Cool Careers Without College for People Who Love Houses and Apartments by Pelos Rebecca;Beco Alice; & Alice Beco

Author:Pelos, Rebecca;Beco, Alice; & Alice Beco
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rosen Publishing Group

A home inspector must do a thorough job to ensure that a home is safe and to expose any hidden flaws.

Since you will need to drum up your own business, good people skills are essential. Home inspectors are usually recommended to buyers by real estate agents, homebuilders, and architects. Buyers often accompany you on an inspection, which usually takes between two and three hours. During this time, you will need to outline the home’s features in order to educate buyers about the condition of the home.

Following the inspection, you will need to write up a detailed report that will help buyers decide whether to go ahead with the purchase, renegotiate the price of a house, or back out of a bad deal. Although official report forms are available, the ability to write clearly and concisely is important. It is considered unethical to discuss your observations with sellers or real estate agents.

CAREER PREP

There are no official requirements or education necessary to become a professional home inspector. However, high school science courses can be useful in order to understand electrical, heating, and cooling systems. Math is important for calculations, and English composition for writing reports.

Working part-time during the summer for a company that specializes in the construction or renovation of houses can provide you with valuable on-the-job experience in terms of understanding structural and technical aspects of home construction. Other useful jobs include working for an architecture or engineering firm or for an electrician or plumber. Getting an internship (paid or unpaid) at a home inspection company where you can observe an inspector at work is an ideal kind of apprenticeship. Increasingly, technical schools, community colleges, and some online courses are available in home inspection.

Home inspection is not a regulated profession, which means that inspectors don’t have to pass any tests or acquire certification. Nonetheless, in light of the serious consequences of a poor inspection and the competitiveness of the field, increasing numbers of inspectors certify themselves from home inspection associations. These associations—such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)—offer part-time courses and workshops that deal with all aspects of inspection. After gaining some on-the-job experience and passing exams, successful candidates are recognized as certified professionals.

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