Now that You've had a Home Inspection book

General Inspection Topics General Inspection Discussion
21

I did 130 inspections this month. Last month we did over 200 but I had a 4th guy working for me last month. Jim Keown, one of my inspectors did 60 inspections last month. I normally do between 50 and 55 myself. I don’t take a helper.

We picked up sewer scope inspections here in Colorado too. There were a lot of reasons we decided to offer them. You are leaving money on the table if you let the plumbers do them. We were also getting complaints from agents that say plumbers were claiming to find problems where none existed. We don’t offer repair services. Inspections only. We like to be a one-stop shop.

I’ve been doing a lot of Move In Certified inspections. We do at least a dozen a month. All you have to do is talk about it and you’ll get orders. I go to the Denver Board of REALTOR meetings and we’re sitting on 32,000 listings here so Move In Certified separates a listing from all the others. I’m out of Move In Certified signs.

I’ve known Jim Krumm for years and he is almost as busy as I am. He does bigger homes than I do. He targets the 6,000 square foot homes. I can assure you he is busy. He is one of the best inspectors out there. He does at least 50 inspections a month.

I have had only one 1/2 day off (today) since Christmas and I’m using it to visit Nick and buy some more Move In Certified signs.

If any InterNACHI members want to call me and talk about this, call me on my cell phone 303 249-5380. I’m happy to help members.

22

Hi, Thanks for the feedback. No, I am not happy my website of 5 years is down but it should be back today! Work in Denver has been great this year, I hope it continues. I know inspectors who have done 60 inspections a month this year; I also know inspectors who do 4-5 inspections a month. Life is not fair! I did take 3 weekends off between January and June. I know the guys I referred my overflow to this year did appreciate it.

James D. Krumm
Colorado’s Best Home Inspections, LLC.

23

[quote=“tpappas, post:17, topic:50370”]

Kind of amazing that Jim came on here to advocate the use of a NACHI product, and ends up basically being called a liar.

quote]

Ok Ill eat my crow on the statement on his #'s:neutral: however the sales pitch imo was bull…again just my 2 cents… I have also used them for a while and gave out about 50 to 60 of them and guess what I never got one call on it, no thanks you’s, NOTHING! No agents feed back, no calls on why did you stop sending them, no calls from a buyer ect out of 50 books…so again ill take egg on face on the #'s but not about the books :cool:

24

Please allow me to jump in here…

If you’re just giving the books out after the inspection, and waiting for a “Wow! Thanks! You’re the best inspector!” your just wasting time and money, and likely getting more and more disappointed as your expectations fade.

**The book is a TOOL. **
Like a hammer, in the right hand, it’ll work great.
But you’ve got to know how and why to use it.

Here’s some of the WHYs:

We had Legal Counsel, Marketing, and the entire InterNACHI Membership help write this book.

Therefore, this book is a TOOL used for helping InterNACHI inspectors:

  1. MARKET their services; and
  2. reduce their LIABILITY.

Don’t expect past clients to call you, and thank you for attracting their patronage, or for how well you’ve legally-protected your business. That’s rubbish.

If used correctly, the book will do **at least 3 things **for you:

  1. attract new clients,
  2. get more repeat customers, and
  3. help resolve any future disputes.

**

  1. ATTRACT A TON OF NEW CLIENTS LATELY?**
  • Put the book cover (.jpg) on your home page. Why are you waiting until after the inspection is performed to provide your client with a free book?!? Don’t wait!
  • Tell POTENTIAL clients that you’ve got something they want (a $36 home maintenance book), and it’s free if they hire you.
  • Don’t wait and just give them a free book AFTER you do the inspection! Bad timing. Use the book on POTENTIAL clients.
  • ATTRACT clients - GET jobs by promising potential clients an added value product/service.
  • Attract Like a 10-Ton Magnet

**It’s all in the timing **(in the way that you use it):

  • Don’t wait to tell people about the free book - Put the cover on your home page. Tell potential clients what you’ve got to offer. Don’t expect a “Thanks” and a pat on the back from current clients. RATHER - Expect to hear, “I like what you have to offer me. I’d like to schedule a inspection with you.” from POTENTIAL clients.

** 2. SCHEDULE ANY REPEAT CUSTOMERS LATELY?**
Inside the book there are over 2 dozen reasons to hire you again. What did I say? That’s right. There are many reasons for your client to hire you again and again and again. Just think of it, all your past clients could be hiring you again! REPEAT customers!

#3 GET ANY COMPLAINTS LATELY?
The book provides LEGAL PROTECTION for inspectors too. If you’d like to know more about that… ben@nachi.tv

What do other inspectors say about the book

I’m here to help. 303-862-2611 ben@nachi.tv

25

And then you just give it away. I don’t get you and never will.

26

[quote=“bsmith2, post:23, topic:50370”]

I quit giving the books to clients too. They could care less. I gave my extras to another NACHI inspector.

27

I tell you what guys my first year in St. Louis was excellent! Here is a hint.

A. Website is on the top of the band stand charts all because of Dom. Google loves me at this point and time. See for yourself.

B. My reports are very easy to read. Many have reports that appears to be confusing at first glance. Just my 2 cents.

I’ve sent many emails and listened to many people including Dr. Swift. Pope, and Duffy and I’ve watched Jim’s video twice. Your business is all in your hands. I offer a one stop shop including Video Lateral, Termites and Radon. Many I know in my area do not. I stold my fair share of the pie especially for being new to the area. Like Jim says life is not fair. Listen, take action or I’m going to steal more of your pie. This job is my passion and helping you is my passion as well. So get up and fix your damn website. Many need to start there. Listen to DOMS advice. If you need help or don’t understand email me.

28

[quote=“ldapkus, post:26, topic:50370”]

Do you do anything different with your reports? Do you just email them out?

29

[quote=“jlevy1, post:28, topic:50370”]

No, just a simple to understand report. Then my clients are added to my Home Hints e-mail list. Many referrals because the newsletter is in their face every month.

30

[quote=“ldapkus, post:29, topic:50370”]

Linus,

How do you capture their permission to send your home hintz email? Do you simply ask or have them check it off on your contract?

31

[quote=“ldapkus, post:29, topic:50370”]

Nice sample report Linus. Indeed very easy to understand.

32

[quote=“bboerner, post:30, topic:50370”]

I simply add them to my list. They can opt out at any time. Very few do.

33

You are right on.They could care less about all the things you give them.They just want to know about the inspection you are performing on there investment.All them costly binders and gifts cost a lot of money.I am glad I started using Report Host.Very simple and easy way to report.

34

First of all, the book very much does let them know about the inspection you are performing on the their investment while drastically reducing your liability.

Second, it is not expected that the book’s marketing rewards are realized from your clients directly. Your client just bought a home and won’t be needing an inspector for years. The marketing rewards come from inserting the books into the pipelines that produced those clients.

35

I doubt that people could care less about what we give them, the binder inserts have been around nearly as long as home inspections… there is a reason for that.

I think that those of us who are busy, can talk to people. All of us have to have the fundamentals **and **knowledge to stay in business. Can we sell ourselves (one of my shortcomings) can we deliver information?

**Delivery. **I spend a bit of time at the end of each inspection to go over defects and if possible walk them over to them. When given this opportunity to do so, I will generally capture an agent as a referral source and have a better chance of obtaining referrals from the client… if possible. We all do that, right?

Think about this, I can compare clients on site vs. one’s I’ve never met… I’m not sure I’ve received many referrals from one’s I’ve never met! Can You!!!

I’m sure we prefer to work ALONE… I don’t think it’s good for business.

The number one thing I hear from other inspector’s is that the softies get all the work. They sure will, then they or the agent referring them get sued, problem gone. I heard from an agent I know who stopped using me for a year and got “hit” along with one of my competition for the first time in 20+ years. Signs o’ the times, good reason for the book as well. Second time in a week I had heard from agents that had got “ding’ed” BTW.

I might not be as busy as Mr. Krumm, but :slight_smile: I was at a house everyday last week, along with an 8 unit & 6 unit apartment building as well.

As a contractor who inspects :slight_smile: … I’m somewhat more comfortable with commercial and multi-family, but have to keep a roof over my head in the houses I suppose.

In retrospect, I think the books ARE a good tool, but I think our delivery and twisting client’s arms to be on-site are GOOD for our business as well.

If there is going to be less business to go around, we should work that much harder to provide a service worth paying for! Business as usual? Nope, I think a lot of you guys are right, the pie has gotten WAY smaller.

We must work harder then, right?

BTW. No offense Ben, but. Could we personalize the books… LESS?

Not sure that I should pay for the books with a picture on there, unless it’s mine, which is unlikely :slight_smile:

36

I second that.

37

:slight_smile: Thanks for the vote Nick!

Since I have a background as a contractor, my opinion matters less :slight_smile: so it’s good you agree. <-- Tongue in cheek.

38

Tim, how dare you call yourself a home inspector!! Don’t you know it’s imposible for a contarctor to do a professional home inspection.

Your just doing inspections for the leads!!! :wink:

Sorry for the thread drift.

39

:slight_smile: Too funny Peter.

Unfortunately, when times are tough, there is always going to be more finger pointing, as a result of more and more people having a difficult time. We tend to blame others for our own misfortunes.

As I’ve mentioned, we (myself included) have to remember that people have choices. And I try to remember that I was given the duty and privelege to educate my clients about their purchase.

I realize that sounds “lofty”, but oh well. Business’s battle every day. Didn’t/doesn’t Trump subscribe to the “2 x 4” method of business :slight_smile:

If the NOW Book is another tool for you… use it!

40

*As I’ve mentioned, we (myself included) have to remember that people have choices. And I try to remember that I was given the duty and privelege to educate my clients about their purchase.
*
That’s the key right there. It doesn’t matter what background you come from as long as you continue to educate not only your clients but yourself as well.