Roof inspections

[tabir]

Hi. I am just looking for any advice or tips on how to get started in roof and building inspections. I am currently employed. I have been with my company 38 years and will be retiring at the end of the year. I would like to start a drone business when I retire as a means to supplement my income and to stay busy. Over the next 9 months I want to start honing my skills and getting the equipment and training I will need to get started Concrete surveillance ADVERTISING LINK REMOVED. I currently own a Evo II and love flying it. I am hoping some of you can give me tips on what software (free versions if possible) to get that will help with flying, mapping, damage inspection etc. also where are some good places to go to get training. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks 

Edited July 18, 2022 by Bill Kibbel

[Marc]

If it's just roof covers that you want to inspect, you don't need a home inspector's license. Just become familiar with as many manufacturer installation instructions (roofing products) as you can and get to work.

[Tom Raymond]

You can't use your drone commercially without a license. I'd start there.

Then what Marc said.

[Jim Baird]

I heard Jeff Bezos wants package delivery drones.  No explosives allowed, though, unless it's just water balloons.

[jonny_drone]

I found this article about drone inspections. It mostly has to do with the pricing different commercial construction drone inspections. But it has some other good information. i'm wondering how accurate the pricing calculators are. It also has a section on Computing Devices and Software that may help you.

https://www.vsiaerial.com/post/drone-inspection-service-costs

[Les]

My first inclination was to delete the link.  But, it does have lots of information both specific and inferred.  Drones have a real place in our business.  

[jonny_drone]

Thank you Les. I found it pretty helpful too. Ive actually been making a pricing sheet based on what the calculators are giving me. but only for commercial work. Commercial drone work that i hope ill be getting haha

 

[John Kogel]

We are seeing drone videos everywhere now. Realtors use them to get arial views of the property. This could be a foot in the door for a home inspector in the second decade of this century. I imagine You could offer cheap shots of the house, and I'm using the catch phrases liberally for those who read between the lines.

Cheap shots, then foot in the door, because part of the roof nobody looks at is the back of the attic. So send your drone back there to clear out the cobwebs.

When I was inspecting steady, I couldn't take the time to do droning, too. I used the pole camera a fair amount, especially for condo buildings when I couldn't get roof access, I'd find a window on the top floor.

Drones of today seem to be quite sophisticated and if there's anything that gets a realtor's attention, sophistication is something we can all use to our advantage, y'all.  😎

[harryjames201]

Starting a drone business for roof and building inspections sounds like a great plan! For software, consider free options like Pix4Dcapture for mapping and DroneDeploy’s basic plan for inspections.Look into training programs from organizations like the FAA for certifications and local drone clubs for hands-on experience.