Okay, but what’s so great about home inspecting as a career?
It’s Profitable
While these figures will vary by state and city, the average home inspector in the US makes between $45,000 and $100,000 a year. When you consider the fact that the cost to get started is relatively low and the ongoing cost of running your business are minimal, the profit potential is remarkable. In my first full year of business, as a solo inspector, I did $159,900 worth of inspections. And, after having run food services businesses for years, the lack of rent, payroll, cost of goods, or utility expenses was startling.
It’s flexible
It is a common refrain that the self-employed “get to make their own schedules.” Well, I have owned several business where this certain did not feel true. But home inspecting is different. You can choose if you want to do one or multiple inspections per day. You can choose if you want to offer weekend time slots and be a hero to real estate agents. You a choose if you want to start at the same time every day or let clients choose the start time. You can choose to take a vacation. You can choose how far you are willing to drive. You can choose. For reals. Every weekday I am able to drop off and pick up my kids from school, make dinner and spend time with them, all while doing a $500-$800 inspection.
Ai can’t do it alone
While so many jobs will be swallowed by AI in the years to come, AI is likely to only become a tool to make the career more efficient. The high-level analysis, on-site data collection and client forward communication that home inspectors provide are not likely to be replicated by AI for the foreseeable future. The industry is likely to be altered by AI tools, but we are a long way from humanoid robots that can scamper across an attic or notice and adapt to the furrowed brow of a first time home buyer when you say “GFCI receptacle.”
