Originally Posted By: Craig Shap This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Are there any women support inspectors assisting the home inspector in the field?
I am curiuos to know the feadback you have been getting from the buyers and agents?
I am considering asking this stay at home mom that seems to carry some knowledge in this field...This person can provide interior inspections such as; windows, doors, bedrooms, bathrooms - sinks, appliances..
Originally Posted By: Craig Shap This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I agree with both of your reply’s - – and can appreciate the fact that I would not want the client to think that I am selling them short. Although the easier tasks such as interior would be for a women to complete along with taking notes on those items as well…
Originally Posted By: psabados This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Actually
If you're planning on training, on own, to your standards, that would be a logical starting point. Take your trainee to a room. Point out what needs to be observed, what they should be looking for and how you want their comments made (doors, windows, electrical items, wall condition etc). Gradually bring them into other areas and do the same.
Male or female, it doesn't make a difference. Strive to increase their knowledge and responsibilities to your's and their comfort level and ability.
Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
In VA one of my inspectors was a female. She was EXCELLENT, and especially good with nervous wives. She, by the way, could carry a ladder, walk the roof, and do anything else that any of the rest of us do. I would never worry about hiring a woman any more than hiring any other person for the job.
Originally Posted By: jpeck This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
jsavino wrote:
I agree with Jerry.
For the part I said, however, ... I did not say or imply this ...
Quote:
They may not be able to carry a ladder around or climb roofs, but like he said, don't sell them short. IMHO
They can and do carry ladders, climb roofs, go into attics and crawl spaces, etc.
Do not sell them short on any aspect. Women are, I think, more detail oriented than men, on average - average female compared to average male. This may be because they do not first rely on brute force to do things, they rely first on mental strengths to accomplish it, and brute force only when needed, whereas the average male just knocks things down rather than try to find an easy way around it.
Ug 'Ug make fire! Wo-wo-wo!'
Ugy 'Here hot beans from fire me find and keep yesterday.'
Originally Posted By: Susan This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hi Craig,
Being a woman inspector I just had to post my thoughts. Just to give you some "food for thought".
Three years ago I was very, very new to the inspection field. I was driving my youngest to Kindergarten and as I drove down my street I saw a pick up truck with a magnetic sign on it (a national HI franchise). Seeing as it was a well known inspector from the area and I was curious to meet him, I stopped my car and asked him if he was the home inspector. He immediately reached in his shirt pocket and asked me if I needed a home inspection. (He gave me one of his business cards).
"Actually, I'm looking for a job", I said. The look on his face was that of surprise. He stated that he had been wanting to hire a female HI for a couple of years as he believes that there is a demand for it. (Female real estate agents was the reason he gave me). Anyway, for various reasons I never got the chance to work for him. We managed to stay in touch through the last several years and he calls me when he is overbooked to help him out.
I pursued building inspection (to strengthen my HI skills) and to make a somewhat long story short, the same inspector now pays me to teach him things about new construction and code related things!!! And just for the record, he has been a HI for about 15 years and a "member" of a national HI org.
If there's a passion for the profession, it doesn't matter if you hire a female or male....
I say give her a try. There are a lot of men that hate spiders, webs, opening electrical panels etc. It's all part of the job and we all know those obstacles can be overcome if you enjoy what you do......
Originally Posted By: Craig Shap This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hello!
Sue - That is really a turn of events for your future in HI. You must have felt a real interest in the field to pick up the books and learn the industry as you have...
This is a man based industry for most part but the majority of the work and referrals come from the agents who are predominently women. I think having a woemn as a partner easier to smooth the surface with another women buyer...
Just to let you know I have asked my neighbor friend...before I can breifly explain the details her eyes bulged out nearly in shock, I encouraged her and explained further she thought it was a good idea and would think about it... Of course I new not to explect a yes right away.
Originally Posted By: kbowles This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Did Sue say spiders??? UGHHGHHHH. ( and those creepy darn camel crickets, or whatever you want to call them that wait, lurking under the house) kinda gives a man the heebie jeebies ya know? Where did my desk job go anyway?
Originally Posted By: mzwerin This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Exactly one half of my company MTC Home Inspections is female & one half is male! Our company is a husband & wife team. Granted, there are a couple of things that she doesn’t want to do – walk the roofs or opening the service panels, but virtually anything else, she does. And, as best as I can tell, she loves it as much as I do.
Part of our system is that we both observe, she takes the notes & I take the photos. There's lots of things that she spots & writes-up & tells me to photograph the issue. When it comes to finalizing the report, she finishes the content & I proof it for missing details & typos. It's a good system and keeps both of us sharp.
Originally Posted By: Craig Shap This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
mzwerin -
I am that the women are preceived as an easier person to approach in the field by the home buyer and realtor - the majority of realtor's are women. Have you gotten good feedback from the realtor's?
Originally Posted By: mzwerin This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Craig Shap wrote:
I am that the women are perceived as an easier person to approach in the field by the home buyer and realtor - the majority of realtor's are women. Have you gotten good feedback from the realtor's?
Overall, our clients like what we present... Whether its the tag-team or the male/female or the 4 eyes are better than 2; whatever.
There are lots of women realtors that like to deal with my wife in our business versus dealing with me (I don't have great patience for realtors). But watch out, there is another side to this subject that hasn't yet been addressed.
When my wife takes sales calls, she often passes the prospect over to me for the closing. She thinks that many clients feel the need for the re-assurance of a male voice (?years of inspection & construction & building experience?) that a woman "certainly couldn't have"!!!??? It's like the good ole boy school of sexism... "Thanks Lil' Lady, but can I talk to the man who does the inspections?"
This has happened! Suppose it goes with the territory.
Originally Posted By: Karyn Maguire This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thank you guys for the kind words about women Women are many times more detailed than men. I can show you some mighty crooked walls in my house I think we CAN do it all but electricity still scares me. Perhaps I was fried in another life??? I mean why are women inherently afraid of elec and men are not???it’s a weird thing…and watch it! I’m a Realtor too. There’s nothing wrong with us…pity us…some of us are dead broke
Originally Posted By: Susan This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Karyn,
With knowledge comes wisdom. It's human nature to fear something that we know little or nothing about. It's people that don't have that inherent fear that get hurt. And let's not forget that not knowing and being familiar with something can be downright intimidating.
Electricity can hurt and worse kill. But so can plumbing, venting, framing, etc. All aspects of a home and it's construction is serious stuff!! Recognizing defects is the whole concept of the inspection profession.
And hey, let's not forget that women are not only good at detail but usually have a keen sense of intuition and common sense!!!! 
If you can, try and go on a couple of ride alongs with an inspector or two. Heck, if you can tag along with an electrical inspector for a half of a day I bet your fear of electrical will decrease.
The age thing....if you can physically get around well, shouldn't be a problem. I'm over 40 and it's not a problem. Actually being older can be a huge plus....you're older than alot of the contractors and they figure you know what you're looking at!!!
Originally Posted By: Susan This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hi Kevin,
I am a licensed home inspector. Currently I work as a building inspector. Got doing that because I felt it would help me become a better home inspector. Yes, I do home inspections but not in the jurisdiction that I work in....that would be a conflict of interest and break my own ethics!!
Originally Posted By: Lind Adams This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Craig Shap wrote:
Are there any women support inspectors assisting the home inspector in the field?
I am curiuos to know the feadback you have been getting from the buyers and agents?
I am considering asking this stay at home mom that seems to carry some knowledge in this field...This person can provide interior inspections such as; windows, doors, bedrooms, bathrooms - sinks, appliances..
Women are many times more detailed than men. I can show you some mighty crooked walls in my house