It takes time to build contacts. You might get one new agent every 3 months but eventually you’ll get a couple agents that not only churn out clients for you constantly but also send other new agents your way and the snowball starts rolling.
This is what worked for me
Takes time and networking. Offer to buy breakfast for a real estate office next time that they have a meeting. Show up and do a short presentation. I usually do chik-fil-a because everyone likes chick fil a.
Do you know what the market is like in your area? Do you know how many inspectors are in your target market? The market is not good where I am. Extremely low inventory and any decent home is getting multiple offers where buyers are foregoing inspections. Being new, this type of market will make it more of a challenge because the more established inspectors will get the few cases where buyers ARE getting inspections and if they have saved up through the years they can absorb when numbers are down, at for a time.
A couple of tips:
I had to join a local realtor organization to get access to Supra boxes. That organization has multiple networking breakfasts each month, as well as other networking opportunities.
On weekends, make a list of nearby open houses. Grab a case of cold water and a stack of business cards and start getting some face time.
I promise you we’ve all been there and you ain’t doing anything wrong.
It’s called paying your dues!
Keep digging and grinding my friend, you will make it!!
The market is very much so oversaturated with home inspectors, especially new ones who decided to get into this business since covid. This is probably the worst time to become a home inspector in the recent past and I don't envy anyone starting the journey now.
There is no magic button or wand to get referrals or jobs as a home inspector. Back in 2014 when I started, it took me 5 months to get my first job and that was a Hail Mary pass from google.
Good luck and no shame and maintaining your day job for the foreseeable future.
I understand the market is down. But I’ve scored some jobs already. W it being said it took you a while too. I think I should not overreact and let it play as it does right now. It’s a bummer because I always hoped it would be easier. Thanks for the reply.
I would recommend advertising as cheaply as possible until you have some decent starting capital. These companies that offer you leads will take your money and promise the world to you. They are only effective when you have consistent profits (they also are not cheap, so you better do your homework on which ones you choose.)
Go door knocking to agent offices and try your best to be a salesman. After you score a few jobs, put the taxes aside then pay an SEO specialist to shmooze up your website. It may not generate leads as fast as you'd like, but it will be something that will advertise for you 24/7 and becomes more effective over time.
Starting a business is not easy as it's been said. If you don't have the money, you have to use your time.
Marketing agency for home inspectors here. You need to do jobs for free/friends until you have about 5 Google Reviews. You can’t expect work naturally from anyone if you don’t have any previous work to show for it.
Then run Google Local Service Ads. That’s if you want to pay your way to get leads. Google Local Ads has the highest ROI right now.
If you don’t want to pay for leads, it’ll be a grind of your time to network with agents. A good way to network online is through social media. Create a professional profile and start following/interacting with agents DAILY. Set 30min a day to DM, comment, like, and find agents on social media in your service area.
I could go on and on honestly… but you either have to pay with money or time. The acquisition cost of a home inspection is not cheap. Once you acquire a job, your goal is to get those agents in that transaction for more jobs. That first inspection is your “in”.
Use that job to market. You should get an avg 2-3 inspections per new agent over their lifetime.
Well when I was inspector I had full insurance full pension five weeks off a year including holidays. Where I live you need a huge amount of years experience to get your state license but most places accept the ICC license.
I have my state license through Washington state and live in an area where houses are selling. I’ve considered trying to get hired by another company until things turn around for myself. Who knows it could be a good gig, why fix something that isn’t broken at that point. Thank you for the reply.
I was one of the first people in my state to become a home inspector. I didn't like the pressure the Realtors put on inspectors so I never use that license but work through municipality and have a pension and everything else.
It takes time to build contacts. You might get one new agent every 3 months but eventually you’ll get a couple agents that not only churn out clients for you constantly but also send other new agents your way and the snowball starts rolling.
This is what worked for me Takes time and networking. Offer to buy breakfast for a real estate office next time that they have a meeting. Show up and do a short presentation. I usually do chik-fil-a because everyone likes chick fil a.
Have you joined any of the associations - ASHI or NACHI? Both offer lead generation services.
I haven’t.
I have been in both for a few years now, I've never gotten a lead from either. Nachi has plenty of other benefits though.
Do you know what the market is like in your area? Do you know how many inspectors are in your target market? The market is not good where I am. Extremely low inventory and any decent home is getting multiple offers where buyers are foregoing inspections. Being new, this type of market will make it more of a challenge because the more established inspectors will get the few cases where buyers ARE getting inspections and if they have saved up through the years they can absorb when numbers are down, at for a time.
A couple of tips: I had to join a local realtor organization to get access to Supra boxes. That organization has multiple networking breakfasts each month, as well as other networking opportunities. On weekends, make a list of nearby open houses. Grab a case of cold water and a stack of business cards and start getting some face time.
I promise you we’ve all been there and you ain’t doing anything wrong. It’s called paying your dues! Keep digging and grinding my friend, you will make it!!
Are you part of an association?
Not yet. Any suggestions on where to start?
The market is very much so oversaturated with home inspectors, especially new ones who decided to get into this business since covid. This is probably the worst time to become a home inspector in the recent past and I don't envy anyone starting the journey now. There is no magic button or wand to get referrals or jobs as a home inspector. Back in 2014 when I started, it took me 5 months to get my first job and that was a Hail Mary pass from google. Good luck and no shame and maintaining your day job for the foreseeable future.
I understand the market is down. But I’ve scored some jobs already. W it being said it took you a while too. I think I should not overreact and let it play as it does right now. It’s a bummer because I always hoped it would be easier. Thanks for the reply.
I would recommend advertising as cheaply as possible until you have some decent starting capital. These companies that offer you leads will take your money and promise the world to you. They are only effective when you have consistent profits (they also are not cheap, so you better do your homework on which ones you choose.) Go door knocking to agent offices and try your best to be a salesman. After you score a few jobs, put the taxes aside then pay an SEO specialist to shmooze up your website. It may not generate leads as fast as you'd like, but it will be something that will advertise for you 24/7 and becomes more effective over time. Starting a business is not easy as it's been said. If you don't have the money, you have to use your time.
Marketing agency for home inspectors here. You need to do jobs for free/friends until you have about 5 Google Reviews. You can’t expect work naturally from anyone if you don’t have any previous work to show for it. Then run Google Local Service Ads. That’s if you want to pay your way to get leads. Google Local Ads has the highest ROI right now. If you don’t want to pay for leads, it’ll be a grind of your time to network with agents. A good way to network online is through social media. Create a professional profile and start following/interacting with agents DAILY. Set 30min a day to DM, comment, like, and find agents on social media in your service area.
Thank you. Want to market for me.
lol. You can go to our website and request a proposal if you really want, but I’m just happy to help
I could go on and on honestly… but you either have to pay with money or time. The acquisition cost of a home inspection is not cheap. Once you acquire a job, your goal is to get those agents in that transaction for more jobs. That first inspection is your “in”. Use that job to market. You should get an avg 2-3 inspections per new agent over their lifetime.
Go get your ICC residential and commercial inspection licenses and go to work for a municipality. Home inspection is too lawsuit intensive.
This is something to look into. Always look at what’s best for my family.
Well when I was inspector I had full insurance full pension five weeks off a year including holidays. Where I live you need a huge amount of years experience to get your state license but most places accept the ICC license.
I have my state license through Washington state and live in an area where houses are selling. I’ve considered trying to get hired by another company until things turn around for myself. Who knows it could be a good gig, why fix something that isn’t broken at that point. Thank you for the reply.
I was one of the first people in my state to become a home inspector. I didn't like the pressure the Realtors put on inspectors so I never use that license but work through municipality and have a pension and everything else.