I hired a girl to answer my phones, manage my schedule, and eventually run my office 2 weeks ago. I am curious if you offer some sort of membership forum access for non inspectors she could use to come on here for help with things from time to time. do they usually stay out of member only areas? there is no other place with the kind of information and help than these forums and she has already been in contact with Michelle Shishilla via facebook. (Thanks Michelle!)
Robert, I know I am not Nick, but he does give a significantly discounted price for other members under the same company.
Yes, if she isn’t an inspector, she can join as an invisible member for free (I believe for 6 months and then $100/year after that). She has to call Lisa Endza (Lisa’s phone number is in www.nachi.org/contact.htm ) to get set up.
If she is your office manager and answering your inspection business phone, I recommend you require her to complete the following courses. It is to your advantage to have her take these courses and they cost you nothing:
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You should also have her read these articles:
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http://www.nachi.org/trick-for-building-websites.htm
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http://www.nachi.org/home-inspector-business-pricing-billing.htm
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http://www.nachi.org/websitelegalissues2006.htm
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Also, if she is not an inspector and answering your phones, remind her to keep the SoundSmart screen open in a window of her computer. It provides instant talking points and fast navigation so that she can represent your company well. http://www.nachi.org/soundsmartintro.htm
Nick explain to me the sound smart window. I have spend countless time training my girls which is great but hard when ever you have a turnover and have to start all over again
When a potential client calls they often have a concern or two about the property they’re buying. Simply click on the issue and SoundSmart will provide you with short, concise talking points while you’re on the phone. It’s like having a little helper on your shoulder, whispering in your ear! If your office staff can converse intelligently with the caller, your conversion rate (scheduled inspections to number of incoming calls) is going to go up. There is no sense in spending money on marketing to get your phone to ring if you aren’t converting.
Here is a better explanation: http://www.nachi.org/soundsmartintro.htm
Here is the page to leave open in a window on your computer in case your phone rings: http://www.nachi.org/soundsmart.htm
Well damn! Trouble with NACHI is that it has so damn many benefits, I probably don’t know about 80% of them!
Wow. Very impressive Nick.
I’ll have to go back and read all those, too!
It is not wise to run a business while running the individual task at hand. I have tried on many jobs while working as a project manager and someone needs to be running the job while someone else is running the business
I tend to agree with Rob. The most profitable two-person operation for inspection companies is to have the best inspector doing all the inspections and report writing, and someone in the office answering phones, scheduling, getting reports sent out, getting agreements signed, and when all that is done and the day isn’t over… go back to marketing. Over time, the inspector gets better at inspecting and report writing, and the office person gets better at logistics and marketing.
This is just one more small example of what makes InterNachi so great!
Thank you Nick for all that you do for your members.
