Week 8 – I Found a Defect in My Neighbor’s House (Oops)

My first inspection... and it was personal (literally):

This week, I did my first full inspection. It wasn’t for a paying client—it was a practice run at my neighbor’s house. And even though there was zero pressure and everyone knew it was just training, I was nervous as hell.

Clipboard in one hand, tablet in the other, software open for the first time. What could go wrong? (Spoiler: not much. But wow did it feel like a lot.) I started the clock, opened the template, and went system by system. Roof. Exterior. HVAC. Electrical. Plumbing. I took it seriously. Too seriously, maybe. I wanted to get it right. So naturally, what should take 2–3 hours took me closer to 6.

Why finding defects was both thrilling and deeply awkward:

At first, I was pumped. Every issue I found made me feel like I knew what I was doing. Loose GFCI? YES. Dripping shutoff valve under the sink? LET’S GO. Water stains near the chimney flashing? OH MAN I’M A GENIUS.

And then it hit me: This is my *neighbor’s* house. A person I like. A person who brought me cookies when I moved in. And here I am labeling their kitchen window as a “potential water intrusion area.” I had to stop, breathe, and remind myself: it’s not about judgment—it’s about clear, professional observation. Even when it’s awkward.

What threw me off the most:

The software. Not because it’s bad—it's great, actually—but because it was my first time using it in the wild. Every click made me second-guess. “Am I choosing the right comment?” “Should I be taking more photos?” “How do I phrase this in a way that’s accurate but not terrifying?”

Also, managing the flow was tough. Jumping between systems, tools, camera, flashlight, tablet... it's a dance I haven’t quite learned yet. I felt like I had ten arms and none of them knew what to do.

The surprising part that actually felt natural:

The system-by-system approach. It gave me structure. Instead of wandering through the house hoping to “find stuff,” I followed a process. And that made a huge difference. I didn’t miss anything major. I felt like I had a map.

Also, seeing real-world examples of the training topics made everything click. The leak under the sink? I knew what to do. The roof flashing issue? I’d just reviewed that module. It was like a bunch of puzzle pieces finally locking together.

Support from the franchise that made it less scary:

The template helped. Big time. Every section, every comment option—it’s designed to guide you without being rigid. And the training I’d done before gave me just enough confidence to keep going, even when I wasn’t sure.

Also, I sent a screenshot of one section to Curt with a “does this phrasing sound right?” text. His reply was fast, encouraging, and super helpful. He reminded me that early inspections take forever—but that’s normal. He even joked that his first one took a full day and a sandwich break. That made me feel human again.

Next up: doing this for real (and faster):

Next week, I’ve got my first paid inspection scheduled. Real client. Real timeline. Real report delivery. I want to shave down my time, stay organized, and work on my language. It’s one thing to say “DEFECT” in a training run—it’s another when someone’s buying the house. Tone matters.

What I’d repeat without hesitation:

Practice on a real house. A neighbor’s, a friend’s, your aunt’s—whoever. It’s the best simulation you’ll get. The pressure is just enough to make it count, but low enough that you can still learn. And believe me, you will learn.

→ Coming up next: Week 9: My First Review — I Checked Google 15 Times That Day

← Wondering why my CRM made me panic? Week 7: I Watched My CRM Stay Empty and Freaked Out

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