We’ve all been there. Maybe we’re just starting out and don’t yet know what the hell we’re doing. Maybe we’ve got lots of experience, but we’re stumped by this one crazy thing we’ve never seen before (and hopefully never see again). We’ve all, at one time or another, needed a helping hand. So, how come most of us don’t want …
The Big One
I recently inspected one of the largest properties that I’d ever done in one day (27,000 square feet). Nine straight hours in one location. Thankfully, it was a vacant commercial property and, after a brief discussion of concerns and expectations, the agents and buyers left me alone to do my work. But how do we stay focused when we’re in …
Too Many
It’s great to come up with new ideas. But what are we supposed to do when we’ve got too many ideas? So many things on our mind that we can’t get any of them done. Shiny object syndrome, it’s often called. We’re faced with a challenge. Are we in possession of such a great business mind that we need to …
Dream Crusher
Crushing someone’s dreams. The deal killer. Being the bad guy. It’s one of the worst things about being a professional home inspector. No matter how good we are at our job, how creative we are at writing reports, or how empathetically we deliver our findings, eventually we’re going to be right there in the middle of things when someone cancels …
New Agents
Working with new agents can be a challenging proposition for a home inspector. On the one hand, it seems like we’re having to do some of their job for them, walking them through the home inspection process and instructing them on what they should be doing next for our mutual client. Doing some of their work without any of their …
(Not) Lazy on a Sunday Afternoon
I hope this brief note finds everyone healthy, happy, and busy. Today’s post is going to be a bit different from my regular offering. I’ve been posting weekly articles about being a professional home inspector since February 2017, and I hope that you’ve been enjoying my take on our profession. I know that you probably haven’t agreed with everything I’ve …
Practice vs Perfect
As a home inspector, it often seems like we’re wired differently than other people. Even thought that may seem strange to some people, most of us are born that way. We’ve always been inquisitive. We’ve always asked questions. We’ve always wanted to be given a reason why. And if you’re anything like me, your mother probably told you “Because, I …
The Other Side of Fear
Fear. The word itself strikes (ahem) fear in our hearts. Fear is often defined as an important psychological response to a physical or emotional danger. For our ancestors, fear was incredibly important. It’s what kept them safe and allowed them to survive. They would be afraid of an erupting volcano, and head to safety. Hungry predators would strike fear in …
The Razor’s Edge
If you’re a fan of the television show “The Big Bang Theory”, then it’s quite likely that you’ve heard Dr. Sheldon Cooper utter the phrase “Ockham’s razor” before. If you’re like most people, that phrase simply joins the rest of the scientific jargon that theoretical physicist Sheldon spouts on the show. Most of it goes right over our heads, but …
A Face in the Crowd
Since I operate a school that trains students to become home inspectors, I often get the chance to talk with people who are considering making a career change. Most of them are excited for the opportunities that the inspection industry provides, but as with any life-changing decision, they’re often filled with apprehension. They typically come armed with a long list …