Home Inspector Jobs & Careers

Home inspectors are tasked with examining the condition of residential and commercial properties, from insulation to foundation and more. As a home inspector, you will look at plumbing, electrical systems, heating setups, chimneys, and more. You will then report the findings as necessary to help people make informed decisions about buying or selling a property.

Home inspectors help both buyers and sellers pinpoint potential structural, mechanical, and safety issues with a property so that they can be proactively addressed during the sale process. You will play a crucial role in the real estate transaction by identifying things like:

• The structural integrity of the home and its foundation
• Issues with mold and how they can be remediated
• The presence of lead paint
• Whether or not radon or asbestos was found on the property
• Potential threats to the structure such as wood destroying organisms
• Septic tank, spa and pool, sprinkler system, and smart home concerns

Pursuing Home Inspection as a Side Hustle

You may already be committed to a day job, but finding the perfect side job provides new opportunities. If you are learning how to become a home inspector as a second job, this is the best career choice for you.

Any second career has its challenges, especially if you ever feel torn between two options. Home inspectors love the freedom and independence offered in this career path, as well as the ability to focus on a niche.

If you are willing to take on additional training, you may find this second career to be fulfilling. Education becomes all the more important as you consider taking steps forward in a new direction and it is critical that you choose a quality and well-respected home inspection school for your professional training. ICA School is an industry leader in the home inspection field with a recognized and trusted name across the United States and Canada with our training courses laying a strong foundation to meet state and provincial certification requirements.

Working as a home inspector on the side is perfect for somebody who already works in real estate or who already has knowledge of the construction industry. The information you already possess will stick with you as you embark on a new career. It can also be a fascinating new career for somebody in search of a change, or if you’re looking for a career where you can “be your own boss” with the flexibility and opportunity that self-employment offers.

Self Employed vs Working for a Home Inspection Company

Once you complete your training and you pass your exams, your career begins! You’ve probably wondered whether you should join a home inspection company or start your own company. Your home inspection career path is entirely your choice but which path is right for you?

Being a Self Employed Home Inspector
It’s no surprise that most home inspectors choose to work for themselves. There are so many advantages to owning a home inspection company including setting your hours which will give you more flexibility; creating your rates which helps your bottom line, and knowing the business is 100% yours so you don’t need to split your profits or your time with anyone else. Additionally, as a business owner, you have more control in creating a business that reflects you, your personality, and your values with the potential to grow your home inspection business.

Investment is essential for any business, but especially for a home inspector. You may not need a storefront, but you do still need to focus on other financial investments, like marketing and certification or managing other home inspectors as employees. Understanding what is required to develop, maintain, and even grow your home inspection business helps you plan your career accordingly.

This investment of time also extends to marketing plans and social media. Owning a home inspection company comes with special considerations such as figuring out how to market yourself and your company, building relationships with real estate agents, and balancing start-up costs with your ongoing financial requirements. There are other factors that can influence how your business functions, too, like experiencing a slow season or lacking the self-discipline to run a business.

In addition to teaching the skills and knowledge required to be a successful home inspector, our courses will help you learn important strategies for navigating the challenges of being a self-employed business owner.

Working for a Home Inspection Company
If you aren’t interested in managing a business or becoming self-employed, a career in home inspection is still possible. There are many companies and organizations, such as FEMA or regional building departments, that need skilled and knowledgeable home inspectors.

There are advantages to being employed as a home inspector. For instance, you won’t need to worry about start-up costs, finding clients, or building relationships with real estate agents to gain referrals. You will have more stability compared with running your own business, and have a steady home inspector salary that is not reliant on how much work you can find.

The skills and knowledge you gain as an employee can later be transitioned to self-employment if you decide you want to make that change. Many employees later opt to go into business for themselves as they grow their families or as part of their retirement planning, and the mentorship you can get as an employee will only aid in your future success.

ICA School’s home inspection courses will prepare you for whichever career path you choose, while offering you additional educational opportunities to grow and develop as your needs change.

Home Inspector Jobs as a Retiree

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.

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 and, in many states, you can receive training for home inspecting online.

Home Inspection is a Growing Industry

Everything sounds good so far, but what are the options for starting a new home inspection 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, allowing you the work-life balance that many people are seeking. It provides a good income in a growing industry and lets you provide a valuable service to buyers and sellers. You can be self-employed and run your own business or be employed by someone else. Regardless, there are many rewarding career paths available to qualified and skilled people trained in home inspection. You just need to follow the one that works best for you. If that sounds like the future you want, enroll now with ICA School and start learning in your spare time.