part time/full time?

[Eric Prough]

I was just wondering how many of you inspect full-time and how many just do this part-time. I'm just getting started so I'm only able to do this part-time right now, but I would love to do this full-time some day. 

[Michael Merino]

Eric, in this economy you may want to start part time and move to full time if you get enough business. I do this full time, but it took awhile to get to that point. What part of the country are you in? How many inspectors are you competing with? Do you have a website that will be at the top of the search results? You need to answer those questions to really determine your business structure. It is imperative that you get a good website that is hitting page one of the search engines and gets you to the top of page one.

[Cameron Anderson]

Full time.  Started eight years ago full time and within 6 months began supplimenting my income with woodworking. Didn't officially make a dime for a year and a half and burned my savings down to zero. It was three years before I was fulltime again. If I did it over again I would do part time to start with.

[Eric Prough]

there isn't another inspector in our area, so that's made it easier for me to take it slow and just do it part time. I don't feel like I have to rush into inspecting full time. I've been a carpenter for 6 years and know that my body want hold up forever doing that, so this is something I definately want to do full time in due time.

[Dan Musielski]

Eric, I'm full-Time.  As I look on my wall, I passed my State Exam/National Home Inspector Exam Nov 24, 2004. My Certificate Ownership of Business is dated Dec 20, 2004 (7 years tomorrow).

Read not just on our industry; but on starting and running a small business.  Learn from other small business owner's...not just inspectors. Starting out part-time is a smart move if you have the flexiblity with your day job.  Like Cameron, I burnt through every penny. Yup...There were many sleepless nights and cold sweats; so you gotta love what you do.

[Stephen Stanczyk]

I enjoy part timers coming into the business in my area.  I use it as a marketing strength for my own business.  I explain to the price shoppers that Home Inspection is my only business, and that I rely solely on Home Inspections for my income and do not have another job that takes my time and attention.  I explain that the vast majority of inexpensive quotes they are getting are from part-timers, newbies or both.  If that is who they want inspecting their home, that is their choice.

What happens when the client wants an inspection on a time or day you are working elsewhere?  I guess you can tell them your schedule is booked.  But that word will eventually get around and you could damage your reputation before you get a chance to build one.  Then again, after putting in 40 or 50 hours on another job, do you really want to use one of your days off to perform an inspection?

The first year was tough.  Any spare time was spent learning or marketing the business.  If you don't market, you don't grow.  If you don't grow, you are destined to be part time forever.  Every major study on starting a business tells you to have at least 12-18 months of total income set aside before starting.  That is without relying on any income from the business.  It is a tough thing to do from the get go.  The choice is ultimately yours to make. 

Good luck.

[Cameron Anderson]

I enjoy part timers coming into the business in my area.  I use it as a marketing strength for my own business.

That is so brilliantly passive/aggressive.  And good marketing too! 

I must agree, that is how I would market my full time status as well. Whatever the other guy is doing, find a way to make it look like a con instead of a pro.


Actually, it dawned on me that right at the beginning pretty much everyone is part time.  It's just the other part of the time is spent like Steve mentioned, marketing yourself every chance you get and listening for the phone to ring. (or hoping it will)

[Dan Musielski]

Frankly..PT or FT...every inspector started with 1 inspection.  You need to make a transition.  You need to figure out how that works best for you. Sure, 18 months set aside is nice, but if you follow a book, it may never happen. 

Steve Jobs, did everything wrong from the proper business model and was pushed out by his own people, Michael Dell started out of a dorm room.  My uncle lived out of the back of a shed and 10 year was worth of 10 million.

I leveraged my career at the time.  When people asked what I did before, I told them the same thing but on a larger scale.  I made it clear that I was evaluating large automation systems for Ford, Coke, Applied Materials, Fortune 100 companies, from Argentina, to San Jose, to Toronto, to Munich. I never knocked my competition...I just promote myself.  If you start doing that, you may get the one time sale, but not the 3rd, 4th, or 5th.

I don't know Cameron...so I'm only guessing here, but I would imagine he subtly makes it known that he has a degree in Architecture from U of I...and he should; it's one of the best schools in the country to be accepted too; Clients want that reassurance.

Ultimately- do what works best for you.

[Cameron Anderson]

That degree was earned through a lot of pain, suffering and a lack of sleep. You bet I market it !

[Jim Keilson]

I am another Full Timer.  I jumped in head first and never looked back.  Took a bit to get thed $$ going, but started as a full timer and keep on trucking everyday.

Jim

[Joe Keresztury]

What's the definition of full time inspector vs. part time inspector ? -
Is Part time being you work a 8-5 job and do inspections on the side?
Because, I do other things like investments, construction, consulting, etc.
but I'm always available to schedule inspections.
So am I part time or full time.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

A Full Time inspector is someone who derives 100% of their (employment) income from performing inspections. Investments, pensions, etc. are not included in this determination.

A Part Time inspector is someone who derives ANY of their (employment) income from any other source, not including investments, pensions, etc...

[Steve]

Hi Eric
I am currently in the same boat that you and many of the people that have posted here are and have been. I am a residential renovator and have been for the last 20 years or so. My body is getting tired and less forgiving when it comes to injury and long hard days. I am doing my best to get off the tools as fast as possible. So I guess the answer to your question is that I am part time now but am marketing full time when I get the time. In terms of my inspections and doing my reports, I have the luxury of a great worker that I leave alone to work whilst I concentrate on HI.
Try not to think in terms of full or part time. Look at it as what you put in you get out.
Jim mentioned that he jumped in full time and never looked back. Others like me will say that it took time.
Really it's going to be up to you Bro, if you hit every marketing opportunity that you see and never take no for an answer it won't take long at all.
For my self, I intend on being full time by June of this year at the latest.
Best of luck

[Joe Keresztury]

Jeff, your answer really doesn't make sense! Is that your analogy or what authority is your answer based on?

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Forget for a moment where it came from Joe. What part of it doesn't make sense to you? Yes, I understand it get's more complicated than that, and perhaps I over-simplified the statement, so let's work on that first.

BTW... I "sealed the deal" two weeks ago with the statement "I perform inspections Full-time. I have no other job. I eat, sleep, work and play home inspections. When I am not performing an inspection, I am educating myself to be the best I can be for you. My competition cannot say that. If you have any doubts, call them and call me back. I'll be here".? ? 

I made that statement after about 20 minutes of trying to differentiate myself from the other inspectors the guy had called. Most of them were Realtor referrals. Many of them have stolen my marketing strategies form various message boards. I am now careful what I share and where. (This MB does not seem to be an issue). I know my competition. Most of them are Part-time out of work contractors... or ConSpectors! The others are Part-time retiree's, or Part-time keeping-my-day-job for the income and benefits because I-aint's-good-enough or I-ain't-got-the-big-ones to take a risk and go for it! I honestly can only think of one other inspector based within 30 miles of me that if legitimately Full-time. ? 

Oh... Yes, I did this as a Part-timer twice. Once when I first started out, back in the mid-late 90's, and again for about a year and a half in the 2000's when the market went to hell overnight, and I had to pay my mortgage. Yes, I completely understand the need, but I will also tell you this... when I went back part-timing for that short time in the 2000's, it damn near killed my inspection business. I went back inspecting Full-time and never looked back. Yes, it's been tough lately, but I am still better off, and my company is stronger than ever!

[Joe Keresztury]

Jeff, I know where that definition comes from probably Nachi's definition. But let me explain my view of this. And I hope I didn't ruffle your feathers my buddy, but we will agree to disagree on this. I don't agree with lumping inspectors that do other things all into one category with someone that works at Walmart full time and does inspections on the side at nite and weekends. He's not available at all times for inspections. That is different than an entrepreneur who is an inspector and has other business interests on the side that do not keep him from being available at all times (full time) for inspections.
Let's say you inherit a restuarant from Aunt Gertrude (she always did like you). You hire a manager to run it, but you pop in to check on things when you are free from your full schedule of inspection work. This according to your definition, because of the restaraunt additional income makes you a part time inspector. I don't agree.
I know things are slow up your way, but let's say Casey was busy and available at all times for inspections but helped his Dad out sometimes on Home Improvement and window replacement projects to fill in gaps of his inspection schedule, then with your reasoning he is part time.
My older brother has been an Inspector for 35 years. He doesn't advertise or have a website, doesn't need to. He has had long lasting relationships/accounts with numerous builders. But over the years in addition to inspections he has built homes, office buildings, developed a subdivision, owned a restaraunt and when things were slow at one time he even did trim carpentry on homes I was building. He's a workaholic, always on the go for something to work on (I'm the lazy one ). None of those situations kept him from being available or performing needed inspections full time. I guarantee you no one considers him a part time inspector.
My point- The statement should be "Inspector Available full time" not "Full time Inspector". Actually Full time is considered putting in at least 40 hours a week. I know I'm not putting in 40 hours a week of inspections, but I am available full time for it. I know you all are slow in your parts also, so I don't think you're putting in at least 40 hrs a week either of inspections. But I know you are available to. So you are also available for full time, for inspections, but actually are not performing inspections full time.
So what really doesn't make sense is the definition being base on percentage of related income. I know based on my background my competition around here does not lump me in with someone doing it on the side part time.
Your reasoning puts me in the same category as that Walmart employee doing inspections on the side. How could I possibly agree with thatwhen I am available full time, any time for an inspection, but due to my knowledge and experience will continue to supplement my income in other related ways.

[Dan Musielski]

When I was a full-time engineer, and I did part-time electrical work on the weekend with my fathers electrial company, does that mean I wasnt a full-time engineer?

Now I have a full time inspection business - but I work a couple evenings a week at the gym, get my exercise in, free membership and make a few bucks(equal to one inspection a month)...does that mean Im not a full-time Inspector?

[Dan Musielski]

Disclaimer...ASHI people, please dont get mad! Well..you can get mad..I really dont care...just dont wine to me!!!

Years ago..(when I first got started)...I had a cleint ask me two questions.

1st question...was I full time! ? My answer YES.
2nd question...are you an ASHI member. My answer NO...I didnt have 200 inspections at the time...blah blah blah. I had "maybe" 5 inspections under my belt.

But I didnt let the conversation die...this was my response..."Well Mr Client, if that is important to you, I will be more then happy to provide you with a few recommendations". ? Cleint was very happy. ? (This was when Illinois first fot licensing)

So..I got on the phone, called every ASHI member in my area. ? I had at least(3)guys who "did not" return my call. ? So I wrote down their names, their number, and location. ? I call back Mr Client and said..."Here are 3 State Licensed, ASHI Certified Home Inspectors right in your area...I'm sure one of them will be glad to help".

Guess who got that inspection the next day??? I did...because the other guys didnt follow-up.

[Joe Keresztury]

Dan, good points / examples on your first post.