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How to Become a Home Inspector in Pennsylvania
Olivia Oksenhorn
1/13/23 10:00 AM
Thinking of becoming a home inspector in Pennsylvania?
The commonwealth doesn't require home inspectors to be licensed, but home inspectors are regulated by the PA Office of the Attorney General and must meet certain requirements. We'll walk you through the steps for how to become a home inspector in Pennsylvania.
The best place to start is by taking a certification course.
While home inspectors aren't required to become licensed or take certification courses in Pennsylvania, education is the best way to prepare for the job. A certification under your belt will ensure you have all the necessary knowledge to inspect homes, and it will give you a leg up on uncertified competitors.
Taking a certification course customized for your state is the best way to start your home inspection career off prepared and on the right foot.
Again, passing an exam isn't required by the state of Pennsylvania, but becoming a licensed home inspector will give you credibility and help you establish trust with agents and homebuyers alike.
You can take the National Home Inspector Exam in Pennsylvania, which consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. 25 of those questions aren't scored, and you'll have four hours to complete the exam. The cost is roughly $230, but this can vary based on your location.
Although home inspectors aren't required to be licensed in Pennsylvania, they are regulated by the state. Home inspectors are required to carry the following insurance coverage:
While you're not required to be licensed in Pennsylvania, you will need to complete 100 supervised inspections before you're considered a home inspector.
The good news? You'll get paid for all of these inspections! While it's a high number of inspections to complete before striking out on your own as an inspector, you'll finish them fully prepared to start your own inspection business or join a multi-inspector company as a valuable team member.
Before you start inspecting, you need inspection software. Ideally, your software will be an all-in-one solution to your needs, from report writing to business management tools.
There are many software options available, so the most important thing is finding what works best for you. That said, good software will be cloud-based, highly visual, and include excellent customer support. Do your research, read reviews, and make sure you're picking the best option on the market.
Your software will cover your web-based tools, but you'll need some physical tools for your inspections.
Building your home inspection toolkit is important. A tool like a thermal imaging camera can save you time and up the quality of your inspections, and basics like a ladder and a flashlight are necessary for a comprehensive inspection.
Setting your pricing and building a pricing model is one of the most important steps in starting your home inspection business. You'll want to set realistic prices, but also prices that are high enough to make your time worthwhile.
It's worthwhile to know what the average home inspection quote is in your city. With that information, you'll be able to set similar pricing to your competitors and feel confident in what you charge for your inspections.
So you've started your home inspection business...but no one knows you exist. That's where marketing comes in.
Sometimes, marketing is as simple as just showing up. Whether that's posting inspection content to Instagram, going to open houses, or joining your local chamber of commerce, small actions can result in significant growth for your business.
Stuck on ideas? Check out our 23 marketing ideas for home inspectors in 2023.
No, you're not required to get a license to be a home inspector in Pennsylvania. Some cities though, like Philidelphia, require home inspectors to get a license to practice, so be sure to check your local laws and requirements.
How much you make as a home inspector in Pennsylvania depends on how many inspections you do in a year and how much you charge. In Pennsylvania, the average home inspection cost $517 in 2022. Off of 100 inspections, a Pennsylvania home inspector could expect to make around $51,700.
No continuing education is required for home inspectors in Pennsylvania. However, if you're a home inspector in Philidelphia, the city has its own licensure and CE requirements you'll need to comply with.