Category: Home Inspection
A career in home inspection doesn’t just involve understanding how the various systems and areas of a house work. You’ll need to have several other types of skills under your belt as well. You’ll want to be sure you’ve mastered these skills in order to make sure the home is in the best possible condition.
From understanding electrical systems and roofing, to effectively drafting reports and communicating to buyers, a successful home inspection career is made of many different things. Here are five skills necessary for success in your home inspection career.
Firstly, a Strong Understanding of the Craft Is Necessary
It goes without saying that understanding how home inspections work, as well as having a foundation in construction, is needed in order to succeed as a home inspector. You should be able to understand how various aspects of construction work, as well as the procedures of a home inspection and which tools are necessary for expediting the process. With any home inspection career, technical knowledge is key—whether it’s with structural components, heating, insulation, roofing, or any other area of a home.
Being an Excellent Communicator Is Also a Major Plus
The bedrock of any home inspection is the ability of the inspector to explain to the prospective buyer what the results of the inspection were, and how ready it is for the buyer. This is important not only for verbal communication, but for written reports as well. Anyone hoping to become a home inspector will need to be a great communicator in order to provide the most detailed report possible. Effective communication will help reassure potential buyers that they’ve chosen the right home, and that all systems are a go for them to move in.
A Good Eye for Problems Is Huge for Your Home Inspector Career
If you aren’t able to deftly identify and diagnose problems with the home, you’ll have a hard time finding success. The ability to detect issues in any kind of home, and know what is necessary to fix them, is crucial. It’s important to understand not only how each component functions, but what factors would make a repair or full replacement necessary. Alerting prospective buyers to any issues that could delay them moving in—or even make the home unappealing for them—is essential.
Understand the Importance of Time Management
Another significant aspect of your home inspector career is being able to manage your time effectively. Not only will you be trying to manage how much time you spend actually inspecting the home, but you’ll need to take into account how long it will take for you to travel there. You will also need to consider how much time you’ll need to get reports ready, and how much time will be necessary for all processes to be complete.
Problem-Solving Skills Are Also a Major Asset in This Career
Lastly, one of the other keys to success in home inspection is the ability to problem-solve. You’ll need to showcase these abilities throughout your inspection, especially when something is not quite right in the home. It’s important to analyze what issues may occur during the inspection, and be able to quickly come up with solutions. A strong attention to detail is also beneficial, as you’ll want to carefully go through each area with a fine-toothed comb so that all potential issues with the property are accurately identified.
Do you want to start your home inspection training?
Contact North American Trade Schools for more information!
Ready to Become a Home Inspector? Here’s How to Inspect Homes Safely During the Pandemic
July 24, 2020
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted virtually every industry, including home inspection. As a result, changes to how home inspectors approach their day-to-day responsibilities are necessary, leading to a re-think in how home inspections are performed.
Between practicing physical distancing and staying two meters apart from others, to limiting the number of people allowed in the home during the inspection, to wearing protective headgear at all times, there are many ways you can get around the circumstances surrounding the pandemic and successfully complete an inspection. Here are some tips for how you can safely inspect homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Make Sure Safety Precautions Are Taken by Those Living in the Home
Before starting any home inspection during the pandemic, it’s of the utmost importance that all parties are kept safe, healthy, and are not vulnerable to possible infection. Among the steps that should be taken include asking those living in the home a series of questions regarding the virus. These include asking whether or not they’ve been exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms within the past two weeks (or if they have previously tested positive), if they’ve been in contact with any suspected or confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, or if they’ve been travelling anywhere in recent weeks. Other steps you can take include emphasizing the importance of physical distancing while the inspection is ongoing, signing inspection contracts online rather than in person, and restricting how many people can be in the home during the inspection.
During Your Home Inspection Career, Protect Yourself in Times of Crisis
Although it’s incredibly important to make sure people in the home protect themselves during the inspection, anyone wanting to become a home inspector should be certain that they’re maximizing their own protection during a crisis situation such as a pandemic. This includes wearing latex gloves, face masks, protective headgear, and any other clothing that can help shield from infection.
Additionally, you would be wise to wash your hands regularly, disinfect and clean surfaces you have touched during the inspection after it has concluded, and keep hand sanitizer with you at all times. Even if you are asymptomatic, you can still carry the virus and transmit it unknowingly to others, so protecting yourself and those in the home from any potential risks is a must. Should you exhibit any symptoms yourself, or be in contact with any suspected or confirmed cases, postpone the inspection and reschedule for when you will be healthy again.
Lastly, Consider Using Videoconferencing Platforms for Inspection-Related Purposes
As much as you may do your best to prepare yourself for circumstances like a pandemic during your home inspection career, there is a likelihood that some clients may not be comfortable with having inspectors in their homes due to fear of contracting the virus and the importance of physical distancing. If you have clients who are reluctant to allow new people into their homes even for an inspection, you can suggest that they not be present in their home for the inspection, and that any follow-up be done via videoconferencing. This can be done on an application such as Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime. This way, you can discuss matters related to the inspection and reviews/reports without needing it to be in person, and could be a creative solution given the crisis.
Do you want to start your home inspection training
Contact North American Trade Schools to find out more!
Have you ever found yourself staring at the properties on sale in a real estate agency’s window even though you’re not looking to buy? Do you love troubleshooting problems around your own home? Are you passionate about property in general? If so, then a career in home inspection could be for you!
Home inspectors offer a consulting service to anyone looking to buy a residential or commercial property. They evaluate a home by inspecting its roofing, structure, electrical, heating, air conditioning, exterior, insulation, and interior.
Qualified home inspectors can benefit from competitive salaries and a flexible schedule. Read on to find out whether you should consider becoming a home inspector!
1. There is Steady Demand for Home Inspectors
For as long as people and businesses continue to buy property, there will be demand for home inspectors. A home inspection is always recommended, if not required, before purchasing a property.
There are millions of properties across Canada and real estate transactions are always taking place, meaning that a home inspector is unlikely to ever be out of work! The demand for home inspectors in Canada is predicted to remain steady over the next few years. This makes it a great career for anyone looking for job security.
2. Become a Home Inspector to Earn a Competitive Salary
Home inspectors can earn well above minimum wage, especially as they become more experienced. The average salary for a home inspector in Canada is more than $32 an hour, which equates to around $66,500 a year. This is significantly more than the average salary in the country.
3. Help People with One of the Biggest Investments of their Lives
If you’re a people person and are looking for a rewarding career that involves helping others, a home inspection career might be for you! While it might not be the first job that comes to mind, home inspectors help people with what could be the biggest investment of their lives.
Buying a home is not a small decision.As a home inspector, you are helping others to make the right choice, and your advice could help to save your clients hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Because home inspectors need to have strong interpersonal and communication skills in order to work with the public, it’s also a great career for anyone who is good with people. In home inspection training, students will learn communication skills as well as practical knowledge about homes to help equip them for both of these aspects of the job.
4. Enjoy a Flexible Schedule and Start Your Own Business
One of the other great things about being a home inspector is the flexibility that it offers. You can choose to take on work and schedule inspections when it works for you, making it easy to balance around your other commitments. You also have the option to start your own business to give you even more flexibility.
5. Don’t Break Your Back!
A home inspection career is hands-on without being physically demanding. If you’re interested in construction, for example, but not keen on the physical aspect of it, or want something that you can do as you get older, home inspection could be a perfect fit.
Additionally, if you’ve spent a lifetime working in construction or HVAC and are now looking for a new challenge, home inspection could be for you. It will allow you to put your knowledge and practical background to good use.
Do you want to become a home inspector?
Contact North American Trade Schools today!
