Herspective
Susan Walker
Walker Inspection Service, LLC
susan@walkerinspections.com
503.740.8267
More than a decade ago, Susan Walker was looking for a
career change. While remodeling a home, she began
focusing on a new direction—home inspection. Susan dove in and learned all she could. Before long, she discovered the ASHI chapter in Portland, OR, and started attending meetings to
become familiar with the technical topics.
Susan made an early, strong connection with a veteran home inspector, Paul Frey. Paul’s experience and solid mentoring skills shortened Susan’s learning curve. She said, “Paul has strong ‘teacher’ qualities. For example, we would be on a job site
together and he’d detect something very subtle to find. He’d
say to me, “Go to the south corner of the basement and tell me what you see.” He made it clear that I should stay there until I found it. Also, he frequently quizzed me about what I saw and e mailed me lists of questions to be sure to cover in my reports. It was nice to have a supportive mentor who was willing to help me succeed in a predominantly male field. Years later, we still work together on commercial inspections.”
Over time, Susan built more relationships with other chapter members. And as her confidence as an inspector increased, she took on important roles in the chapter, including President.
Susan said, “One of the reasons I support ASHI is because of the way ASHI encourages education.” Susan makes it clear to others who want to become home inspectors that significant education is required and that getting licensed and certified is key. She said, “I believe that there is always room for more home inspectors… as long as you are going to be a good home inspector.”
“Continuing education is critical. Think of just one example:
electrical changes to breakers and outlets that occur each year. You have to stay on top of things like that and so many others. You cannot rest on your laurels or rely on what you already know.”
“I wouldn’t have made it without a mentor and a group of people on whom I could call. No matter how long you’ve been a home inspector, having a network is always important.”
Susan also feels strongly that home inspectors should have or pursue a college degree. She explains, “I take time to research and understand issues so that I can explain them clearly to my clients. Home inspection is a job of the mind, and that’s why it works so well for me. I tell my clients, ‘You are hiring me for my brain. Each house tells a story. It’s not just the roof or another single part of it. And I can tell you that story.’”
Another way Susan helps others understand the value of home inspection is in her role as an instructor at the Portland Housing Center’s homebuyer program. During class, she educates people about selecting a home inspector and describes what the job entails. She encourages prospective buyers to seek out ASHI-certified inspectors and empowers them to hire the home inspector they choose…not necessarily the person their real estate agent selects for them.
“I encourage people to take the time to find and interview home inspectors on their own. Personally, I like it when a person calls me—I think we both get a sense for whether we will be a good fit. I learn whether the person feels comfortable asking me questions, and I can establish my ability to report pertinent information about the home and answer questions about anything that’s unclear.”
Susan said, “I believe in arming my clients with as much information about the house as possible. Some real estate agents might prefer that I give clients an ‘inspection lite’; however, one of the things I stress to people at the Portland Housing Center is how important it is to understand what’s involved in order to make good, independent decisions about purchasing a new home.”
“Some clients have tough questions. The home they may be able to afford might have some really major problems. So people can become very emotional when the inspector reveals potentially scary and awful things about the house. These clients are looking for an inspector who will give them honest information so they can weigh the pros and cons of their decision. I take pride in doing my part to encourage people to find and hire that person—that ASHI-certified home inspector—on their own.”
Susan said that when people hear she’s a home inspector, sometimes they misunderstand and think that she’s an appraiser. She said, “I always clarify by explaining that I’m the one who gets on their roof and in their crawl space. Then I get a look that tells me the person is either uninterested or just thinks I am crazy!”
Susan’s two mantras that keep her going on the job and in life:
- Be outstanding and don’t settle for anything less.
- Passion equals persistence.
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