Starting a new business in Orlando, FL. Can anyone help me get on the right path.
What is your Bio ?
Search the forum under Marketing section and backtrack all the posts for past 2 yrs and read the posts that relate to you. Tons in info and take notes. Full of knowledge. Took me a few hrs to go thru them when i started last yr and i cant express my gratitude towards everyone who posts. Good Luck. Most important thing I can offer is Marketing is what makes you survive in this field. Everyone is knowledgable about homes but only the smart marketers survive.
Hi Frederico,
There is some very good information right here in these posts, as Christopher said. Spend some time looking through the Marketing section and also use the search tool on the menu bar.
Here are a few quick very general thoughts:
- Time management is essential. You may be your own boss, but you still need to put in the hours and make them count.
- Have a well thought out business plan. This should include financial projections of fixed, variable costs, expected income ect…and you should have clearly defined goals and have an accurate way to measure them. and then actually keep track. I call them performance outcome measurements.
- strive every day to be the best at what you do.
- Exploit the weaknesses of your competitors. Capitalize on your strengths and set yourself apart from the pack.
- Track customer satisfaction and incorporate their concerns into your business model.
- Learn to wear many hats.
- Never put off till tomorrow what you could do today.
- If you lack business education, consider taking some classes. Running a business successfully takes specific skills that have already been developed.
Good Luck!
Engineer for 12 years obtaining BS in Construction Management and 18 years experience in construction
Wow! It appears technical competency is not going to be a hurdle for you. That’s 1/2 the equation for success. I’ll help you with the other 1/2. Email me fastreply@nachi.org with your mailing address and I’ll send you my book: http://www.inspectoroutlet.com/successful.aspx No charge.
You have already made the single most important step any Home Inspector who wants to achieve success can possibly make…you joined InterNACHI.
I have said many times, that hands down, InterNACHI is the single best investment I have made in the HI business, above any tool, vehicle, marketing plan, or anything else I can come up with. You will soon see for yourself.
I pondered for months, then thankfully joined this Great organization. It is difficult to comprehend all the benefits you will be flooded with, some you can find out about, (tons of free training, marketing tips, legal advice), some will be a total surprise.
You will find the personal generosity of Nick Gromicko and InterNACHI to be outstanding, as I have! Without going into great detail, Nick and InterNACHI have actually saved me and my business AT LEAST $4000 over the last 3 years. That figure is not exaggerated, it’s probably more, but I’m talking about actual dollars that I kept or banked that I was trying to figure out how to come up with.
It is my opinion that Nick wants you to be successful. He doesn’t just take your due money and say “thanks”. He will do lots to help you, as he has me.
The story is long. Email me and I will tell you all about it…
Federico,
Get yourself acquainted with some home inspection reporting software (know it inside and out). Purchase Kenton Sheppard’s narrative collection and include them into your reporting software. Also consider using graphics, such as InterNACHI’S into your reporting software to help describe what you are trying to say.
Have your Inspection Agreement signed prior to your arrival, if possible and never, ever start inspecting a property until you have that agreement signed and a copy for your records.
Give GREAT customer service to all parties involved. Take control of the inspection for the next few hours brother or you will regret it. You are going to be the professional for those hours, and don’t be distracted. There will always be someone or something trying to distract you, so you overlook something (DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN).
Every property is similar in one aspect, and very different in others. Always be safe man. Conquer your fear of heights, if you have any. I have been walking roofs for years and every now and then especially when a strong gust of wind blows, I get light headed and have to get a grip on reality.
You are going to make a lot of friends (trust me) just treat people right and answer their questions to the best of your ability.
Being a Home Inspector is a lot of fun, but it also requires a lot of knowledge. Take every course that you can and watch NACHI television.
As everyone here will tell you, joining our association, will help you the most. I get along with everyone but I don’t post here a lot for a couple of reasons. That’s sad because others can learn from me the way that I have from them for years.
Most members here will help you anyway that they can (they have for me) and then there are others who poke fun at you all of the time. That just shows me that they really are not doing the inspections that they should be doing.
I contribute mostly to our founder: Nick Gromicko, with thoughts that I have to help improve our industry. Even Nick and I have not agreed at times but that’s when I know my place.
Pray. Pray some more. Be safe. Love what you do and the people that you interact with and be yourself.
I will stop now because more and better Home Inspectors are on their way to help. It’s kind of like having your own set of knowledgeable super heroes to help save the day.
Welcome aboard.
Stick to construction 
Why are you leaving? Is you old job available
Good advice, however, a few things:
Keep in mind, the only customer is your client and the one who’s signing your contract/paying you = Ethics 101. Give them 100% and do not worry about any other parties.
For the life of me, I still cannot understand why one would do an inspection with people there or shadowing. My advice? Do the inspection by yourself, where you are 100% “there” and doing your job, and meet up with everyone afterward (for me its 2.5 hrs. for average sized house). This gives you the chance to do your job with no distractions, respects people’s time, and still allows you to “verbally” go over inspection, show them things, collect payment, etc. Been doing this since day 1.
Ditto.
Mr. Joshua Frederick,
Sir - I have nothing but respect for you.
How can you keep from certain people being there or arriving, once you have started?
Have you ever been on a roof and all of a sudden, here comes one vehicle and then another (honestly)?
I agree with what you have said and that would be nice, but it just hasn’t happened to me, 100% of the time.
Ever since I have been performing home inspections ( Off and on 1996 - present), I have had neighbors, property managers, sellers from out of town, contractors, dogs, mailman, delivery driver’s, police, show up unexpectedly, and one time a dominoes pizza delivery dude show up just to name a few.
It just happens. You can’t prevent it just happens, so make the best of it. I can tell you first hand, when these people show up and they will, be nice and be professional.
Michael, for sure if “unexpected” people show up… you can’t do much about that. I was referring to having the clients there the whole time, which many Inspectors do. I apologize if it was taken out of context from your OP.
I actually prefer the clients are there. If not, then they always have lots of questions when they get the report, or a day or two later.
If they are there and see what the defect is, and I can explain to them how to repair, maintain, etc., then I won’t have to go over it again later.
I’ve had them come “at the end” of the inspection, but that takes even more time, because I have to go back through again, this time with them…
I have some family in Orlando. Both my Brother and Brother-in-Law work as appraisers in Otown and do not do Home Inspections. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind carrying a stack of your cards around with them. Everyone thinks the appraiser is a home inspector and when we correct them and explain that a home inspection is much more in depth, the homeowner, buyer, realtor, typically ask if we know someone.
Kind Regards,
Ed Rossi
FL State Certified Home Inspector HI-1583
FL State Certified Real Estate Appraiser RD-3731
Welcome aboard, get ready for the ride of your life. You will never look back again if you do it right…
You are in Orlando. Meet me here the end of next week:
or here: