It’s not too difficult to start a business. Most people are able to get a basic business off the ground in short order. Growing that “basic” business into something that makes us happy, well, that’s a whole different story.
In most states, in order to call ourselves a home inspector, we need to do some basic schooling and pass a test. Then suddenly, whether we’re working for someone else or going it alone, we’re running our own business, doing inspections for people who are paying us money. It’s quite likely our training gave us the fundamentals we needed to do a rudimentary home inspection, but it’s unlikely we’ve been sufficiently schooled in running a business. Unfortunately, there was little to no business training while we were studying for the National Home Inspection Exam.
Once we reached our goal of getting that inspection license, most of us were at a loss as to what to do next. While we were going through the licensing process, things were pretty straightforward: there was a list of items we had to do in order to qualify for a license, so we simply went right down the list. Take this class, pass this test, get these forms filled out, pay some fees: it was all neatly laid out for us. We simply had to connect the dots.
Now that we’re on our own, however, there is no more list for us to follow.
If we’re in a state that requires licensing, there’s likely a minimal number of continuing education hours we need to take before renewing our license. Beyond that, there’s not much guidance as to what we should be doing next.
At this point, we’re really on our own.
If we want to be successful, if we want to say that we’ve got a job that we’re happy with, we’re going to have to keep figuring out what we should be doing next. The most successful inspectors have figured this out and work tirelessly to make sure they’re able to keep themselves where they want to be.
If we are going to take things into our own hands, doing everything we can to make sure we’re advancing in our career, there is one important step that must be taken:
We must take some time to sit and think about what it is we want out of our career.
If we’re fairly competent and fortunate enough not to find ourselves in the worst real estate market on record, our options as an inspection professional are almost limitless. There are inspectors who run massive business empires and rake in millions of dollars every year, there are those who forgo the massive operation while still making a great income employing multiple inspectors, and there are others still who are content with the level of success they have as solo inspectors.
For each of these business owners, it’s entirely possible for them to put themselves in a great financial position. (It’s also possible for them to find themselves in a horrible situation as well.) There are an almost unlimited number of ways an inspection career can turn, so it’s important that we do everything we can to help steer our business in a direction that best allows us to achieve our goals.
Going all out to make as much money as possible is certainly one way to run a business, and it works for some people, but going all out to maximize our own personal happiness seems to be a more sustainable goal.
If making millions every year, while still enjoying your career and personal life, is your goal, it is out there for the taking. Obviously, it will involve lots of hard work (and quite a bit of good fortune), but it’s something that’s been achieved by a number of entrepreneurial inspectors. Most of us, however, are looking for something a bit more realistic.
Most inspectors simply want to be able to enjoy their inspection job while making an income sufficient for their needs. A comfortable career coupled with a comfortable financial picture: what more could an inspector ask for?
Regardless of where we want to end up when all is said and done, it’s impossible to get there if we don’t know where we’re going. Most people never take time out of their busy schedule to sit still and ponder what it is they’re really looking to accomplish with their inspection career, but it’s probably the most important thing a business owner can do.
If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling back—that’s the way it is.
Sam Waterston
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Thanks, Joe
