Building Inspectors
Are you thinking of a job as a building inspector? What do you really know about this occupation and what it entails? If you’d like to learn more about being a building inspector, what the job requires, what type of work will be required of you, how much money you can make and more, then you have come to the right place. Here at BuildingInspectors.info, we want to be your one-stop shop for all things related to the building inspector profession.
A building inspector is a very challenging, rewarding and viable profession that anyone should be proud to do if they enjoy and feel they are cut out for this type of job. So how can you know if it is right for you? We hope to help you with as well by giving you important information about what will be required of you.
We want to make you aware of what it takes to become a building inspector, how to remain certified and legally working year after year and how to stay ahead in your profession so you can know for sure if this career choice is right for you and how to achieve the goal of becoming one yourself. We hope to provide you with useful and valuable information to help you decide if a career as a building inspector is right for you and also to help you determine what you need to do to acquire such a job. If you’re ready to learn more about being a building inspector, then please read on.
So what will be required of you as a building inspector? In addition to a keen understanding (and likely an enjoyment of) buildings and how they are constructed, there will also be some basic tools that you will need to do your job. These may or may not be provided for you depending on if you work independently or for a company or business.
The exact tools of the trade will depend partially on what type of buildings you are inspecting and also on who you work for. If you work for a company or corporation, they may supply many of the tools needed for you as well as a vehicle that you can use to drive from site to site making inspections. They will probably also provide you with the insurance you need to work this profession. You should be covered by your employer’s insurance for as long as you work for them.
If you work for yourself, freelance, or own your own building inspection company, then it will be your responsibility to have the proper tools needed for the job. These may include:
Additional things which may be required for this job are career books and career counseling. Any time you look to start your own career, such as becoming a building inspector, you can benefit greatly from the experience and advice of a career counselor. There are some things that just become learned from years of experience in the industry and these are things that a career counselor may be able to help prepare you for.
What type of education is required for you to carry this type of job? The exact requirements will vary according to where you live and work. In some places to become a building inspector you need little more than some common building knowledge and some basic advertising. However, other areas will require you to have more proof of your qualifications. If you really want to do your business right, it’s best to start things properly from the get-go.
One of the first things you will want to do is contact the building department of your local government (city or county) and find out what programs are available. Alternatively, you can contact a certified building inspector in your area and ask their advice about what programs are available. They should be able to guide you to a program that will help you become certified in building inspection.
Once you have found the available building inspector programs, you may want to compare them to choose which one is best for you (providing there are, in fact, more than one available in your area). When you decide to join a program, you will be required to purchase manuals and training materials. The exact costs can vary depending on where you live and what program you are attending but you can usually expect them to cost a few hundred dollars.
As soon as you have the training materials, you will want to begin reading over them and preparing for them even before you attend your first course. You will want to have a basic understanding of construction, electrical, plumbing, fire and other home safety practices. The more you know going into the program, the easier it will be for you to advance.
Many cases of training to be a building inspector are performed on the job site. This means that instead of sitting in a classroom reviewing a textbook, you will be there on the scene and be required to pay attention to things around you and take notes. It will be up to you to read your course materials later at home or on your own time. Be sure that you read up on and memorize building codes and regulations in your area as well. This will be important information to know.
You may need to learn or memorize local and state/federal building and safety codes as well as learn about the current inspection methods. Even if it is not required by your course, you can further your knowledge by studying or taking courses in:
If you are unsure about where you can find these courses, check with your local community college for more information.
Once you have completed and passed all of these training programs, taken the written exams and passed the trial inspections, you should be on your way to becoming a certified building inspector. In some areas, there may be additional steps you need to take to become an inspector after graduating your course. If you’re going to be self-employed, you will need to get liability insurance. If you work for a company or corporation, they should have liability insurance to cover you but it’s important to always ask about this anyway.
In some areas, you can begin working immediately. In other areas, you may need to complete an apprenticeship program first to show that you know what you are doing and that you are capable of being an independent building inspector.
Is there good money in this type of business or career opportunity? Do you wonder how much money you will actually be able to make when you work a job such as this? According to the US Department of Labor, the median annual earnings of a building inspector are around $42,000. Median hourly earnings are about $20/hr. Statistics say that the middle 50% earned between $15.81 and $25.05. The lowest 10% earned less than $12.50 and the highest earned more than $30.
The amount of money you make as a building inspector can also depend on the industry you work for. The top paying industries, with average pay, were:
In general across the United States the people who make the most as a building inspector are plan examiners. You can also expect your salary to be higher in large cities and metropolitan areas than in smaller areas.
The actual amount of money you can make varies greatly according to different factors such as:
The above examples are generalizations of the industry standards. In time, these figures can change and have likely gone up some since this article was first written with changes in the industry and cost of living expenses in many areas. You can also check in your local area records to find out what the average pay is for this type of job where you live.
If all this is sounding pretty good to you, then you may be now wondering if this is the right job for you. Do you know what it takes to be a building inspector and what kind of person is ideal for this type of job?
While it may seem to be a given, it’s important that you have an interest in building and construction. Since you will be working considerably in buildings and construction sites, you need to have an interest in this type of work and being in and around construction sites, newly built buildings and facilities or newly built homes.
For the most part, you will want to be at least fairly healthy and in shape since the job is sometimes strenuous and may require lifting, climbing and more. You will need to be both mentally and physically fit and in some areas to become and remain certified, you may even have to pass a fitness test. If you enjoy being on the scene and taking part in things such as this, then you will make the perfect building inspector.
Now that you know the basics of becoming a building inspector, perhaps you are wondering about the next step. How can you get started? Are you ready to jumpstart the career you have always wanted? If you think this sounds like the career choice for you and you’re ready to get started, then you just need to follow the steps above to get your education and certification to be qualified to work as a building inspector in your area.
You can also begin some study on your own. You can check out books from your local library on construction, electrical work, and other related areas. If you have the opportunity to ride along with a building inspector and see what they do, it will help you considerably to have a better understanding of what happens and what will be expected of you.
Many people choose to use correspondence courses to obtain the required knowledge and education to become a building inspector. This is a feasible option for you to consider, particularly if you want to work at your own pace and absorb the information on your own timeline. This can also benefit people who are already currently working a job and may not be able to adjust to the hours from a typical school.
Now that you know more about a career as a building inspector and you also have some great information regarding how to get started and where you can find more information, you are ready to take the next step. If you feel confident that being a building inspector is the right job for you then it’s time to get up and do something about it.
You shouldn’t sit around and wait for an opportunity to come to you. Here at BuildingInspectors.info, we’re trying to help you become more proactive toward your own life and your own career path. We’re helping you find the tools that will get you ahead in business and in life. Now it’s up to you what you do with those tools. Don’t waste another day; get started today!