Is business slow in your area?

Sheryl Davidson · 10-29-2007, 06:40 PM

Hi everyone! I know that I am having trouble getting business because I am new in the business, but I was just wondering if any of you are having a "slow" time right now because of the mortgage mess going on in this country. Would you veterans say that this time of year (holidays coming around) gets slower or does the home inspection business have no specific periods? Hope you are all doing well. I am well, just struggling to get business.

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**John Arnold** · 10-29-2007, 06:45 PM

Sheryl - I'm not an aged veteran of the business, (just aged!) but in my experience there are definitely seasons with their ups and downs, and, yes, the current real estate downturn is definitely affecting many markets. The fact that you are just starting out is only going to make things more difficult.

**Michael Thomas** · 10-29-2007, 07:00 PM

Just had a conversation with a very competent 15+ year inspector in my area with a really deep referral base who's business is way down.

**Scott Patterson** · 10-29-2007, 07:17 PM

Going strong in Mid- Tennessee!

**Jim Luttrall** · 10-29-2007, 07:33 PM

It has been slow for me, but the last few weeks has really picked up.
All real estate is local. Our market values are up where some areas of the country have taken real hits.
I still think the 3 years to establish a profitable new business is about right on average, maybe longer with the recent mortgage and foreclosure events.

Joe Nernberg · 10-29-2007, 08:35 PM

I am probably down by 30% or more. I see this event as a correction and thinning the herd of inspectors, Realtors, mortgage brokers, appraisers, etc.

John Graham · 10-30-2007, 10:10 AM

Hi, Ten years in business and now the business is turning into more of a hobby! Had to send wife back to work to pay for health care. JG.

Kevin Luce · 10-30-2007, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Thomas

Just had a conversation with a very competent 15+ year inspector in my area with a really deep referral base who's business is way down.

Business for me in Northwest corner of Indiana is still going good. I have had an increase of business for the buyers that live in the Illinois/Chicago area. Angie's List has just started in this area and many Illinois people use it to find home inspectors around here.

Michael, I think the reason they are moving into Lake County, Indiana is that the price of houses are cheaper, the taxes are cheaper and yet they can still drive to Chicago to make the big bucks.

Lewis Capaul · 10-30-2007, 11:12 AM

Things are pretty slow here in North Idaho, I've been keeping busy doing renovatgions and watching the number of Hi's in the area drop dramatically, along with doing a lot of Fishing.

Last year at one time there were only 1800 homes on the market here, the last time I checked there were 4800, we went from bidding wars to "price reduced'" very rapidly, just when I was getting my business going pretty good, now I'm back to Plan "B", doing what I did for years, luckily I'm retired from the Army and another government agency so I can ride out the slow times waiting for my wife to retire when we plan to get on our sailboat and disappear into the sunset.

Henry Valenzano · 11-01-2007, 09:31 AM

My business volume is the same as last year. But now i have some of the builders here calling to have the homes inspected. To make them a punch list. Thats a big difference from when they would escort me off of the property.

Vince Santos · 11-01-2007, 09:59 PM

Dispite the bad housing market around here business has been fine. The only difference is I am inspecting mostly bank owned/vacant homes these days which is good and bad. The bad part is bank owned homes tend to need extensive repairs. The good part is there is no furnature or other items blocking walls or floors so I can move around faster and see everything.

My inspection today was an example of the bad side with less than 2000 square feet taking almost five hours..