Originally Posted By: Jeff McFarlin This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I would like to thank Nachi for their hard work. I have been working to get my inspection company off the ground and recieved my first referral from a client searching the internet. I try to keep tabs on which marketing efforts payoff. The internet drives the most clients to my website, followed by word of mouth.
My first referral from Nachi was an eleven unit strip mall in Naperville IL.
Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Congratulations guys,
Now how bout sending some computer literate people to SW Florida so we can get some referrals too 
Originally Posted By: jpope This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
. It is scheduled for Thursday, the 6th day of this month.
In October I had a total of 4 referrals that turned into inspections. I thought that was good. 
Keep 'em commin' NACHI (Chris )
-- Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
Originally Posted By: dbush This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Bennett,
Welcome to the NACHI BB. I hope to see you at the January MOKAN NACHI meeting. I would suggest that you do a search on the word advertising. There should be enough old posts on there to keep you busy all day scratching your head in wonder. There are several different opinions on this subject, for me the yellow pages ad is not worth the money, the realtor referrals have been my primary source of business. Everyone's mileage varies to a degree.
Originally Posted By: Bennett Jackson This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Mr. Bush,
Thanks for the invitation, Paul Sabados has invited me also. I plan on being there. I will be good to get in there and pick a few brains & meet future colleagues. (Jan, 10, right?) Thank you for the link to the MOKAN site. I will be checking that out as soon as I am finished here. Have seen comments on the MB about advertising. Thanks for the general search suggestion.
I received a link to the inspector training course in Lasnsing, KS from Mr. Crofutt ( www.midwestinsp.com ). I have asked that Midwest Inspector Training Institute send me literature on their 2004 course offerings. Attending there next year would be relatively easy for me due to its location. After training I plan on hitting a few of you all up for ride-alongs.
There are many keys to getting into the realtors' offices in the "Business Success Tips" section of the NACHI site. From your experience, what techniques/suggestions can you make about selling yourself & your inspection service to the realtor?
Originally Posted By: dbush This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Sorry, I missed your last question. Talk to the brokers about getting to one of their office meetings. Just understand that MOST agents have an inspector that they are comfortable doing business with and you have to find a way to convince them to try you. Get ahold of the realtor classes in your area and get the new agents before they get snagged by someone else. Persistence is the key, but not to the point of being a pain in the a$$.
Originally Posted By: Bennett Jackson This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Dave,
Thanks. Sorry about the Mister & Sir, I was raised by my granddad. Well, not "sorry" I guess, of course I respect y'all, but you never know how folks will react to being called by their first name after you have just met them. So thanks for the informality lesson. That's the great thing about NACHI, all for one and one for all.
Persistence seems to be the key. We only have one HI listed in the phone book here in Winfield (doesn't mean that there aren't more). I figure he can use a little competition. May take me a while before I can provide it, but this town is big enough for two of us...until I take all his business. He is a NAHI "member." Ha, ha, I said member. But I digress.
Fine line between "persistence" and "pain in the a$$."
Have you gone as far as actually "hanging out your shingle?" (i.e. putting signs on the road, signs on properties that you have inspected)? Would this be considered unprofessional or "tacky?"
One last question (for now  ), have you ever had two different clients on the same house - inspect for one client & they decide not to purchase the home; then, inspect the same house for another client looking to buy the house? How do you handle this situation?
Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Bennett,
I have done the same house for two different clients several times. In fact, I once did the same house three different times in two months.
When I do the same house again, I do it just like it was my first inspection there. Something may have changed since the first inspection, the items listed the first time may have gotten fixed by the seller, or even, I may have missed something the first time. The first report was only good for the day of the inspection, so it must be done again.
I must say, the second time the inspection is usually a littler quicker though. At least you will know your way around the house 
Originally Posted By: Bennett Jackson This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Blaine,
If you have a real estate investor (i.e. buy-fix-sell, buy-turn into rental) as a client, do you offer them a price break if they are a good customer. And for that matter, do you offer discounts for good customers in general?? Or would this open a bad can o' worms regarding your other clients if they caught wind of others' discounts?
Originally Posted By: gbell This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hello Blaine,
It is a beautiful sunny day in Florida. It is a very nice change since it has rained most of the week.
I only offer a discount if someone wants to add another service to the inspection. Why offer a discount to someone you have already won over as a client because of the great job you did the first time. When you help someone to avoid buying a big mistake then you have a client for life.
Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Greg,
I think your reply was to Bennett. BTW, are you getting any referrals up there through NACHI?
Bennett,
It is a beautiful sunny warm (85) day in SW Florida. I remember the cold winters in Kansas, and I don't miss them. I agree with Greg. The job you do is what keeps an investor client calling you back. With the large population of AARP folk down here, I have considered giving a senior citizen discount. I have so far resisted. There is something in my head that won't let me give a discount to someone who is buying a second home to live in for six months a year and is retired, while I scrape to make the payment on the house I have twelve months a year. Maybe it's just envy  .
