Why Work with Multiple Companies
At NMFS, our goal is simple: we want our inspectors to earn as much money as possible.
Nationally, most mortgage field service companies pay only $3–$4 per inspection. NMFS is different — we pay above the national average, which is why many inspectors choose to rely solely on us. The trade-off is that companies who pay higher rates typically receive fewer total orders than the companies flooding the market with low-fee inspections.
To help you maximize your income and keep your workflow steady, we strongly encourage inspectors to work with multiple reputable companies. The more companies you are connected with, the more consistent and predictable your weekly volume and annual income will be.
Estimated Annual Income by Number of Companies
1 Company: ~$7,000–$18,000 per year
2 Companies: ~$20,000–$30,000 per year
3 Companies: ~$30,000–$40,000 per year
4 Companies: ~$40,000–$50,000 per year
5 Companies: ~$45,000–$55,000 per year
6–7 Companies: ~$60,000–$80,000 per year
8+ Companies: ~$90,000–$100,000+ per year
Important Note About These Numbers
These figures are general industry averages, not guarantees.
Your actual income depends on many factors — including where you live, population density, the stability of your local housing market, the clients your companies serve, seasonal volume cycles, and how efficiently you manage your route.
Some inspectors need only 2–3 companies to reach the higher income ranges, while others in rural areas may need 8–12 companies to achieve the same results. Every region is different, and every company’s client list is different. These numbers simply provide a realistic framework to help you plan and grow your business.
Recommended Companies to Apply To
- A2Z FS
- Allegiant
- Ascribe
- Checkmate
- Collateral Specialist
- CRM Global
- Direct Connect
- First Rate
- ISN Corp
- Leading Edge
- National Property
- NVMS
- Pacific FS
- Sand Castle
- Site Check
Places to Find More Inspection Work
You can find additional mortgage field service companies through major online job boards. These listings change constantly, so it’s worth checking them from time to time.
Job Boards to Search:
LinkedIn
SimplyHired
Glassdoor
Indeed
ZipRecruiter
CareerBuilder
Jobs.com
Important Note About Job Ads
Many job ads appear to offer an hourly rate — but in the mortgage field services industry, inspectors are independent contractors who are paid per inspection, not per hour. When job boards display “$15–$25/hour,” this is only an estimated conversion based on the job board’s own system. The job board most likely inserted those hourly rates automatically as a default.
Craigslist
Craigslist can also be a good source of companies looking for inspectors, but be aware that most postings are created automatically by job board systems. They often show misleading hourly estimates. Remember: inspections are paid per completed order, not per hour worked.
Insurance Requirements for Inspectors
Most regional inspection companies — including NMFS — do not require inspectors to carry their own Errors & Omissions (E&O) or General Liability insurance. At NMFS, our corporate policies already cover all of our inspectors while completing our work.
However, some national companies may request or require independent inspectors to carry their own E&O or General Liability policy before assigning work. Requirements vary widely by company, but for the majority of regional clients you will not need to purchase your own insurance.
If you ever decide to work with a national company, or any other company that may require coverage, do not go to a local State Farm, Allstate, Farm Bureau, or typical insurance agent — those policies are not written for the mortgage field services industry and will not meet the requirements. E&O and General Liability policies for inspectors must be written specifically for the Mortgage Field Services industry. The original provider — and still the most widely used in the industry — is York-Jersey, who created the first policy designed for this type of work.
Homeowner Insurance Inspections
All homeowner insurance companies conduct verification inspections as part of their underwriting or renewal process. These inspections focus on documenting the condition of the property, identifying hazards, and noting any exposures that could create liability for the insurance carrier.
The majority of these inspections are exterior-only, but some insurance companies also require interior “high-value” inspections for homes typically valued over $1 million.
High-value interior inspections are done by appointment and often include documenting:
Kitchen appliances
Flooring type and condition
Baseboards, trim, and finishes
Interior maintenance issues
Overall quality of materials and craftsmanship
These interior assignments usually pay $50–$100 each.
Exterior inspections, which are far more common, typically require documenting items such as:
Trampolines — and whether they are inside a fully fenced yard
Swimming pools — including whether they are protected by a secure gate or enclosure
Roofs — including zoomed-in photos of shingle condition, granule loss, storm damage, or sagging
Peeling paint — especially on older homes, due to wind-blown chips potentially causing injury
General exterior hazards — broken steps, missing handrails, debris hazards, unsecured decks, etc.
Property condition — siding, windows, porches, tree risks, outbuildings, and overall maintenance
Some companies also require a camera pole to capture elevated roof shots or close-up high-angle photos.
Below are a few homeowner-insurance inspection companies commonly used by independent field inspectors:
Millenium
Insurance Risk Services
Mueller Reports
You can often find this type of work by searching insurance-related job listings or by contacting companies that specialize in homeowner insurance verification services. These inspections can provide excellent supplemental income, especially during slower weeks in mortgage field services.
List Yourself as an Independent Inspector
Most companies expect inspectors to apply directly through their website, but it can also help to list yourself in one or two contractor directories. These sites allow companies to search by ZIP code when they need an inspector in a specific area.
Here are two of the most commonly used directories:
NewRep.com — A contractor listing service used by nationals and regional companies.
FieldServiceDirectory.com — An older directory that is still checked occasionally by companies searching for coverage in specific ZIP codes.
Listing yourself on one or both of these sites may provide a little extra exposure during slow periods or when companies are actively expanding into new areas.
Tips for Getting Hired in the Mortgage Field Services Industry
As an independent contractor, your application is not just a form — it is your marketing tool. Companies evaluate you primarily on two things:
Where you live and which counties you can cover
Whether you already have the required background credentials
All inspectors in this industry must have a ShieldHub ID, which is the government-mandated background check for mortgage field services work. Before 2024, this credential was managed by Aspen Grove and was called the ABC number. When ShieldHub took over, the name changed — but the purpose remained exactly the same.
Your ShieldHub ID appears in a format like this:
TX750781030
The first part represents your state
The middle portion is your ZIP code
The final four digits indicate the order in which inspectors in your ZIP code completed the background check
(Example: “1030” means you were the first inspector in that ZIP code to ever complete the original ABC credential. “1031” would be the second person, and so on.)
When filling out applications:
Never leave anything blank
Never write “N/A”
If a field does not apply, enter your ShieldHub ID again
Repeat it as many times as needed — seven, eight, nine, even ten times
This tells the company that you already have the credential required to work, and it dramatically increases your chances of being approved and receiving work quickly.
Companies look for inspectors who are:
Background-cleared
Ready to work
Able to follow instructions
A clean, complete application tells them exactly that and puts you ahead of applicants who submit incomplete or sloppy paperwork.
If you have completed formal training and received your Mortgage Field Services Inspector Certification (PDF), attach that file to your applications whenever the system allows. Companies appreciate documentation, and it sets you apart from inspectors who offer no proof of training at all.
Crowdsourcing Companies
Crowdsourcing platforms are a great way for new inspectors to earn extra income while waiting for steady mortgage field services volume. These apps offer quick, simple tasks such as taking photos of storefronts, verifying signage, capturing fuel prices, documenting vehicles, or confirming business hours. They are fast, easy, and can be completed while running errands or driving your regular route.
Most tasks take 5–10 minutes and pay $5 – $15+ each, depending on the platform and the area.
Payments are usually deposited directly to your account shortly after the job is completed. Many companies pay through Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal — often the same day, the next day, or within that week. These platforms generally pay quickly.
Some reliable crowdsourcing platforms inspectors commonly use include:
WeGoLook.com
PhotoInspections.com
ProxyPics.com
iVueIt.com (often pays next-day through PayPal)
These apps are not designed to replace mortgage field services income, but they are excellent for filling the gaps during slow weeks, light seasons, or between regular inspections. Some inspectors earn an additional $100 – $400 per week just by picking up these tasks while out in the field.