Thread: Best Training?

So to give you a little bit about me. I'm currently a retail store manager in Birmingham, and just recently found out that the company is closing my store in the next few weeks. I'm being laid off, as there's no other stores in my area, so I started looking at other options. I was an insurance agent until the market crash in '08, homeowners was my bread and butter...after that I began working claims, mostly wind/hail damage to roofs and siding, until there was a year with no storms and I got back into retail...which is where I've been for the last five years. Anyway, I'm looking to make a change, and inspection interests me. I left retail once before saying I'd never go back, but you do what you have to when you have kids to feed. I'm financially in a better position now to start my own business. Admittedly, my knowledge of housing defects consists mostly of roofing and siding. I don't know a lot about the inner workings of a home, so I'll have a lot to learn on the technical side. I have a lot of real estate contacts from when i was in insurance, and as a business manager I know a few things about marketing, and remember what it was like beating down the doors when I first started in insurance, so I think I'm prepared for that side of things.

Now to get to the point. After reading on here and a couple of other forums everyone seems to agree that actually going to a class where you can get hands on experience is best. And I agree with that too...I've always been a hands on learner, and have taken some online college courses in the past and can definitely say I did better in college when I was sitting in a classroom.

There's a two week ASHI School training in Atlanta at the end of November. What are your thoughts on this program? Would it be good, or should I look for another?

Thanks for you help.

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After reading on here and a couple of other forums everyone seems to agree that actually going to a class where you can get hands on experience is best. And I agree with that too...I've always been a hands on learner, and have taken some online college courses in the past and can definitely say I did better in college when I was sitting in a classroom.

??? Hands-on learning and sitting in a classroom are opposites. Sounds like you need the InterNACHI House of Horrors: https://www.nachi.org/school/interna...versity/house/

Originally Posted by Andrew McClure

So to give you a little bit about me. I'm currently a retail store manager in Birmingham, and just recently found out that the company is closing my store in the next few weeks. I'm being laid off, as there's no other stores in my area, so I started looking at other options. I was an insurance agent until the market crash in '08, homeowners was my bread and butter...after that I began working claims, mostly wind/hail damage to roofs and siding, until there was a year with no storms and I got back into retail...which is where I've been for the last five years. Anyway, I'm looking to make a change, and inspection interests me. I left retail once before saying I'd never go back, but you do what you have to when you have kids to feed. I'm financially in a better position now to start my own business. Admittedly, my knowledge of housing defects consists mostly of roofing and siding. I don't know a lot about the inner workings of a home, so I'll have a lot to learn on the technical side. I have a lot of real estate contacts from when i was in insurance, and as a business manager I know a few things about marketing, and remember what it was like beating down the doors when I first started in insurance, so I think I'm prepared for that side of things.

Now to get to the point. After reading on here and a couple of other forums everyone seems to agree that actually going to a class where you can get hands on experience is best. And I agree with that too...I've always been a hands on learner, and have taken some online college courses in the past and can definitely say I did better in college when I was sitting in a classroom.

There's a two week ASHI School training in Atlanta at the end of November. What are your thoughts on this program? Would it be good, or should I look for another?

Thanks for you help.

You can't go wrong with ASHI school. Hands on school ride-alongs, anything you can do to learn how a house and its systems work. And that is only the beginning. Sites like this one and just reading through the entire IRC are also quite informative. You will never "arrive" so keep on learning.
Good Luck!

Originally Posted by Jim Luttrall

You will never "arrive" so keep on learning.

And I thought I just missed my stop when I got off ...

Jim is correct, it is a learning curve from Day 1 all the way through until you retire ... and even then the learning never stops.

Originally Posted by Lisa Endza

??? Hands-on learning and sitting in a classroom are opposites. Sounds like you need the InterNACHI House of Horrors: https://www.nachi.org/school/interna...versity/house/

Hi Lisa, I guess what I meant to say here was I tend to learn more in a classroom or in the field than I do online. I'm too easily distracted sitting, staring at the computer. The House of Horrors looks like it would be great, making a trip to Colorado, however, may not be doable. It would be best for me to find a class in the Southeast. Preferably ATL or Nashville, or somewhere like that.

Thanks for your responses. Would you all think it would be a good idea to see if there's a local inspector that would let me tag along some? Or might they feel I'm invading their turf? From what I've seen there are only two inspector offices in my town. Maybe it would be better to talk to someone that has an office in another town, so they don't feel like I'm intruding?

And unlike most other industries, education and training in the inspection industry is free. You can literally take courses and attend training events for years and never pay a penny.

Originally Posted by Lisa Endza

??? Hands-on learning and sitting in a classroom are opposites. Sounds like you need the InterNACHI House of Horrors: https://www.nachi.org/school/interna...versity/house/

Lisa,

Since Nachi is well known for giving out free memberships, and free education and free CMI's which do not equate to a manner in which professional associations operate I would have to advise Andrew to take the ASHI route.

American Society of Home Inspectors - the only true association certified by an independent outside third party. (ICE : What is Accreditation?)

Benefits of ASHI Membership | American Society of Home Inspectors, ASHI

Since there are so many free offerings by Nachi perhaps Lisa would be so kind as to send a 'free' airline ticket to Colorado where the House of Horrors is located since Andrew is in Alabama.

Since there are so many free offerings by Nachi perhaps Lisa would be so kind as to send a 'free' airline ticket to Colorado where the House of Horrors is located since Andrew is in Alabama.

Done. I just got it approved. Andrew, we'll pay for your airline ticket so that you can attend a real home inspection school. You can't learn this business looking at a chalkboard.

https://www.nachi.org/school/

Furthermore, the courses you take with InterNACHI will count toward your college degree in home inspections, should you ever want to earn a real college degree.

And you get real membership benefits, (not fluff that you have to pay for additionally like the link Raymond posted). Here, take the evening off, go to this webpage, and click and scroll. You might need two evenings actually: Inspector Membership Benefits - InterNACHI

When can you book a flight?

Lisa
Thats very kind of Nachi. If I were Andrew I would take you up on the offer.

Thank you.

Everyone who visits the school gets a ton of free stuff. They get to meet one-on-one with an inspector marketing specialist, they get to have a free home inspection logo designed, they get a free membership in InterNACHI, they get inspection textbooks, they get to meet with our attorney for free legal help, and they get a tour of the Inspection Museum: InterNACHI Inspection Museum – InterNACHI School

Originally Posted by Lisa Endza

Done. I just got it approved. Andrew, we'll pay for your airline ticket so that you can attend a real home inspection school. You can't learn this business looking at a chalkboard.

https://www.nachi.org/school/

Furthermore, the courses you take with InterNACHI will count toward your college degree in home inspections, should you ever want to earn a real college degree.

And you get real membership benefits, (not fluff that you have to pay for additionally like the link Raymond posted). Here, take the evening off, go to this webpage, and click and scroll. You might need two evenings actually: Inspector Membership Benefits - InterNACHI

When can you book a flight?

Wow, Lisa, that's very generous. Thank you! My only concern right now is that we're getting close to winter. My current job is ending in the middle of November. Not sure how well this southern boy would do driving through the snow in Colorado, lol. I'm assuming I'd need to rent a car? It does look like NACHI has a lot to offer that could be very beneificial. This may be something I need to plan for in the Spring.

Originally Posted by Andrew McClure

Thanks for your responses. Would you all think it would be a good idea to see if there's a local inspector that would let me tag along some? Or might they feel I'm invading their turf? From what I've seen there are only two inspector offices in my town. Maybe it would be better to talk to someone that has an office in another town, so they don't feel like I'm intruding?

Hi Andrew -

The ASHI School is hands-on training meaning a mix of classroom and in-field training. You cannot go wrong with real world experience. We have a 93-hour class November 7-12 in Brentwood, TN. Brentwood, Tennessee - Class and Session Listing | Home Inspection Classes - Hands-On Training | The ASHI School. Check it out -- you'll receive a top-notch education and great hands-on training in the field within multiple residences.

Is the ASHI course free like InterNACHI's?

Originally Posted by Lisa Endza

Is the ASHI course free like InterNACHI's?

No, Free does not equate with good or quality.

It would be great to offer a free week long class with experienced instructors but those instructors need to be compensated for their time and expertise. Not everything in life is free, somebody always pays in someway or the other.

Originally Posted by Scott Patterson

No, Free does not equate with good or quality.

It would be great to offer a free week long class with experienced instructors but those instructors need to be compensated for their time and expertise. Not everything in life is free, somebody always pays in someway or the other.

InterNACHI pays its instructors really well. And InterNACHI's courses are free. We just welcomed former NAHI Chapter President and Kaplan University instructor Lon Henderson to our staff: https://www.nachi.org/staff.htm