Structural Inspection Services
Structural Inspection Services
(OP)
I'm planning on getting my PE license this year as well as becoming a licensed home inspector. Does anyone have any experience running their own inspection company for residential and structural inspections? I'm just looking for an idea on what it's like and if it's feasible (financially) to be on your own and complete regular home inspections as well as more involved structural inspections as a practicing engineer. Any recommendations/warnings? Any feedback is very much appreciated, thanks!






RE: Structural Inspection Services
-Get setup with realtors as their go-to engineer for inspections, they'll pass you a lot of work.
-Setup standardized forms that cover the common items you see. A lot easier to check off a box than write out notes.
-Make sure you clearly distinguish that you're not practicing engineering. Some states will even go so far as to say that you can't even claim that being an engineer means you provide a higher standard of care or otherwise gives you a leg up over a non-engineer home inspector (I completely disagree with this).
-Get your inspections down to an hour or so for a typical home. You'll have trouble being competitive otherwise. Bill for travel time and inspection as a lump sum.
-Pictures, so many pictures. Keep plenty of records of everything for many years.
-Lawsuits ahoy! Have a solid contract that limits your damages to your fee only. Abandon ship and refund that fee at the first sign of trouble. Be prepared to have to fend off frivolous lawsuits on occasion. Also, clearly specify that your scope is limited to visible items only.
-Overall it's a hard area to make money. My boss would often mention he was considering not doing home inspections anymore (at least when we were busy).
All that said; I felt other than odd jobs when not busy, it wasn't worth it to setup a business where residential inspections was the main focus or even a major component. Still, I know a number of engineers who do this regularly so it can be done. I'm sure google will turn up a lot of other details.
As for structural specific inspections, I've done plenty of those and find them far more rewarding/profitable than residential inspections and much less risky. Plus they often open doors to full structural design repairs. The only downside is they're not as available as residential inspections and if they do devolve into lawsuits they can potentially be very big (think career ending for some of the most disastrous ones). So maybe not the best place to start out as a new PE (but not impossible).
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/
RE: Structural Inspection Services
RE: Structural Inspection Services
I`m not sure I understand what niche you're looking to fill, or how you`ll compete with home inspectors who don't have a PE.
RE: Structural Inspection Services
Dik
RE: Structural Inspection Services
Much easier money as it usually only takes 20 minutes or so and I charge a flat fee to go out there.
RE: Structural Inspection Services
BA
RE: Structural Inspection Services
I supplement with these type of inspections but I only look at the structural components and I make it clear its based only on my observations, nothing that is covered or hidden, Im not doing any calculations, and I recommend typical types of repairs but keep it very general. Also, if it is a real estate transaction whether you are working for the buyer or seller and especially the buyer make sure you request full payment up front! If they dont like it then move along; I get alot of realtors and home owners that have no clue and usually they just say "I dont know what I need, the underwriter said I need a structural engineer or else I cant close" then they cry about a price over what is typically paid to a home inspector.
In my opinion its not worth doing home inspections if you are a PE. You can do structural inspections no problem just make sure you have the experience and let everyone know you cant see through walls. Use your time wisely!
RE: Structural Inspection Services
Others have noted a lot of the issues with being an engineer and doing non-engineering work. One big one is that as a licensed professional engineer, you are held to a much higher standard of care than a home inspector. Even if the task does not require engineering judgment or activity, if there is a problem it will clearly be brought out that you are an engineer and should have (seen, heard, evaluated, smelled, uncovered, seen through walls or whatever......take your pick) warned.
Another is that you'll be competing with people doing this for $250-$400 (in my area), spending approximately 4 hours on site, writing a report and taking the responsibility.....with an hourly rate yield of $60-$80 an hour. Such rates lower the bar for all professional engineers and demean the profession.
RE: Structural Inspection Services
The moral of the story, don't do home inspections.
RE: Structural Inspection Services