ASHi’s New and Seasoned Members Remind Us All of Whom We Should Strive to Be

It’s hard to believe it’s November already and I only have a short time left as ASHI President, traveling to chapters and meeting members. One thing I’ve noticed as I’ve traveled across the country visiting chapters and conferences is that we all have the same struggles and desire to be the best we can be. Now, this doesn’t mean that we all agree on how to achieve our common goals, but we do share some of the same values. 

When I speak with new inspectors, I’m reminded of how difficult the first year in business was. Not only are you trying to build an agent base, but you are also trying to just survive. I recently spoke with a young lady who’s just completed her first nine months as a single-inspector company. Her biggest struggle, she told me, is dealing with agents who are men. She told me that she feels she’s being “tested” by them…because what could a woman know about mechanics and houses? I assured her that there was no doubt in my mind that she and most women are just as capable as any man. We have a few women who belong to my chapter in Kansas City and I can assure you that they can run rings around some of the men. 

The real issue is developing working relationships with the people you really want to work with. I explained to her that there will be all kinds of agents and other people just “trying you out” to see if you fit their inspector model. It seems like that hurts more at first because you need the work to survive and you don’t want to get sideways with someone. 

I also told her that she should focus on the long game. After a while, I said, those types “testing” you will leave you alone and the agents who want a good job done for their clients will keep calling on you. She said that this was already happening and that it did make her life easier knowing she was working for and with people who appreciated her skills. This also holds true for inspectors who’ve been doing this for a while. I’m often asked how I maintain my business when I travel so much for ASHI. The answer is the same—I work with agents who want to work with me and are willing to wait for my availability when they can. I really enjoy talking with new inspectors because they remind me of how I felt when I was starting out and the struggles that we all share and how we can move forward. 

Another thing that I enjoy when traveling to ASHI events is speaking with the “seasoned” inspectors who’ve been around awhile. These are the people who make this clock tick. What do I mean by that? Just think about it—when you or your chapter has a question or needs help, who is it that you call? It’s the person who’s been doing this for a long time and is always willing to help. The ones who are at all of the meetings, who volunteer their time and knowledge, and assist anyone who asks. Without these individuals who are willing to share their time and expertise, nothing would get done and we’d all suffer the results. These are the people who make strong chapters, conferences and better inspectors. These individuals stand out in the crowd and everyone reveres them. Your long-term goal should be to be that guy or gal. If your nature is not to be the spokesman or group leader, then offer your support in the background. 

ASHI has built a strong network of chapters and leaders through volunteerism and commitment to be the best, locally and nationally. This is what “40 Years of Trust” is all about, us trusting each other and the public trusting us to do the right thing. I have a few more months of travel left, meeting members and thanking them for being part of ASHI. Don’t forget— when another inspector helps you, thank them for their help and pass it forward when you can. 

Until next month—inspect safe and do the right thing.