Many Compelling Reasons to Become a Home Inspector in 2010 | Start Your Home Inspection Career Now
Today historically high numbers of people are either unemployed or are facing a slowdown in their business or profession. But the proactive ones are making good use of the extra time by investing in education, training, and experience that will prepare them for more lucrative opportunities and steadier, more fulfilling careers. That is a smart strategy encouraged by human resource managers, career counselors, “head hunters,” and others who specialize in placing people in new jobs or careers. They advise that this is the best time to hone marketable skills in anticipation of an economic recovery, because once jobs return it will most likely be too late to get ready to compete effectively. The best opportunities and positions are always filled fast in the wake of a recession, and they go to those people who have planned ahead.
One sector where this is especially true is the housing market. With interest rates still quite affordable and home prices at attractive levels that have not been available for years, many regions of the country are already seeing compelling evidence that the real estate market is gaining traction. That trend is also increasing the demand for qualified home inspectors, because virtually every sales transaction in the nation requires the expertise of a home inspector.
Those looking for a solid career in a high-demand field should consider the advantages of a home inspection career, because it is a fast-growing profession that offers a variety of excellent benefits – especially right now.
Consider these important facts, for example, that are often cited by real estate job market experts:
• The best time to get trained as an inspector is while the housing market is slow. That way by the time the next bull market starts, you will already have your credentials as well as the kind of experience and actual time in the profession that clients expect of the home inspectors they hire to help them make financially important home buying decisions.
• But the education and training required to become an inspector is much more affordable – both in terms of the money and the relatively brief investment of time involved – than most careers that offer similar benefits and comparable earnings potential.
• It is possible to become a successful home inspector, for example, without years of schooling and the burden of expensive tuition or student loans. You do not even have to have a university diploma or an associate’s degree from a 2-year college or technical school.
• Real estate inspectors have a rather independent job and career, and most of them are able to work as their own bosses rather than depending upon a company or employer who may suddenly get bought-out and downsize them, lay off workers due to budget cuts, or go out of business due to a lack of revenues or proper management.
• Construction contractors and other pros in the home industry who become inspectors can also create a lucrative second career for themselves, building upon what they already know. This can augment their current income or can offer them a less physically demanding trade that they will be able to continue doing much later in life – even during retirement or semi-retirement.
• As the global movement toward green energy and more environmentally conscious building practices grows at an astonishing pace, there is a growing need for professional inspectors who can perform energy audits and green inspections.
• Did you know that in just about every industry, the top 20% of the producers, obtain 80% of the business? Become a Pro-Sight member and be mentored on how to be in that top 20%, this way you can still thrive in a down market.
This sector is being fueled by government financial incentives, the increasing cost of energy, and heightened consumer demand for homes that reduce the carbon footprint. Those inspectors who get positioned now on the ground floor of green technology and construction will be ready to take full advantage of the boom that has already started to gain exciting momentum in these areas.
Meanwhile, new federal regulations that were passed recently in response to the subprime mortgage meltdown and housing and credit crisis are now in place to protect people in the home buying process. These rules are intended to ensure more integrity in all aspects of the real estate industry, and they make it less likely, for example, that home inspectors will be pressured by third parties such as buyers, sellers, lenders, or real estate agents. This gives inspectors more credibility and independence while strengthening their reputation for unbiased professionalism. A good home inspector will never let themselves be pressured into not disclosing their findings, and most agents would never do this.
That strength of reputation is more important than ever, because consumers – especially those involved in buying homes or taking out loans – are more skeptical than ever before, and for good reason. Many unsavory and unethical real estate and mortgage lending practices were uncovered during Congressional investigations into what caused the recent housing crisis. But new home inspectors entering the profession now can start their careers bolstered by comprehensive and stringent regulations, a housing industry that has just undergone a major overhaul, and an increased respect on the part of home buying clients and other potential customers.
At the same time, because home buyers are more cautious, they are also more dependent upon the expertise of home inspectors to help them avoid mistakes when purchasing a home. They are more inclined to hire a professional inspector, for instance, and to pay appropriate compensation. The new industry regulations give them added confidence, too, so homebuyers are also more inclined to trust the expert opinion of an inspector.
When a homeowner reads a professional report that validates that a house is structurally safe and sound and is functioning properly, they feel reassured. That makes the job of being a home inspector an especially satisfying one, because at the end of the day the inspector knows that he or she provided a valuable service to an individual or a family. These days it is rare to derive that kind of personal fulfillment and enjoyment from a job or career – especially one as potentially lucrative as the home inspection profession. That added benefit is invaluable, and is one of the biggest reasons why so many men and women are looking forward to a new career in the home inspection field.
