentioned elsewhere) carry extra batteries for any powered tool, especially your camera… and get a back up camera… checked they are charged before hitting the job.
Take more pictures than you need… you don’t have to give them to the client, but they are there for you to be able to reference if a client comes asking questions later. I’ve used my extra pics with a client to answer their concerns that came up after the fact.
Get an external hard drive and keep all your pictures, your body cam, and a copy of your report and contract on it… I sort mine by year, month, than address. Don’t ever erase this. When it’s full, just buy a new one… a hundred bucks for hundreds of inspections fully “remembered” will save your a$$ if a client ever comes asking.
Inspect your own home or friends’ homes a few times first. My first couple of practice inspections, I discovered that I was so focused on following the report/checklist that it was causing me to be more concerned about what I was missing more than what I was seeing. Just slow down and let the home tell you what to report. Because it will not be in order of what your report software or checklist is showing.
Establish a routine and follow it every time. My routine is to start on the exterior of the home. Then on to any detached garage, & roof(s) before moving on to the interior. For the interior I start on the main floor. This is normally in the kitchen. After the main floor I move on to the upper floor(s). Then to the basement/crawlspace & mechanicals. Next is attached garage and I finish with the attic. As weird as it may sound, I inspect/see better by working around the home in a counterclockwise direction as opposed to clockwise.
Also, don’t get overwhelmed by looking at something as a whole. As an example, for electrical panels, break it down to clock position and work your way around.
Don’t try to impress everyone by breaking out every possible tool. A couple of years ago, a new inspector did quite a few ride alongs with me. He purchased a Flir One camera and wanted to inspect everything though the small screen. A flashlight and your own vision are going to see a lot more than that small screen. Thermal imaging is a fantastic supplementary tool for verifying things after you view the overall big picture. I carry a 1 1/2" steel bearing to verify that floors are unlevel. Most of the time you can feel it by just walking across or looking at the room. The same new inspector wanted to break out a rotary laser to show me how much more accurate it was over my system. He wasted 15 minutes of time to come up with the same discovery. Keep it simple.
Go into every inspection like you are being recorded. Because you are more than what you think.
THANK YOU!! To all of you for all the insight, tips, and encouragement. I have done practice inspections on my own home and families, but of course that first one is always a bit different. You all gave me some great things to go off of, it’s greatly appreciated! Been amazed so far by the community and support in the forum here. It really makes a new guy feel welcomed, supported and encouraged! So again Thank you everyone!
I agree with JJ. Do not do on-site reporting. I tried it ONCE and and it was a distraction.
Best of luck!
I’ll have internet access, and plenty of free time. 
The other thing that worked really well for me was giving my client a pad of paper on a clipboard with a pen and maybe a cheap tape measure.
I explained to them that I have a routine that I follow so I don’t forget things and if they have questions to write them down and I will answer them when I get to the noted area. Otherwise, I will answer questions when I do my review at the end of the inspection.
The thing kept them busy and out of my hair so I could focus and it gave them confidence that I was taking care of their interests with the home.
Just a thought.
Take your time and don’t rush through it.