Anybody work as a Trendsource Field Agent for ONSITE INSPECTIONS?

Before I go through the hassle of this and allow them to do the required "background check), I'd like to hear about your experiences with this. Thanks in advance!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2016 07:11PM by jkmystery.

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I enjoyed it. Some of them pay quite well too, but I just took all that I could get. The problem is that the MSC is frustrating. When you ask for clarification on something they will just repeat to you what the job already says. And be very careful about what you put in the questions for clarifications, and the comments you leave when you schedule the visits. They have it set up so that the client sees those comments without editing, and some of their clients are a little thin skinned. I no longer do that because of a huge mix up and they apparently lost a client because I said something that the client took offense to.
They are fairly simple, but be very careful to make sure you get all the required photos.
They are not a bad company to work for. In my opinion the pay is too low for the time invested, you can request a bonus, I think they call it a pad, however they don't always approve them. They pay fairly quickly.
I have used them many times and they are one of my favorites. I asked the same question prior to paying for the background check. Do a search and you will find a thread to answer your question. What I have learned is that they do a variety of inspections and therefore, I have kept track of what kind because that determines how many questions. They range from 25-80. Many questions don't pertain to that particular client but when completing the form, you still need to go all the way through all 80 questions, which takes time. If they offer $17 for an 80 question inspection, I ask for PAD. I have learned not to read them before going to the inspection as that is very time consuming. I recently answered the questions using my phone while at the site. When I started with TS, I was reading the questions first, then going onsite and asking them and writing the answers down and then going through the questions a 3rd time when I entered the data. I hope that makes sense. But like I said, do a search to find that thread. Btw, I haven't had any issues like Morledzp has.
You caused them to lose a client? That's pretty severe. Can you give details on what happened?

@Morledzep wrote:

I enjoyed it. Some of them pay quite well too, but I just took all that I could get. The problem is that the MSC is frustrating. When you ask for clarification on something they will just repeat to you what the job already says. And be very careful about what you put in the questions for clarifications, and the comments you leave when you schedule the visits. They have it set up so that the client sees those comments without editing, and some of their clients are a little thin skinned. I no longer do that because of a huge mix up and they apparently lost a client because I said something that the client took offense to.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
The background check is worth it because it will allow you to do the inspections for a year.

Some of the visits I made were not met with open arms, and others were. The guidelines were straightforward. The pay ranged from $13 (exterior verification) - $40 (required drawing). They pay twice a month.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I've had a lot of good luck with MSI/Trendsource. I have an awesome scheduler in my area though who even once offered to read off my questions to me over the phone when I was having some issues accessing the site. I agreed to do a shop--happened to be only 10 minutes away! for a hefty PAD and the scheduler was great. Same scheduler has been pretty awesome for the last few months he's been assigned to my area.

MegglesKat
Be forewarned they are the absolutely lowest​ paying for these in the entire industry. Dig. There are far better pay for these.
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

Be forewarned they are the absolutely lowest​ paying for these in the entire industry. Dig. There are far better pay for these.

Any reason you can't just share the MSC name?
They by far are not the lowest.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I do them when it makes sense. Generally, they are fun. Occasionally, scheduling can be a hassle, but the clients are usually happy to see me.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Hey HonnyBrown,

How were the drawing jobs? I have passed on those in the past because I don't consider myself a drafter, but they do pay quite a bit more than the regular inspections. Was it a PIA or worth the trip for you?
xen, I enjoyed the drawing inspections. I'm an engineer, so I have AutoCAD at home. I look for any reason to use it.

If you don't have a drawing software, you can do them freehand. Draw the building, and the surrounding properties.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I was thinking about doing those also, the "drawing" ones. How do you measure a long building?
You can eyeball it. They don't have to be to scale.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
The ones I have seen require that you have a tape measure that is at least 100 feet long, or a rolling wheel tape measure. I have assumed that that means that they want everything measured fairly accurately.
@HonnyBrown wrote:

You can eyeball it. They don't have to be to scale.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Once they figure out you are "eyeballing" it you will see none on your list. Those are actually legal docs you are "eyeballing".... and you sign at the bottom of the form it was an HONEST measurement.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

You can eyeball it. They don't have to be to scale.
I eyeball of my measurements for them. It's never been an issue since they don't ask for the measurements on the drawing.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Good luck. I sure would not be signing a form saying they are accurate measurements on an "eyeball" measurement.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I eyeball of my measurements for them. It's never been an issue since they don't ask for the measurements on the drawing.
That's you, not me. I can accurately determine linear footage without a tape measure.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
same type, different method.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
There are inspections with drawings that require measurements and inspections with drawings that do not. There are ones that require exterior and interior diagrams with measurements (potentially very, very time consuming) and others that are exterior only.
@elcarev68 wrote:

There are inspections with drawings that require measurements and inspections with drawings that do not. There are ones that require exterior and interior diagrams with measurements (potentially very, very time consuming) and others that are exterior only.
6

Thank you for the warning!
@HonnyBrown wrote:

You caused them to lose a client? That's pretty severe. Can you give details on what happened?

I don't really know all of the details. In the end I lost, and I still wonder why. I still shop for Trendsource, so I won't tell what I know in a forum that someone there is probably reading also. But I'll be happy to help someone that wants to get in the program, because you can make ok money doing it.
Okay Morle, I fully understand.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
There are two blocks at the end of the input form for comments. One very clearly states that the client will be reading it. The second states that it is for TS eyes only.
Ive been an Onsite Business Inspector for TrendSource for over 2 1/2 years and they are great. I've honestly never had a problem with them in any way.

Brie Hammond
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