If you’re just getting your feet wet in the home inspection business, getting your first few jobs can seem like an impossible task.

How will you get clients? How will anyone hear about you if you don’t have any inspections to your name?

Think of it this way: even the top inspector in your city had to start somewhere. Once you have a few jobs-well-done under your belt, the referrals will start rolling in.

Until then, get to work tapping into these 5 places to find work as a home inspector.

Real Estate Agents

Depending on who you ask, you might hear that real estate agents are a home inspector’s best friend or their worst nightmare. But one thing’s for sure: there’s no denying they have great potential as a referral source.

Pound the pavement stopping by their offices to introduce yourself. Bring along a business card and a brochure listing your services.

Visit open houses in your area and talk with the real estate agent during a lull. You might even put together an “introduction kit” to give out at open houses.

Helpful hint: throw in a snack, like a granola bar. Realtors, like home inspectors, are always on the go, and they’ll remember your thoughtful gesture.

Online

A website is a must-have if you want to make it as a home inspector (or any other real estate service provider, for that matter).

Not only is it a source of free traffic when someone types in ‘home inspector + [your city]’, it’s the first place potential clients will go to find out if you’re legitimate.

You can invest in a sophisticated website or keep it basic, but at a minimum, make sure your site lists the following:

• Services
• Credentials (training, professional memberships, length of time in the area, etc.)
• Starting price for your inspections
• Contact information

A little bit of SEO, or search engine optimization, also goes a long way for getting your website noticed by Google.

Review Sites

Create a listing for your business on the most popular review sites, like Yelp and Google.

Even if you don’t have many inspections under your belt, you can start building a positive review base. Ask colleagues and professional acquaintances to leave a few positive words about your professional character, for example that you’re prompt and professional or that you perform meticulous work.

Once you complete your first few inspections, ask those clients to leave feedback as well.

Social Media

Successful social media use is a marathon, not a sprint. It won’t have clients beating down your door overnight.

However, you never know when one potential client might stumble across your Facebook page, like what they see and hire you. Or better yet–tell a friend.

We suggest creating, at a minimum, a Facebook page and a LinkedIn page for your business. Fully complete the profile on each, including details like your education and special training, and your contact info. Oh—and a photo! Nobody wants to do business with a generic grayed-out head icon.

Social media, particularly LinkedIn, is also a great way to connect with real estate agents in your area. Follow their updates and leave thoughtful, genuine comments on the content they put out.

It helps to establish name recognition, which may lead to them becoming a source of referrals in the future.

Referrals

Ah, the all-important referral. In our noisy digital world, it’s still more valuable than any advertising you can buy or content you can post online.

The best part? All you have to do is ask.

Ask friends and family members to help spread the word. Ask your first couple clients to tell their friends about you. It takes time, but referrals tend to have a snowball effect.

With consistent, quality work and a bit of self-marketing, you’ll have a solid base of clients in a few short months.