He’s been selling them years before they were even in business?! :shock:
I am in my third year of business, and he has been providing them since I started doing HIs. Why, when did they go in business?
Are you sure he isn’t working with another warranty firm? As I recall, Ben G. rolled out MHW about a half a year ago. I could be wrong though. 
I’m new to the game and have been providing the AHW warranty for about 4 months now. I have had multiple agents tell me they have referred me because they haven’t ever heard of an inspector giving a warranty. Like Jeff is saying, don’t oversell it and people will just see it as a small added benefit.
Nick, I just checked his website and I stand corrected. He has been using American Home Warranty. Sorry. Wrong company, same point.
I was thinking it was that.
I don’t see how these home inspector warrantees even factor in with the real estate agencies and even many of the FSBO’s giving the sellers complimentary 1 year warrantees to the buyers. Its a duplication of services. Heck, a $17, 100 day, $1K claim limit policy sounds awfully trivial when you’re already getting a $400 1 year policy.
That doesn’t really matter from a marketing standpoint. Most buyers hear about a warranty as a benefit and like it. Then it’s just a matter of setting expectations at the inspection. I’m not trying to give a Cadillac warranty, I’m trying to book the inspection.
A $400 yer policy from where? No one is giving my clients a $400 1 year policy. Granted, it isn’t much, but it might be that “little something” that sets me apart from my competition that gets my phone to ring instead of theirs? Times are tough, every little bit helps.
You can protect yourself from post-inspection complaints with a warranty, but the best way to protect yourself is getting educated and trained.
Many inspectors are weak in the HVAC area. Myself included.
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From what I’m seeing so far… this is something I will take advantage of 4 sure.
It is what it is and it looks to be a limited nice little warranty. All warranties have limitations and exclusions.
I will not hype this up or down. I will keep it totally separate from my sales pitch and from the inspection. May even at the end do a hey BTW I got a small home warranty gift for you.
Either way very nice InterNACHI… keep it rolling.
This has been an interesting thread, lots of good points pro and con. Here’s the thing that makes me shy away from the idea of offering a warranty as an inspector: A warranty comes with something that you buy, and it’s typically offered by the seller or the manufacturer. If I start offering a warranty on houses, it makes me look like I’m a seller, or somehow involved with the selling side of the transaction. Of course I’m not involved that way, and I suppose some education could clear up that misconception. But it’s been my experience that perceived conflicts of interest can cause huge public relations problems. I don’t want to be perceived as promoting the sale of the property. I do want to be perceived as an “independent neutral third party” to the transaction.
Good point. To me… including a free warranty with a home inspection is similar to performing a “move-in-certified” inspection. Neither one makes me look like I’m trying to sell the house. I’m still independent and third-party-neutral.
I am simply not in the warranty or insurance business, not now not ever. Thanks but no thanks.
There are 3 ways to make MORE money in any business:
- Increase sales (Offering a warranty helps you get more inspections).
- Charge more (You can charge more for your inspections if you include a warranty… more than the cost of the warranty).
- Cut costs (There is a liability cost associated with every inspection you perform. A warranty helps reduce that liability and thus your costs).
No member here is in the inspection business, I sure hope.
You are all in the makin’ money business.
If you are in business to make a good living… get out. Go get a job. We don’t need you in our industry.
The only reason to be in business (and deal with all that entails) is to make a great living.
I love the massage boards and many times I am absolutely SHOCKED at the responses. People complain and freak out over something that can be FREE to them. No one said it was MANDATORY to give these out. It is an OFFERING as far as I can see it. Either take it or leave it.
I also see so many people doing the SAME thing year after year and expecting different results. How is it going to be different? I personally use the Home warranty and I like it. There are so many aspects to it…I like it because it takes away the little headaches. I have been using it for about 3 years and there have been 6 claims and 5 of them were paid. No problems and no questions.
I can see the head scratchers now…3 years and about $2500 in claims…He paid the warranty company about $6,000…why not just insure them himself? Its all about marketing…What tangible edge do you have over your competition? Let me guess YOUR A BETTER INSPECTOR?..and what do you think your competition is saying? Damnit Jim is right I suck and he is better than me and you should use him? I don’t think so…So now what else is there? Its not about your damn ego…ITS ABOUT THE BUYER…Whats in it for them…Thats all they care about…How are you going to take care of them? If $17 gives them peace of mind…raise your prices $25 and give them the warranty…The inclusions and provisions are right there on the paper…Its a GIFT not a contract you do not have to spell it out…they are getting it for FREE…
Do not forget the warranty has an expiration date…that date is soooooooo nice…6 months after the inspection they call with a water heater problem, we tell them that is sad and we wish them luck, but our inspection is only warrantied for 90 days…sorry…Works every time…They go and get it repaired or replaced on their own.
Now let me get to the ONE claim that was not paid…it was a plumbing line underground that was leaking…the guy called…I talked to him and instead of defending myself and telling him what I was liable for…I just listened and when he was done, I asked how he felt I should handle the situation. He said he felt that 1/2 of the water bill and repair would suffice…I sent him the check the same day…His inspection was a total of $875 and he wanted $175 of it back…No problem what so ever…
If you offer more than your competition…you can charge more…sure the price shoppers will move on…But I would rather do one $1,000 inspection than five $200 inspections…
Once again, it just amazes me that people get so upset over someone offering something for free that is OPTIONAL…I guess what it boils down to is that some people are jealous of Nick and his ability to make money. Why do people get so mad at another person making money? I know some inspectors have received $500 for a 2 hour job…THATS $250 an HOUR…and yet they don’t give some of it back…why, because the took the time, learned a trade, put their balls on the line and deserve the money…I also have learned that NACHI is a total OPTIONAL organization…if you hate it and it sucks and Nick is always trying to screw us…YOUR a member why?..
In my not so humble opinion
I’m With you Russel!!!
I am a home inspector and I abide by a code of ethics.
If I was not in the home inspection business, but the “money making business” like you and what you profess, I would also be offering to repair (for a fee) those defects that I find in an inspection. I don’t.
If I were like you…strictly in the “money making business”…I would pay realtors for leads and write soft reports to ensure even more of their business to make even more money. I don’t.
Being a home inspector sometimes requires me to put my honor and integrity before greed. This would not be true if I, like you, were in the “money making business”.
Being a home inspector sometimes requires me to stand for what I believe in…even when it is not popular and even when what I oppose (such as licensing) could even mean more money to me as a carpetbagger…who is in the “money making business”, like you.
I am a home inspector and…as you say and as you continue to illustrate…this is NOT an association for “mere” home inspectors.
You have convinced me.
Speak for yourself Jim.
I say we are ethical businessmen first…
and inspectors (which often includes offering general home inspections) second.
I am in the Making money business…I can do it many ways, but I prefer to do it the honest and professional way. Would I rather another profession? Sure, Playboy Mansion pool cleaner comes to mind…Who said the business had to be unethical to make money? Once again…thinking and doing the same thing over and over leads to the same results and maybe many are thrilled with the present results. I make an awesome living, but its more of a how big can this get? Why do people associate large amounts of money with things that are wrong…?