Carson Dunlop Home Inspection Training Program Introduction to Home Inspection

Transcription

1 Carson Dunlop Home Inspection Training Program Introduction to Home Inspection What is a home inspection exactly? Professional consulting practice Helps home buyers make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives Visual examination of the home Written report Performed on existing homes and new homes Young and growing profession (roughly 75% of home sales are inspected) Broad range of construction knowledge needed, like a family doctor has a broad range of medical knowledge. Both rely on specialists for specific issues. What kind of buildings do inspectors look at? Single family homes Up to 4 family dwellings What kind of people do home inspections? Professional home inspectors Specifically trained and educated Some come from un related backgrounds Some come from construction backgrounds Some come from professions like engineering and architecture Is it like being a municipal building inspector? No, home inspectors are not code inspectors who enforce rules. They don't work for a municipality. Home inspectors evaluate field performance is the building working and safe? They work for prospective home buyers. How long have home inspections been around? Since the late 1960s Who hires home inspectors? People buying homes People selling homes People with concerns about their homes

2 What does the work include? Inspection Walking through the house, observing and testing the systems Getting up on the roof to inspect it Looking in the attic and crawlspace Opening electrical panel and removing furnace cover Not heavy labour Communication Client (homebuyer) typically attends Inspector explains as he/she goes Answers client questions Summarizes findings Real estate agent often attends Seller of home may attend Answers client questions Summarizes findings Real estate agent often attends Seller of home may attend Report writing Create written report to document findings May be done on site or after the inspection Delivered within 24 hours What makes a good home inspector? People who are interested in homes and construction People who are good communicators Do I need a background in construction? No. Many successful home inspectors have no construction related experience. What s a typical inspection fee? $400 and up How many inspections can a typical inspector do in one day? Two or three (we recommend two) An inspection of a typical home may take 2 ½ to 4 ½ hours including report writing. A fully engaged inspector can do 500 inspections per year. How much money can I make? At only 300 inspections/year, gross revenue is $120,000 and up

3 Can I see a sample report? See writing/horizon software/sample reports What are the advantages of being a professional home inspector? Run your own business Work from home not chained to a desk Make very good money Freedom to set your own schedule Low startup costs Brochures, business cards, letterhead Limited physical demands Are there opportunities to diversify? Yes there are many: Well and septic system inspections Carbon monoxide testing Lead testing Energy audits Swimming pool and spa inspections Termite inspections Radon inspections Mould inspections Asbestos inspections Indoor air quality evaluation Infrared thermography inspections Pre listing inspections Commercial inspections New home inspections and construction progress inspections Problem solving inspections Pre renovation inspections Litigation consulting (Dispute resolution inspections) What kind of tools do I need? You only need a very basic set of tools. Ladder, flashlight, electrical tester, screwdriver, moisture meter, mirror, awl, gloves, spirit level, camera, etc. Total cost of less than $1000 What are the physical demands? Walking and climbing a ladder Crawling in crawl spaces No heavy lifting

4 GETTING STARTED Can I start my own business? Yes, more than half the home inspectors in America have their own practice. Can I work for someone else? Yes, although the majority of home inspection companies are one or two person operations. Can I buy a franchise? Yes, there are several franchises available. Can I do this part time? Yes, many people do. If I start my own business, how do I market my services? We have an advanced course on marketing home inspection businesses. Work with the real estate community Website Inspectors Edge Do I need insurance? You will need basic insurance for automobile, office contents, general liability etc. Most home inspectors also carry Errors and Omissions (professional liability) insurance. Are there credentials or certifications that I need? In British Columbia & Alberta, you need a license to be a home inspector. No other provinces/territories are licensed as of May Credentials from certifying bodies and associations may be helpful Trend toward licensing/regulation in America What associations should I join? Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) (CAHPI has provincial and regional bodies) National Certification Authority. This is a designation rather than an association. Do I need to be licensed? Canada British Columbia Canada Alberta

5 TRAINING Where can I go to get training? Carson Dunlop Carson Dunlop has a comprehensive distance education program that provides complete career training, with text, illustrations and CD ROMs. Includes free access to report writing software while training Practical, simple learning No heavy academic theory No focus on formulas and calculations Real skills from real home inspectors How do I get some practical knowledge? We encourage you to take field training once you have completed your education. We have a 40 hour field training program available. What about continuing education? Most home inspection associations and licensing bodies require continuing education. Our programs are approved by most bodies for continuing education credits. ABOUT CARSON DUNLOP Engineering firm, focused on home inspections since Our two inspection companies have performed over 100,000 inspections. Have performed thousands of energy audits. Two report writing systems o Home Reference Book writing/home reference book o Horizon writing/horizon software Comprehensive home inspection training program offered since the 1990s Commercial inspection company CDW Engineering Ltd. Alan Carson is a Past President of ASHI and CAHPI Ontario Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop have both been recognized for their contributions to the profession over several decades.