Retirement doesn’t mean what it used to. Now, many people approaching retirement are stepping off the end of one career onto the beginning of something brand new. Some even take early retirement to get a head start on the next life stage. Whether you gradually ease out of your current line of work or take a leap of faith, home inspecting could be the Act II career that you’ve been looking for.
You Don’t Need a Background in Construction
If you’ve worked in construction or any of the related industries, you’ve got a leg up toward a new career in home inspecting. But new home inspectors come from various careers, so construction knowledge isn’t mandatory. You’ll learn that in training.
Maybe you’re a banker or you’ve spent your career in management. No matter what you’ve done in life, chances are it has taught you something, such as time management or accounting that can help you become a successful home inspector in retirement.
Many States Allow Online Home Inspector Education
Does the idea of finding a parking space, carrying books and hustling across campus make you rethink going back to school? Don’t worry. In many states, you can learn home inspecting online.
How’s that possible? It’s simple, really. You learn about home systems, how to inspect them and the defects to look for through reading and, at least with ICA School, through instructor-led video lessons. After you earn your certification, your education continues in the field. Some states require a set number of supervised field inspections where you put your knowledge to practical use.
The Work Isn’t Too Physically Demanding
Learning online sounds great, and it’s good to know that you don’t need a history as a contractor. But what about the physical demands on retirees? For the most part, home inspecting isn’t labor-intensive. Here are some of the things you’ll need to do.
- Climb stairs
- Climb a ladder
- Walk across a roof (unless you use a drone for aerial roof inspections)
- Crawl or scoot into a crawlspace
- Work overhead, such as with testing light fixtures
- Carry a few hand tools
You don’t need heavy power tools and a home inspection isn’t the type of job that you’d rush through. If you’re relatively healthy and have good vision, you’re probably a good fit for the job.
There’s a growing number of women in home inspecting and room for plenty more.
Home Inspecting is Projected to Grow
Everything sounds good so far, but what are the options for starting a fledgling career and helping it grow? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor & Statistics, the outlook is on par with the average growth in all careers that the agency monitors.
Between the years of 2014 and 2024, the Bureau projects that the construction and building inspector industry will grow at a rate of about 8 percent. They say 8,100 new jobs will need trained professionals to fill them.
Home inspecting gives you the freedom to work as little or as much as you want. If you’re interested in a part-time job after retirement or want to build a new family company, the choice is yours.
Retirement doesn’t equal a rocking chair anymore, at least not for a lot of American men and women. Instead, it could be the start of a whole new career. If that sounds like the future you want, enroll now with ICA School and start learning in your spare time.
