Mentorship in Action

ASHI President-Elect Lisa Alajajian Giroux is currently mentoring Sharon Anthony, who’s licensed in New Hampshire but, having moved to Massachusetts, does not meet the minimum requirements to obtain her license, so she’s started the required apprenticeship. Read on to hear about some of her experience.

I am a licensed home inspector in New Hampshire with very little on the job training until I finally found an amazing person who took the time to mentor me. This is honestly a huge weight off of my shoulders. I’m a very confident person with a construction background. I thought I would be an amazing home inspector but was nervous to make a mistake that could cost a home buyer a large sum or miss something truly dangerous and critical to the workings of a home.

I recently moved to Massachusetts, and the laws i have much stricter requirements to do a legal home inspection. You might think I was upset that I now had to find someone to agree to take me on. Wrong—it actually relieved my stress.

Now that I am being mentored by a veteran home inspector in Massachusetts (ASHI President-Elect Lisa Alajajian Giroux), my confidence has increased, my knowledge has increased, and my desire to become a full-time skilled home inspector is becoming a reality.

In New Hampshire all you need to do to get your license is pass a class and a test. While convenient, it’s not very smart, but finding anyone who will let you train under them is ridiculously hard—with very little say. And to beg another to train you is disheartening.

I understand how one may feel threatened by teaching another inspector, considering the chance they are training the competition, but they forget that competition is also great for business. Having a person or team of other home inspection professionals to reach out to for clarification, opinions, or expertise is so beneficial to the trade. I truly wish all states required a mentor-mentee training relationship before starting your own business.

To find out more about the ASHI Mentorship Program, go here.