Don’t let the affordable price tag fool you. Our online, self-paced training is top-notch and it’s always up to current industry standards. In fact, it’s a better value than some programs that cost more than double. Here’s why:

Here’s what you’ll get:

Instructor-led video sessions A module on using drones Hazard inspections such as mold and radon Energy efficiency and healthy home inspections HUD, Fire Code and general Code inspections Plus more

Of the top programs that we checked out, none cover all of those topics. And only one of them has video study led by an instructor. And we go even further. You’ll have access to our complete online library, plus 20 additional e-books that cover inspections for septic systems, termites, energy audits and more.

Watch how simple it can be to start a new career.

We Focus Heavily on the Business Side, Too

The majority of our training package covers how to perform a home inspection and a breakdown of defects that inspectors look for. But all of that knowledge won’t help you run a profitable business. So where some schools only cover inspecting, we go the extra mile to help you succeed.

The inspection process is only part of the job. When you choose our program, you’ll get the complete package for success with inspections as well as running a business.

While many home inspectors come to the industry from construction or a related field, that kind of background isn’t required. You’ll learn what you need to know about home inspecting from our self-paced online training program. Anyone who puts their mind to it can succeed.

Some people shift to this industry after a long and fruitful career that’s entirely unrelated to homes or home systems. An accountant can become a home inspector. And so can a full-time mom whose kids are grown and gone to college. And some people enter home inspecting directly from high school. It doesn’t matter where you begin. What’s more important is where you end up.

Practically everyone uses social media, and so should your home inspection business. Social is the way that businesses network, build their unique brand and get out the message out.

If you aren’t taking advantage of this inexpensive (often free) opportunity for marketing and advertising, it’s time to get started. Not sure about where to begin? Here are the basics on using social to get your campaign off the ground.

Facebook is Designed for Community Building

One of the “Big Three” in social media, Facebook has nearly 2 billion active users. That’s according to Statistica. What’s more interesting is that the numbers consistently go up year over year.

Facebook has incredible reach. And it also has tools for business. While the overwhelming majority of Facebook users live nowhere near you, many of them probably do. Using this platform, you can make regular posts or schedule them to post for you, participate in conversations with your community and place targeted ads that reach the demographic you need most: local customers.

Twitter Keeps Messages Short and Sweet

What can you say in 140 characters? It doesn’t take many words to promote your business via Twitter. In fact, successful businesses do it every day. And the more followers you get, the more will find you.

Twitter is fast-paced and designed for streamlined efficiency. Some of the better marketing strategies for this platform revolve around grabbing attention and providing a link that leads to your website. Images are important with Twitter, so always include a great one. Text-only Tweets can quickly be drowned out by the constant flurry of activity.

LinkedIn lets you network with other industry pros.

LinkedIn Helps Solidify You as a Thought Leader

LinkedIn is a different kind of social Media. Chances are, you’ll gain few new customers directly from your LinkedIn network. But what you can gain are connections and influence.

This platform helps you build your brand reputation and show your home inspecting chops. You can post informational materials that help other inspectors. And you can also network with real estate agents in your area to bring in more referrals.

Other Platforms to Think About

Outside the Big Three, other social media platforms are growing fast. Houzz, for example, is a showcase of home ideas. As a home inspector, you could use your voice to guide prospective buyers around the world about potential home defects.

Pinterest lets you pull ideas from around the Internet to create a sort of bulletin board for home inspection information. If you see something terrific at Inspectapedia, pin it to a board for your followers to find. If you create content on your own website, as you should, pin that, too.

Social media gives your marketing strategy a bigger reach. Used well, it can set your home inspection business apart as a local and national leader. There’s a lot to learn, and the details can quickly overwhelm. So start slow. Choose one platform and learn it well, then move on to another. Hootsuite has a wealth of information about that.

Every house has defects. But some buyers are easily frightened off, even if the defects are not especially serious. Along with information, you hold a lot of responsibility and influence in your hands.

Being a certified home inspector means sometimes you’ll deliver the not-so-wonderful news. But you can buffer the negative while conveying the truth and help avoid liability on your part.

#1: Always Report the Facts

First and foremost, you’ll want to deliver the facts as you find them, without any gloss or tarnish. That’s the most important part of a home inspection. Even when the home is riddled with numerous defects, resist the urge to paint a sinister (or overly glowing) picture of the house in question.

You’ll never know when a buyer is fine with numerous defects or if they’ll run away at the first sign of a loose roofing shingle. Maybe they’re especially handy and want a fixer-upper. Or maybe they never want to wield so much as a paintbrush. When you stick to the facts, what is defective and what’s not, you’ll give exactly what they paid for: clear information.

#2: Offer Some Perspective

Along with the facts, you’ll also want to ensure they gain perspective. For example, a missing or broken attic collar tie might mean nothing to a lot of your customers. But when you explain that collar ties are part of the structural framework in the attic, they’ll have a clearer idea.

Too much information is sometimes too much. So also consider the client you’re working for. If they’re a construction worker, you can probably use more industry-related terms. But if they explain that they know little about home systems, you’ll want to clarify a little more. The objective here is presenting information so that it’s understood.

Predictions can be awkward for you and your customers.

#3: Shy Away From Judgment Calls

Which brings us to good judgment. Sometimes, you’ll need to make a judgment call. But not as it applies to the lifespan of a system or how much it will cost to replace or repair. Clients rely on you as an expert. So if your predictions prove inaccurate, you could find yourself in hot water.

It’s best to provide facts and offer clarity on the systems, but shy away from anything that seems like a forecast. The HVAC system that’s rattling and wheezing outside might survive for three more years, at least if it’s repaired and then maintained. But the roof that you say could cost about $10k to replace might actually cost $20k once the shingles and underlayment are removed to expose the decking. Your customer could hold you responsible for that information.

No one likes being the bearer of bad news. But every home inspector will find him or herself in that uncomfortable spot many times. It’s all part of the job.

It’s not important to craft a home inspection report that makes the customer feel good about the house. What matters are facts and understanding. Those things breed trust, and they help support your good reputation.

Chances are, you don’t spend your days thinking about new and inventive ways to be electrocuted. If so, it’s a good thing you’re here. The power lines, service drop. or utility wires – whatever you prefer to call them – could pose an immediate shock or electrocution hazard if they touch the roof. That’s probably not something you hear often. But when the conditions are favorable, the homeowner – and you as the home inspector – are at risk.

Here’s what to look out for the next time you inspect a house with hot wires stretched far too close to the roof.

Why Power Lines and Roofing Shingles Don’t Mix

The most common roofing materials in the United States today are asphalt shingles. They come in many different colors, and they’re not especially expensive. At least not compared to the cost of other roofing choices. Part of what makes asphalt both attractive and durable is a surface layer of small, colorful ceramic chips. If the chips contact the power line’s insulating sheath, says Charles Buell of Buell Home Inspectons, bad things can happen.

In a sense, asphalt shingles are like coarse sandpaper. The ceramic chips have sharp edges. And the insulating sheath that protects the wires is comparatively soft. If the wires are stretched across any part of the roof, the shingles can abrade the sheath and expose the bare wires inside. If the power lines move during high winds, the effect might not take long at all.

A drone lets you inspect risky rooftop situations without putting yourself in danger.

What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

To understand the danger of exposed wires in a service drop, think about the unencumbered electricity flowing through it. There aren’t any breakers or fuses between the pole and the service entrance. So there’s nothing to protect you as the inspector or the homeowner from electrocution if either of you come in contact with the bare wires.

There’s also nothing to protect the house except the layer of ceramic chips, which, fortunately, aren’t flammable. But the surface beneath the ceramic is. Bare wires touching the shingles might not start a fire today, but all that it takes is one breeze or movement that lets the bare neutral touch the hot, says Buell. If that happens, things will become very exciting – not in a good way – in a hurry.

Who’s Responsible for the Repair

The service drop is owned and maintained by the electric utility company, at least in most markets. So when a power line crosses the roofline, they might be responsible for making the repair, both to the wiring and the house shingles. Of course, the homeowner will have to check with the utility company to be sure.

If the service drop is clear of the roof and another part of the wiring, such as the drip loop, touches the shingles, the homeowner might be on the hook for the repair. To avoid any confusion or liability on your part, it’s best for the customer to talk with the utility company directly.

Some areas have underground utility service, which keeps hot power lines away from the shingles. That’s a best-case scenario. But many homes have a service drop running overhead from the utility pole to the house. Trouble starts when those wires, or any others, touch the coarse, abrasive roofing materials.

You might never see a power line that’s abraded down to the bare metal. But once you’re aware of the possibility, you might never look at a roof inspection in a cavalier way. And that’s a good thing.

If you live in Illinois and want to become a home inspector, the journey begins with a good education. But it doesn’t end there. If you have a high school diploma or GED and meet the minimum age requirement, which is 21, you have what it takes to get started.

Follow these five steps, and you’ll go on to meet the federal, state and local responsibilities of home inspectors in your state.

#1: Take and Pass an Illinois-Acceptable Home Inspector Training Program

The State of Illinois requires home inspectors to successfully complete a 60-hour home inspection training program. The subjects covered should include these and several other topics:

Site conditions such as vegetation and grading that affect the structure Exteriors such as home siding, roofs and guttering Interiors such as floors, walls and ceilings Heating, cooling, ductwork and ventilation Insulation Electrical systems Plumbing systems Structure and foundation Water heaters Appliances Fireplaces and wood-burning appliances

#2: Perform Five Supervised Field Inspection Events

After passing an approved education program, the next step is a skills and knowledge test in the field. New inspectors are required to partner with a licensed Illinois home inspector and perform five home inspections under their supervision.

#3: Take and Pass the Illinois Home Inspector Pre-Licensing Exam

The next hurdle is the Illinois home inspector pre-licensing exam. Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) issues the exam, which is offered by appointment only at testing centers throughout Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional RegulationAMP website or call them at 800-345-6559.

After passing the exam, there’s a $250 licensing fee and IDFPR says the “Pass Report serves as your licensure application form.”

The business side of home inspecting can be complicated, but professionals are ready to help.

#4: Contact Professionals and Government Agencies for Business Setup

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity lists several government agencies regulate the details of Illinois business operation, from taxes to unemployment insurance. Depending on how you’ll get up your home inspection business, you should contact:

An attorney. Set up a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, LLC or another type of organization. City and County clerk. Choose a business name that’s available in your area, and learn about local business tax responsibilities. The Internal Revenue Service. Learn how to organize business taxes. Illinois Department of Revenue. Most, but not all, businesses require IDOR registration.

Businesses with employees have other considerations, such as unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation and wage withholdings. The Illinois Department of Commerce illinois.gov has the information you need.

#5: Keep up With Continuing Education

You can acquire continuing education credits at any time before renewing your license. The appropriate forms arrive in the mail 60 days before licensing expires, says IDFPR. But if the renewal paperwork is delayed, the inspector is still responsible for timely renewal.