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  1. #1
    Sheryl Davidson's Avatar
    Sheryl Davidson Guest

    Default Is business slow in your area?

    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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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Re: Is business slow in your area?

    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.

    "There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception." -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
    www.ArnoldHomeInspections.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,797

    Default Re: Is business slow in your area?

    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.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: Is business slow in your area?

    Going strong in Mid- Tennessee!

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Plano, Texas
    Posts
    4,245

    Default Re: Is business slow in your area?

    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.

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  6. #6
    Joe Nernberg's Avatar
    Joe Nernberg Guest

    Cool Re: Is business slow in your area?

    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.

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  7. #7
    John Graham's Avatar
    John Graham Guest

    Thumbs down Re: Is business slow in your area?

    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.


  8. #8
    Kevin Luce's Avatar
    Kevin Luce Guest

    Default Re: Is business slow in your area?

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Thomas View Post
    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.


  9. #9
    Lewis Capaul's Avatar
    Lewis Capaul Guest

    Default Re: Is business slow in your area?

    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.


  10. #10
    Henry Valenzano's Avatar
    Henry Valenzano Guest

    Default Re: Is business slow in your area?

    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.


  11. #11
    Vince Santos's Avatar
    Vince Santos Guest

    Default Re: Is business slow in your area?

    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..


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