TOPIC: part time/full time?

Hi Eric
I am currently in the same boat that you and many of the people that have posted here are and have been. I am a residential renovator and have been for the last 20 years or so. My body is getting tired and less forgiving when it comes to injury and long hard days. I am doing my best to get off the tools as fast as possible. So I guess the answer to your question is that I am part time now but am marketing full time when I get the time. In terms of my inspections and doing my reports, I have the luxury of a great worker that I leave alone to work whilst I concentrate on HI.
Try not to think in terms of full or part time. Look at it as what you put in you get out.
Jim mentioned that he jumped in full time and never looked back. Others like me will say that it took time.
Really it's going to be up to you Bro, if you hit every marketing opportunity that you see and never take no for an answer it won't take long at all.
For my self, I intend on being full time by June of this year at the latest.
Best of luck

Jeff, your answer really doesn't make sense! Is that your analogy or what authority is your answer based on?

Forget for a moment where it came from Joe. What part of it doesn't make sense to you? Yes, I understand it get's more complicated than that, and perhaps I over-simplified the statement, so let's work on that first.

BTW... I "sealed the deal" two weeks ago with the statement "I perform inspections Full-time. I have no other job. I eat, sleep, work and play home inspections. When I am not performing an inspection, I am educating myself to be the best I can be for you. My competition cannot say that. If you have any doubts, call them and call me back. I'll be here".? ? 

I made that statement after about 20 minutes of trying to differentiate myself from the other inspectors the guy had called. Most of them were Realtor referrals. Many of them have stolen my marketing strategies form various message boards. I am now careful what I share and where. (This MB does not seem to be an issue). I know my competition. Most of them are Part-time out of work contractors... or ConSpectors! The others are Part-time retiree's, or Part-time keeping-my-day-job for the income and benefits because I-aint's-good-enough or I-ain't-got-the-big-ones to take a risk and go for it! I honestly can only think of one other inspector based within 30 miles of me that if legitimately Full-time. ? 

Oh... Yes, I did this as a Part-timer twice. Once when I first started out, back in the mid-late 90's, and again for about a year and a half in the 2000's when the market went to hell overnight, and I had to pay my mortgage. Yes, I completely understand the need, but I will also tell you this... when I went back part-timing for that short time in the 2000's, it damn near killed my inspection business. I went back inspecting Full-time and never looked back. Yes, it's been tough lately, but I am still better off, and my company is stronger than ever!

Jeff, I know where that definition comes from probably Nachi's definition. But let me explain my view of this. And I hope I didn't ruffle your feathers my buddy, but we will agree to disagree on this. I don't agree with lumping inspectors that do other things all into one category with someone that works at Walmart full time and does inspections on the side at nite and weekends. He's not available at all times for inspections. That is different than an entrepreneur who is an inspector and has other business interests on the side that do not keep him from being available at all times (full time) for inspections.
Let's say you inherit a restuarant from Aunt Gertrude (she always did like you). You hire a manager to run it, but you pop in to check on things when you are free from your full schedule of inspection work. This according to your definition, because of the restaraunt additional income makes you a part time inspector. I don't agree.
I know things are slow up your way, but let's say Casey was busy and available at all times for inspections but helped his Dad out sometimes on Home Improvement and window replacement projects to fill in gaps of his inspection schedule, then with your reasoning he is part time.
My older brother has been an Inspector for 35 years. He doesn't advertise or have a website, doesn't need to. He has had long lasting relationships/accounts with numerous builders. But over the years in addition to inspections he has built homes, office buildings, developed a subdivision, owned a restaraunt and when things were slow at one time he even did trim carpentry on homes I was building. He's a workaholic, always on the go for something to work on (I'm the lazy one ). None of those situations kept him from being available or performing needed inspections full time. I guarantee you no one considers him a part time inspector.
My point- The statement should be "Inspector Available full time" not "Full time Inspector". Actually Full time is considered putting in at least 40 hours a week. I know I'm not putting in 40 hours a week of inspections, but I am available full time for it. I know you all are slow in your parts also, so I don't think you're putting in at least 40 hrs a week either of inspections. But I know you are available to. So you are also available for full time, for inspections, but actually are not performing inspections full time.
So what really doesn't make sense is the definition being base on percentage of related income. I know based on my background my competition around here does not lump me in with someone doing it on the side part time.
Your reasoning puts me in the same category as that Walmart employee doing inspections on the side. How could I possibly agree with thatwhen I am available full time, any time for an inspection, but due to my knowledge and experience will continue to supplement my income in other related ways.

When I was a full-time engineer, and I did part-time electrical work on the weekend with my fathers electrial company, does that mean I wasnt a full-time engineer?

Now I have a full time inspection business - but I work a couple evenings a week at the gym, get my exercise in, free membership and make a few bucks(equal to one inspection a month)...does that mean Im not a full-time Inspector?

Disclaimer...ASHI people, please dont get mad! Well..you can get mad..I really dont care...just dont wine to me!!!

Years ago..(when I first got started)...I had a cleint ask me two questions.

1st question...was I full time! ? My answer YES.
2nd question...are you an ASHI member. My answer NO...I didnt have 200 inspections at the time...blah blah blah. I had "maybe" 5 inspections under my belt.

But I didnt let the conversation die...this was my response..."Well Mr Client, if that is important to you, I will be more then happy to provide you with a few recommendations". ? Cleint was very happy. ? (This was when Illinois first fot licensing)

So..I got on the phone, called every ASHI member in my area. ? I had at least(3)guys who "did not" return my call. ? So I wrote down their names, their number, and location. ? I call back Mr Client and said..."Here are 3 State Licensed, ASHI Certified Home Inspectors right in your area...I'm sure one of them will be glad to help".

Guess who got that inspection the next day??? I did...because the other guys didnt follow-up.