House-Inspection Service
What will I be doing ?
If you have experience in the building trade and are looking for a profitable home-based business, consider starting a house-inspection service. This service involves the inspection of residential and commercial buildings for safety and compliance. Typically, if an individual is buying a home, he or she will have it inspected before the closing. As part of your service, you will make sure the plumbing, electrical wiring, and gas furnace are working and in conpliance with codes. You may check the structure for evidence of termites or other pests. You’ll climb into crawlspeces and attics. You’ll check out the roof and foundations of the structure. In short, you’ll assess the general condition of the building and point out any problems. You may also provide this service to building owners, insurance companies, bankers or other clients interested in the condition of the structure.
What will I need to start ?
To inspect structures, you must know what to look for. You’ll need training and experience in the construction trade, in architecture, in electrical and/or plumbing systems, in heating systems and related topics such as pests. You’ll also need some tools such as an outlet tester, electrical tools, plumbing tools, pipe wrenches, screwdrivers, a ladder and some flashlights. Your toolbox will be your best friend.
In addition to a local business license, your state or city may require a building inspector’s license. Also consider professional trade certifications.
Who will my customers be ?
Customers for your house-inspection service will include homeowners, home buyers, lenders, real estate agents, investors and insurance companies.
Some house inspection service specialize in working with one type of client while others prefer more variety. A service in the Midwest specializes in working with local real estate agents who sell buyer assurance programs.
How much should I charge ?
Home inspection takes time. A basic inspection may take just two hours and be priced at $100 while a thorough inspection with fully documented report can take 8 hours and cost your customer $500 or more. Most inspection services fall in between, based on an hourly rate of $30 to $70.
How much will I make ?
Overhead expenses for your house-inspection service include the costs of your home office, tools and equipment, transportation and advertising. Estimate overhead at 15 to 40 percent of gross income. If you can bill 30 hours a week at $40 an hour (with 33 percent overhead), your net income will be about $40,000 a year.
How can I get started ?
Besides knowing local construction requirements and regulations, you should also have extensive knowledge of pests, the local real estate marketplace, local lenders and insurance agents, and other resources. Learn whether you need a license or certification to be a professional inspector. Find contacts within the local building industry that can help you find business and make incontestable inspections. Then get the word out to prospective customers through home shows, service advertisements and brochures. The American Society of Home Inspectors (800-243-2744) offers many resources, including the ASHI Training Manual.
The SIC code for house-inspection service is 6531-22
From the book of Dan Ramsey, Title : 101 Best Home Businesses, CAREER PRESS, 3 Tice Road, P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, 1-800-CAREER-1, 201-848-0310 (NJ and outside U.S.), FAX : 201-848-1727
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