Enter your email below to receive weekly updates from the Ashton College blog straight to your inbox.
As the construction of houses and condos continues to increase, so does the demand for skilled home inspectors. Not only is it a great time to become a home inspector, but home inspection is one of the best options for people looking to become self-employed.
As a self-employed home inspector, you will be your own boss, set your own hours, and experience a greater level of satisfaction and commitment to your job. Starting a home inspection business is relatively inexpensive, but there are a few essentials you will need to get your operation up and running. We are going to break down what it is you need to get your own home inspection business started.
The standards for home inspectors across Canada are very high, and in order to compete in the home inspection market, you will need to ensure that your skills meet those standards. Some provinces, such as Alberta and British Columbia, require home inspectors to have a licence, but this is not the case in most provinces. Make sure you know the provincial regulations regarding home inspectors before you get started. Regardless of what province you live in, you will need to receive training in your occupation before starting your business.
When looking for home inspection courses, you should look to see if the courses are recognized by any relevant organizations, such as a home inspection association. Ashton College offers a comprehensive set of home inspection courses that are recognized by the Home Inspection Association of British Columbia (HIABC). We have also partnered with Carson Dunlop, who is a leading provider in educational materials for home inspection programs and endorsed by several home inspection member associations, universities, and colleges. The home inspection courses offered at Ashton are approved by Consumer Protection BC (CPBC). These courses not only prepare you for the HIABC exam, but they provide you with the skills you need to work as a home inspector in any province or territory in Canada.
If you have a toolbox in your home then odds are that you already have a few of the essentials you will need for performing your duties as a home inspector. Screwdrivers, pliers, and other basic tools will all help you on the job, but you will need more than these. A ladder is an essential home inspection tool, and it should be at least tall enough to get you on to the roof of a 2-storey home. Some of the more advanced tools you will require for your work are gas and moisture detectors, a circuit tester, a capacitive voltage sensor, and an infrared thermometer.
Along with these essential tools, you will need to have a reliable vehicle for transporting them to and from job sites.
You can have the best training and tools available, but if you do not have any clients, then all of your efforts will be wasted. Marketing is important, particularly for a new business with no reputation to speak of yet.
When it comes to marketing, there are many approaches to take. One of the simplest measures is to ensure you have a consistent online presence. Setting up and maintaining social media pages is an effective marketing tactic for any business. You can also pay for targeted advertising online to focus your marketing efforts on specific demographics. Aside from your online presence, you can use other avenues of marketing, such as sponsoring local events or networking with real estate agents and other relevant professionals in your area.
If you want to get your own home inspection business underway then the best time to get started is right now. Having the proper training should be your first step, and Ashton College can help you take that step. Register for one of our upcoming home inspection courses and take your career in an exciting new direction.
The information contained in this post is considered to be true and accurate as of the date of publication. However, the accuracy of this information may be impacted by changes in circumstances that occur after the time of publication. Ashton College assumes no liability for any error or omissions in the information contained in this post or any other post in our blog.
View All Comments