1. Prepare for Your Career With Utah-Recognized Home Inspection Education

While Utah does not require a license to work as a home inspector, there are different types of inspections and business practices by which home inspectors must legally abide. Professional home inspection training from a reputable home inspection school is key to understanding those business practices as well as establishing yourself as a reliable expert.

Additionally, real estate agents, potential employers, and lenders prefer working with individuals who hold a home inspector certification, because the smooth operation of their business relies on yours. This expertise gives certified home inspectors a critical edge in finding new and repeat business.

2. Pass the National Home Inspector Exam

fter completing your home inspector courses, the next step in establishing yourself as a trusted expert is passing the National Home Inspector Exam. The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions (25 of which are not scored) covering three major domains, or sections, that every home inspector should know. Those domains are:

• Property and Building Inspection/Site Review
• Analysis of Findings and Reporting
• Professional Responsibilities

Test takers are given 4 hours to complete the exam, and each attempt costs roughly $225 (depending on your location). Due to the unignorable cost of taking the exam, we highly recommend taking an Exam Prep course to greatly increase your chances of passing on the first try. If an individual does not pass, they must wait 30 days before taking the exam again.

Fun Fact: Veterans taking the National Home Inspector Exam are eligible for reimbursement through the GI Bill. Those who choose to exercise this benefit must complete a VBA-22-0803-ARE and submit it with the receipt to the VA for reimbursement.

3. Begin to Network, Make Connections, and Join Professional Associations in Utah

Networking in any industry is a key piece to attaining success. Developing relationships with other home inspectors can help you become the best you can be while growing your sphere of influence. Professional relationships outside of the home inspection industry, such as connections with professions related to real estate, can bring in leads that will grow your business.

Here’s a list of professional organizations you should join in Utah as a home inspector:

• All American Association of Home Inspectors
• American Society of Home Inspectors
• Home Inspector-Specific Facebook Groups

The benefits of joining a professional home inspector association are limitless and include:

• Increased credibility
• A sense of community
• Staying up to date with standards of practice
• Marketing resources

4. Purchase General Liability Insurance and/or Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance

Making mistakes is a part of human nature, and it happens to the best of us. To protect yourself and your livelihood from career-ending lawsuits, taking out a general liability and/or an errors & omissions insurance policy is a must for all home inspection professionals.

General liability policies for small businesses are roughly $40 per month, while errors & omissions insurance can set you back approximately $59 per month. To get the best rate and a better idea of what coverage you need, speak with a licensed local insurance agent who has worked with other home inspectors, members of local home inspector trade organizations, or shop for insurers online

4. Register Your Business or Join a Multi-Inspector Firm

After you’ve completed your AHIT Home Inspection Training and passed the NHIE, it’s time to get to work. You can choose to start your own home inspection business (either as a sole proprietor or LLC) and call a tax professional. Or, if you prefer to gain some experience and have a steady flow of leads first, you can look to join an established multi-inspector firm. Regardless, there’s no wrong path to success in the lucrative and exciting world of home inspection.