Have you ever wished that there were two of you? That way you could get a lot more work done. Online home inspection booking software is almost the same thing. It doesn’t have a pulse, but it can step in to let customers book appointments anytime day or night, and any day of the week.

You’ll never have another missed appointment because you couldn’t answer the phone, and you won’t lose business to other inspectors who already have online booking. If you want to ensure that potential customers can schedule you any time that they want, here’s what you need to know.

Online Booking Isn’t Just a Fad

You live in a digital world, the same as your customers do. So put yourself in their position and think about your current appointment booking process. Is it available 24 hours a day? Is it convenient? Can you access it using a mobile device?

Technology has weaved into the home inspecting world, like it or not. And as long as your customers can order a pizza and perform banking transactions using a computer or mobile device, they expect you to be there too. Of course, no one will force you. But customers are more likely to book with the inspector who makes it easier.

You can build a plain and simple website in about an hour.

You’re Going to Need a Website

Of course, it’s not as easy as deciding to take appointments online. Customers need a way to find you, and that means you’ll need a website. You can build a website inexpensively using any of a number of different free services. Buy your domain name, which is your web address, and find a web host. PC Magazine offers this list of web hosting services that they rank as the best for 2016.

Don’t let the idea of building a website intimidate you. Even if your skills are almost nonexistent, some hosts offer free website building tools that are practically plug-and-play. Just choose a website template that you like, and personalize it using their tools.

Buy Your Online Booking Software

There are a number of online booking services available, but most of them are either too generic or too specific for a different industry. The National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) recommends Inspection Support Network software by name. Their package comes with online booking, of course, and it also has email functionality, general business reports, mass emails for advertising, and many more features.

PC World and PC Magazine are good resources for identifying and comparing software of practically every type. If you’re not satisfied with Inspection Support Network online booking tools, check out what the PC publications have to say about additional options.

You already know how important referrals are to home inspectors. But unless a prospective client can reach you, a referral isn’t worth much. She’s liable to move on to another inspector in your area whom she can. Chances are, he’ll have online booking software.

Whether it’s 5am on a Saturday or late at night while you’re fast asleep, your website and online booking capabilities let customers find their own preferred time slot and hire you, all on their own. That’s efficient, and it’s a business builder.

Any location that’s pummeled by a hurricane can fall prey to unscrupulous folks looking to make a fast buck. But armed with a residential inspection report, homeowners will know for certain whether a roof replacement or another major repair is necessary or not.

Homes can take a serious beating through hurricane season. Even if a category 4 doesn’t make landfall, the related storm activity can batter and flood properties along the coastline and further inland. When FEMA isn’t coming to the rescue, a home inspection can help put homeowners on the right path toward storm damage repair.

Here are some common problems that you might encounter on the job.

Extensive Roof Damage

Driving rains, high winds and hail can really do a number on any home’s roof. Unlike other exposed areas of a house, it gets no protection. Not all roof damage is serious, which is good news for the homeowner. And roof inspection services can determine the difference.

Expect:

Lifted or broken shingles Hailstone marks Damaged flashing Fallen debris damage Loose or missing soffits and fascia boards Damaged gutters and downspouts

Lifted, Broken or Severely Damaged Siding

High winds and flying debris make up the most damaging threats during a hurricane. If a tree branch breaks and winds throw it against the house, siding might be dented, lifted or entirely missing.

Expect:

Loose siding boards or panels Hailstone or debris holes in stucco Water infiltration, including around windows Loose or missing trim

Broken Windows

Most experienced coastal dwellers board up their windows before a major system comes through. But not every window is accessible. And sometimes, the protective materials cause additional damage once they’re removed.

Expect:

Broken glass inside and out Damaged window flashing Holes through siding or window frames (from storm-proofing material anchors) Hazy glass that looks undamaged, but might have broken seals

Basement Flooding

Basements are rare in some coastal areas, but fairly common in others. If the storm surge reaches the house or rainfall causes flooding, a perfectly dry basement might fall prey to water damage.

Expect:

Standing water contaminated with chemicals and biohazards Noticeably cold walls and floors that look dry but feel damp Mold and mildew growth

Waterlogged Appliances

When flood waters reach appliances, they might suffer permanent damage. If they’re still plugged in after the water recedes, they pose an immediate electrical shock hazard. Unfortunately, this includes the home’s HVAC system. Money Pit says that in most cases, flooded appliances require replacement and you can’t safely inspect them.

Expect:

Shock- or electrocution-hazard conditions unless appliances are unplugged or disconnected Electrical sparks and fires Signs of charring on or around appliances

Flooded Electrical Wiring

When flood waters rise high enough to reach electrical outlets, the whole home is at risk of fire until the electrical main is shut off. It’s usually not safe to assume that it’s safe when the power is out through the area. If the city restores power, the home you’re inspecting might become unsafe very quickly. In extreme cases, the home’s wiring might require replacement. But in many cases, it’s repairable.

Expect:

Waterlogged outlets Blown fuses and tripped breakers Charring on or near all electrical wiring

Cracked or Weakened Foundation

With all of the water that a hurricane brings, it’s no wonder so many homes suffer foundation damage. When waters rise, the ground that supports the foundation gets weak. If it shifts, the foundation might crack or buckle. It’s not safe to enter a crawlspace under these conditions. Inspectapedia says it’s smart to stay alert for signs of total structural collapse.

Expect:

Contaminated standing water Cracks Bulging blocks or bricks Soil erosion

A residential inspection usually happens just before the sale of a house. But many other situations merit an inspection, particularly the aftermath of a damaging storm.

If there’s a disaster declaration, government agencies will handle the inspection work. But for areas that have no government aid, a qualified, experienced home inspector can help homeowners get on the path toward repairs.

The right home inspection app lets you offer a prompt, concise inspection report that shows homeowners the scope of storm-related damage. That’s what Home Inspection Report can do. Fill in the form as you work using a mobile device. And then send it to your customer from anywhere you have service.

The U.S has a few national home inspector associations, lots of state and local chapters, plus independent state-level associations. Each one of them has something important to offer, whether you’re brand new to home inspecting or a seasoned professional.

There’s the camaraderie, of course, and also the chance to give something back. Members gain a lot in exchange for dues. When you actively participate in an association, you help support excellence in the industry in several different ways, and that benefits everyone.

Here’s what you can expect to get from the experience:

#1: Get a Break from the Solitary Work

Home inspecting is rather solitary work. Even if you work for a home inspecting company or have employees of your own, most inspectors work solo. When you join one of the national or state-level home inspector associations, you’ll meet other people with whom you have something in common. That’s hard to come by in this line of work.

Associations usually have local meetings at regular intervals. And then once a year, many of them have a state- or national-level conference that you can attend.

#2: Find Continuing Education Opportunities

Continuing education is part of the job, at least for most home inspectors. Some states don’t require it, but many do. And most home inspecting associations both require it and give you opportunities to get it. Sometimes CE courses are available through an association’s website. And some come as one-time opportunities at an association meeting or convention.

However you approach it, the group that you join should help foster professional growth through ongoing education year after year. You can help others by offering your own expertise and volunteering at meetings and conferences, and you might even hold an association office one day.

#3: Learn What’s Happening in the Industry

News travels slowly when you mostly work alone. When something new is happening in the industry, you can count on your home inspector association to update you about it. Most of them publish magazines, newsletters and send emails to members. They’re your lifeline to an industry that’s much larger than just your company.

Industry news keeps you on top of new materials, newly-discovered defects and hazards, and even new educational opportunities. Information is always a good thing.

#4: Meet Other Home Inspectors

Once again, the solitary nature of working in the home inspecting industry means that you don’t really have peers, at least not close by. Through attending association meetings, you’ll find many other home inspectors in your area, and some of them may become valued friends, colleagues or both.

When you associate with other inspectors, you learn a lot more about your own business. You might find a better way to perform part of your job, discover a new tool that everyone else is using, and have friends you can call if you run into a difficult situation in an inspection.

#5: Network with Industry Professionals

Beyond the backyard of your neighborhood or even your city, associations help you network with other industry professionals such as specialty inspectors and real estate agents. This typically happens at conferences or conventions, where everyone is more relaxed.

The value of networking can’t be overstated. Building a home inspector’s business means meeting the right people. Nowhere will you find more folks with a vested interest in your industry than at a home inspection association meeting.

Local, state and national home inspection associations are all a bit different from each other, but also largely the same. It’s all about creating a large, diverse and informed network of men and women who otherwise rarely have a chance to meet and interact with each other.

Joining an association is always a good idea. There are several from which you can choose, and each has a slightly different personality. You don’t have to attend every meeting or conference. Just belonging and having access to a larger network can benefit you in many ways.

The majority of home inspections happen just prior to the sale of a house. That leaves a big untapped market where you could grow your business. Pre-listing home inspections flip the focus from the buyer to the seller, which is just as beneficial. From a seller’s standpoint, more knowledge about the home helps manage expectations about a realistic listing price. It also offers a bit of focus for meaningful home repairs that could support a higher one.

Another way to approach pre-listing inspections is after repairs are done. Many homeowners feel empowered to take on projects, such as installing new tile in the bath or building a deck. An inspection afterward gives homeowners a head up in case there’s an issue that might emerge later.

Pre-Listing Inspections Help Make Homes More Competitive

The market value of a house is partly determined by comps or surrounding properties that have recently sold. If the house in question is nicer, has more amenities and perhaps a better lot, it might fit into the higher value range. Conversely, if the house needs repairs, the comps might all be higher than its value.

A pre-listing inspection shows homeowners what’s up. If most of the comps were sold in need of repair, the homeowner can decide on the most effective areas to apply repair and upgrade dollars without pricing the home too high. Too many upgrades obliterate any chance at a return on investment at the sale. That said, sometimes repairs can support a sale where it might not happen at all. In that case, a slight loss on ROI might be worth it just to attract buyers.

Homeowners Aren’t Usually Home System Experts

Flawed logic suggests that the owner of a home should know it better than anyone else. People grow accustomed to defects, and some defects aren’t easy for the untrained eye to spot. The homeowner might have a dip or hump in the kitchen floor, drafts at a window and a mold issue behind the toilet. If it’s been a problem for years, the defect might not even hit the homeowner’s radar.

Some defects are hidden. An outlet behind a sofa might never be used, so the homeowner wouldn’t know that it’s defective. And a leak in the attic has no reason to catch the owner’s attention unless it has dripped through to the living space. An inspector finds defects that homeowners might not even know to look for, and that puts power into the seller’s hands.

Home Inspectors Can Help Make a Sale Happen

If you’ve read any number of articles online about home inspectors who kill the sale, you probably don’t want to find yourself in those ranks. Working for sellers helps you help them. Instead of finding lurking problems that make a buyer think twice, your work can educate homeowners about the real condition of the house long before there’s a sale on the line.

In upscale neighborhoods where it’s a seller’s market, supporting the sale might not be an issue. But in difficult areas with hard-to-move properties, the inspection can perform as a marketing tool. If the home is in great shape, the homeowner can use the report to put a buyer’s mind at ease. And if it’s not, the seller can either negotiate a lower price to make the sale or invest a little money and bring the home up to a better standard.

Home inspections aren’t just for buyers. They’re a smart investment for any real estate transaction, no matter which side your customer is on. And with a professional report in hand, the results are clear and easy to understand.

All that it takes is a look at the news to see how easy it is for drone pilots to get in trouble with the law. When these mini aerial vehicles, known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), first hit the scene in a big way a few years ago, the possibilities seemed endless.

Some people now believe that UAS package delivery isn’t far off. Drones are frequently used to photograph real estate, too. Their ability to go where people don’t go and bring back images that would otherwise be difficult or impossible makes them perfect for the Home Inspection industry.

But with all of the excitement, the FAA had a real problem. Popularity was immense, and it remains so. And so is the risk of injury, property damage and privacy issues with drones in the wrong hands. But finally, new FAA drone regulations for commercial use were released in June. If you are itching to try a UAS on the job, here’s what you need to know.

Drones are Expensive, Highly Technical Equipment

A UAS might seem almost like a toy, but they are anything except cheap. At least that’s the case with drones that are durable and dependable enough to use in home inspection work. One false move and hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of equipment might be obliterated in one mishap.

Drones can create a lot of havoc if the pilot isn’t experienced. And sometimes an epic crash results, no matter how much experience the pilot has. It happens all the time.

The FAA Requires Certification

Although you could, at least in theory, buy a drone online and take it to work the next day, the FAA has something to say about it. To be legal, the remote pilot in command of the UAS must be certified or under the direct supervision of someone who is.

Pilot certification requires a demonstration of aeronautical knowledge through either FAA testing or possessing a Part 61 pilot certificate and completing the FAA online training course. You must also be vetted by TSA and be at least 16.

Safe Operation is an Emerging Discipline

As drone technology becomes more prevalent and popular, more issues with the safe handling and operation of UASs will become apparent. For now, the FAA uses a commonsense approach. Be safe and don’t take unnecessary risks with people or property. That appears to be the general rule. Here are some of the finer points:

No operation directly above unprotected people No operation inside a covered stationary vehicle Only fly during daylight, or during twilight with proper anti-collision lights Don’t operate a drone from a moving aircraft Don’t fly it where you can’t see it Don’t be reckless Always perform a pre-flight inspection Only carry a load that the UAS is rated to handle

Basically, don’t take the drone into an area where could harm people, damage property or is likely to crash.

Privacy is a Big Deal

One big issue with drones is the invasion of privacy. As a home inspector, that shouldn’t be a chronic problem. But you never know, and you can’t be too careful. If the drone you’re piloting and its camera come too close to a neighboring property, the owner might take issue.

The National Telecommunications and information Administration (NTIA) makes the following suggestions, which are voluntary.

Let anyone in the vicinity know that you’ll be piloting a drone with a camera and that their image might be captured on video. Never deliberately take video or pictures of anyone without their permission. Don’t fly over someone else’s private property. Only gather personal data if it’s necessary for the job, and discard it as soon as you can. If some data must be kept, keep it secure. Delete data, photos or video if the subject of the images and data asks you to. Be reasonable in discussing privacy and safety concerns with others. Don’t harass anyone with the drone. It’s also a good idea not to harass animals.

Drone technology is very likely here to stay. With it will eventually come more improvements in the aircraft and the rules governing use.

UASs are a perfect match for the home inspection industry because they enable visual inspection of areas, such as roofs, that can’t be reached or can’t be reached safely. That’s why ICA School has introduced a new drone module specifically for using drones in roof inspections. You should check it out.