Over the course of my almost 41 years in the home inspection profession, I have developed some thoughts. My thinking keeps evolving as I see and learn new things. It has been an amazing journey and no two days have been the same. I have met some awesome people and made some lifelong friends who have influenced me and shaped my perceptions. This article brings together ideas from a number of people and places.

A different kind of growth

This article is supposed to be about growing your business, so I will talk to that, but not from a conventional perspective. There are lots of coaches, programs and organizations out there to help with marketing and growth, and there are some new and very interesting approaches including Inspector Empire Builder. I’d like to address a different concept.

What problem are we trying to solve?

We are looking at two problems here:

1. The first generation of home inspectors is getting ready to retire and many don’t have a post-retirement revenue stream.
2. Most new inspectors struggle to get the experience they need and the business volume and knowledge to succeed.

Matching experience with enthusiasm – passing the reins

The first generation of home inspectors, mostly baby boomers like me, are getting close to the end of their careers. They have survived and flourished and are now ready to enjoy a different lifestyle. They have acquired incredible knowledge and a unique skillset. Many have built professional relationships throughout the real estate space. For most, their practice does not have much cash value, and that’s ok. Lots of professional consulting practices don’t have residual value. But I see an interesting opportunity here.

The learning begins

The next generation of home inspectors is arriving, full of enthusiasm and ready for success. There are more education opportunities than ever before, and that’s good. However, home inspection is a complex professional consulting practice that cannot be mastered in a couple of weeks, irrespective of one’s background. To those of you getting started, don’t skimp on your education. There is much to learn – technical, report writing and verbal communication, never mind all the complexities of operating a business. Intensive introduction courses are just that – an introduction.

With few exceptions, home inspection does not offer much in the way of internship, apprenticeship or mentoring. It’s hard for new inspectors to get the experience they need to hone their craft by working alongside a veteran. Traditionally, sole practitioners have avoided trainees, not looking to hire more inspectors and not inclined to train the competition.

I have seen far too many inspectors and inspection businesses fail. Our firm has been very fortunate to have had some wonderful inspectors join us after struggling in their own business. Small business failure rates are typically high, and home inspection does not defy the odds. Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers: The Story of Success, maintains that mastery requires 10,000 hours of effort. That may be right, but it is not encouraging.

Here is where I see the opportunity: the veteran inspectors have the inspection know-how, the local knowledge about homes in their area, the relationships built over a lifetime, and enough business acumen to have survived. What if all that wisdom and experience and all those connections could be transferred rather than lost?

I see a win-win. New inspectors need help in all these areas. Seasoned inspectors can provide it. What’s missing is the model. Can we connect old and new inspectors? The world has never been more connected. Can the new inspector learn and flourish, dramatically reducing the risk of failure with a motivated mentor? Can the veteran create a revenue stream and receive some value for their life’s work? Can the new inspector intern for 3 to 6 months (?) and learn the business? I can’t see why not. This strikes me as a wonderful opportunity for both sides.

There is an investment required to start any business. New inspectors should be willing to intern for very little compensation, if any, recognizing the value of the experience they are acquiring. Seasoned inspectors should be motivated to share everything they know if they will receive a portion of the new inspector’s fees for a period of time after retiring.

The goal is to have the new inspector take over the business, giving them a running start and have the retiring inspector be paid over time for the value given.

There are lots of ways to crunch the numbers. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss formulas, especially since every relationship may be different. At a high level, 250 inspections a year at $400/inspection generates $100,000 per year. That may not be enough to take care of two inspectors, but it allows for a sensible, methodical transition with perhaps some revenue going to the new inspector during the internship (although unpaid internships are common), and revenue going to the retiring inspector on the back end. Perhaps the business will not only survive but grow with the new inspector – an exciting outcome for sure.

Here’s another bonus: People are living longer. Might the retired inspector be willing to offer long term counsel and advice to the new inspector, especially if the senior does better financially when the junior succeeds? I would be very willing if I were the outbound inspector.

Both sides win

The new inspector gets a ton of value – knowledge, experience, relationships, business operating knowledge a business that is a going concern. The odds of business survival and success are significantly better. The mature inspector gets to leave a legacy and get paid something for his business over time.

What’s the downside? The worst-case scenario is that it does not work and both people will be in the same position as if they had done nothing. The risk is very low, and the return may be high.

How do we get people together?

Social media is one opportunity – LinkedIn, Facebook and the others I don’t know about. Could ASHI help put people together? I believe there are already models in place in some Chapters for example. Another option is that new inspectors conduct a simple web search, identifying and reaching out to inspectors in their area. Veterans could also approach schools and offer to connect with graduates. There are undoubtedly other ideas out there.

Summary

Let’s not lose the decades of knowledge we have acquired. Let’s help the next generation of home inspectors make our profession look good by taking it to levels we have not imagined. Let’s leverage the human capacity to teach, to learn, and to share. It’s great when doing the right thing makes logical business sense.

The essence of home inspection is to improve people’s lives. This simple model captures that essence and helps strengthen the profession.

People have been passing knowledge from one generation to the next since we have been walking the earth. Let’s follow our roots, do what it takes, and share the wisdom of the elders.