7 Tips for Starting a Home Inspection Business

I recently wrapped up my first year as a business owner of my own home inspection company—Another Level Home Inspection. To give you a little background, I’d been inspecting for years prior, and I have experience with most aspects of the industry.

Closing out my first year, I can say that while I’m very happy with how things have gone, I can’t help but reflect on both the things that have gone well and the things that have not. No matter what type of experience you have working for someone else, I think it’s always both challenging and interesting really doing things on your own. I wanted to write this article to help any inspectors out there who may be starting new companies themselves.

1. Plan Ahead.

One thing you realize quickly is that starting your own business has a lot of moving parts, many of which you may not have anticipated. I learned that trying to anticipate challenges in advance is really important.

You need to have a plan for getting your company set up legally and have your software, insurance, inspection agreement, website, logo, and name prepared, as well as know how people will contact you and a million other details.

You also must plan on having the correct order of operations. For example, you need to have an inspection agreement prior to getting insurance, and you may want a functioning website to direct people to before doing any advertisements.

I recommend that you consult an attorney, an insurance agent, a software company, web developer, and any other experts to walk through each process with you so you have a timeline of when you need to do what. You don’t want to turn away your first customers because you don’t have all your ducks in a row.

2. Stick to What You Know.

I think all inspectors working for someone else may think about how they would do things differently if it were their own company. This is an exciting part of starting your own company, but I would advise you to continue to do what you are comfortable with, at least in the beginning.

All the new tasks you take on will be challenging enough, and some things I wanted to do differently ended up presenting their own challenges. You may think another method is best, but there may be a very good reason why things are not done that way. I would say don’t be afraid to mix things up later, once your business has stabilized.

3. Leverage Your Local Presence.

One thing I was amazed by was how much weight being part of a local community gives to your business. If you put yourself out there locally, people love supporting someone in their own area. Some clients also may target an inspector close to their potential property. Competing over the internet with every other company is a hopeless battle, especially when you’re new. Focus on getting out there in person and making real connections in the community.

4. Spend Your Advertising Money for the Long Haul.

I invested initially on many platforms where clients were making a buying decision. It turned out almost everything I spent was a complete waste, as other companies were either underbidding me or so well established I couldn’t compete.

The best investments I made were in website development, SEO, networking grounds, and local community exposures. Now that I have more of an infrastructure, when I do advertise to clients making a buying decision, it actually works!

5. Ask for Help.

People who I would previously network with had a different attitude when I was out on my own. When people know you need help, they are much more likely to assist you. I think it’s OK to be transparent and let people know you need them. You can be an excellent inspector but an inexperienced business owner at the same time.

And showing appreciation goes a long way. When someone makes even a small effort to help you, go way out of your way to say thanks. It helps people understand they are making a big impact on your livelihood.

6. Leverage Your Peers.

Almost everything I know about how to be successful at running an inspection business I have learned from my ASHI peers or from my prior boss.

ASHI is a great community of inspectors who are not afraid to share and help one another. Part of my desire to give back (including writing this article) is because I am so grateful for the help I have received. Don’t be afraid to share your experiences or ask for help and advice. Asking others for help has enabled me to build some of these relationships with inspectors, which I really appreciate.

7. Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself.

It seems like every time I find myself in a stretch of slow days, I spend them stressing out, but before you know it, they’re over.

Providing your own livelihood is extremely stressful and it takes patience. Set expectations appropriately with your loved ones and try to listen to your own realistic expectations. You know growing a business will take time, and it’s better to use any extra time you have initially in a productive manner.

These are just some of the lessons I have learned or am still trying to learn at this point in my career. I can’t say what my business will look like in 10 years, but I can tell you I am learning a lot and have been greatly appreciative of this experience. We work in an industry where we get to really help people and provide a valuable service.