Growing Web Business: Converting Visitors to Customers by Nick Gromicko A home inspector’s website should have only one goal; to convert visitors to customers. Here’s how it’s done. A home inspector’s website is not a newspaper, television, magazine or building. Unlike most websites it should not serve multiple purposes. Don’t give your visitor any freedom to find anything but...…
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The presence of mold is a contentious issue for building owners, builders, insurance companies, real estate agents and others. Mold addendums to sales contracts are now offered by many real estate boards for use by their members in sales transactions. As a professional appraiser or inspector you need to understand mold and all its…
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Speaking Like a Pro By Mike Casey Professional phrases for common situations: Newbie: “This is stupid,” or “Geez, will you look at this!” Pro: “For increased safety, we recommend…” Or “For optimum performance we recommend…” Newbie: Instead of the “Code Word” say: Pro: “Not serviceable, nonstandard, substandard, unconventional, inadequate, temporary.” Newbie: “It’s old.” Pro: “The…
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The home inspection business is different than any other business because you typically don’t meet your client until after he/she hires you. This means that growing your business is almost all marketing and very little sales. A key part of successful marketing is your home inspection brochure. Since your client won’t get to meet you…
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Importance of Answering Your Phone In this high tech-world it’s easy to forget how important it is to do a simple little thing like answering your phone. Many appraisers and inspectors will tell you, however, that having a live person answering phones is key to the success of their business. “Three times in the past…
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Paying Attention to Planters: Telltale Signs of Water Damage by Bill Ball It was a nice little home, recently painted with a new roof. When I drove up to the curb, my first impression was the same as the buyer’s. But then I noticed the planters and when I went around to the back, I...…
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Fresh Air = Fresh Business Like many inspectors, Jack Leith, owner of A+ Inspection, takes the mold issue very seriously. He has completed numerous training courses to learn how to inspect for mold so he can provide a more complete inspection for his clients. But he had a problem. And as is often the case,...…
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20 Reasons to do Business with You! Editor’s Note: The following was written by a home inspector in response to a client’s question about why they should do business with them. How do you measure up? 1. We answer our phone during the day. 2. We work weekends by appointment for your convenience. 3. We call…
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Best Defense: Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Your Contract By Kris Thompson, Esq. Having a signature from a customer on your home inspection contract can greatly increase your ability to defend yourself if you are sued. In question and answer sessions, at round table discussions, and during consultations with home inspector clients, inspectors bring up the…
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Ending Collection Headaches Accept Payment by Check- by Fax! The best way to deal with collections is to avoid them. The best way to do that is to collect your money up front whenever possible. Easier said than done, right? Not any more. New “check writing” software makes collecting up front as easy and quick…
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