Let me begin by stating, I do not know anything about Home Inspection. I have NO experience in constructon, plumbing, electric, ect.. you name it I don't know it. I do know that you can make faily good money, and it does look interesting.

You must wonder why even bother. I live in South Carolina in Myrtle Beach, and the housing development is going through the roof. The requirments in getting your HI license in South Carolina is a getting in a five day school, take the states exam and your certified.

I just find it hard to believe that a five day school (which cost about $1000) can give you the confidence to inspect homes.

I do have a full time job in law enforcement, and thought of getting into the HI business starting slow and getting experience doing it part time.

My question is; is it worth it? How can you get any experience when others out there have been doing it for years? Can a five day school really prepare you to go out and do inspections? I know I will make mistakes, but will that put me in lawsuits or trouble? Why would real estate agents even bother with you, when there are plenty of experience ones out their?

And lastly, can somebody like me with no experience at all, survive?

The only thing I have going is time and patients. I am 33 yrs old, and still have about 17 yrs until retirement, I don't care if I get a few inspections here and there, but is there room for minor errors, because it will happen.

Thanks, John

One would have to define "fairly good money." Being rich in South Texas might merely mean being upper-lower class here in San Diego.

It is an interesting, but I lose too much sleep over the liability I carry, especially with a multi-inspector company.

A five-day school won't give you the confidence per sé, but it can boost your comfidence enough to start your company. There also is such a thing as homework. As with all schools, lots and lots of homework. Fortunately, I sit at home with The Beatles and the Internet now instead of at a much-much-too-quite library someplace like in the (g)olden days.

Only you can decide if it is worth it to change careers. Study, research, digest, ask questions, etc., so that you have the latest and greatest information available when you're finally ready to make that all-too-important decision.

You can get experience through due diligence in marketing. As most business schools say, starting a new company is 80% enthusiasm and 20% technical know how. Part of that enthusiasm will be evident, or not, in your marketing materials.

I consider E&O insurance to be mandatory for my business. Others don't think the same. But my insurance protects me against major problems. Minor problems I take care of myself. There will always be problems simply because the industry is still very young (about 30 years) and there is no good track record to go on as to what the public should expect from us, and, in many states, what we are to provide the public. Confusion (and lawsuits) reign.

But lawsuits occur in every industry, so one really can't worry about those if one has a passion about a career. One can only try one's best to manage one's client's expectations and one's liability. But that's really no different from managing one's expenses.

Good management, good communication skills (both verbal and written), and great marketing will get you started and see you through.