New to Home Inspections

[Donna Steg]

I am currently taking the course for Home Inspectors through Professional Home Inspectors Institute PHII. And I am wondering , how is business in this field? Has it slowed down with the economy and home sales? Is there certain areas in the US that are better then others. What do I need to research , so that as soon as I get certified Ill be able to be up and running. I live in the Missouri area currently, and have looked up Home Inspectors in this area and so far haven't found many. Any information would be extremely helpful.

Thank You,
Donna

[Gunnar Alquist]

I am currently taking the course for Home Inspectors through Professional Home Inspectors Institute PHII. And I am wondering , how is business in this field? Has it slowed down with the economy and home sales? Is there certain areas in the US that are better then others. What do I need to research , so that as soon as I get certified Ill be able to be up and running. I live in the Missouri area currently, and have looked up Home Inspectors in this area and so far haven't found many. Any information would be extremely helpful. Thank You, Donna

Donna,

No idea how to help you. Business for me has picked-up in the past few months, but many of the newer inspectors in my area went away. Business for the experienced and established inspectors is good, but probably less so for the newer inspectors.

If there aren't many inspectors in your area, that might be a good thing for you. My local paper has a weekly listing of closed escrows. When you are marketing, I would hit the new agents. Many offices provide training for new agents. If you can get in and do a presentation on what a home inspection is and what to expect, you will probably get referrals. Show up to open houses and talk to buyers and agents. It will take a long time to get your name out there. Take advantage of being a woman. Get involved in local mothers' and womens' groups. If you market directly to women, you will have an advantage over the male inspectors.

[Nathan Thornberry]

Hey Donna-

All it takes is good marketing, like with anything!

If you call my office, 1-800-544-8156, Mike Doerr will spend some time with you and give you some resources for your website once you get it going, and tell him you'd like a copy of our DVD- "Sell More Home Inspections". It's completely free and we even pay the postage. We work with over 3400 of the most successful inspectors in the country, most of whom don't pay us any money at all!

[Donna Steg]

Donna,

No idea how to help you. Business for me has picked-up in the past few months, but many of the newer inspectors in my area went away. Business for the experienced and established inspectors is good, but probably less so for the newer inspectors.

If there aren't many inspectors in your area, that might be a good thing for you. My local paper has a weekly listing of closed escrows. When you are marketing, I would hit the new agents. Many offices provide training for new agents. If you can get in and do a presentation on what a home inspection is and what to expect, you will probably get referrals. Show up to open houses and talk to buyers and agents. It will take a long time to get your name out there. Take advantage of being a woman. Get involved in local mothers' and womens' groups. If you market directly to women, you will have an advantage over the male inspectors.


Thank You very much for your reply. I have been in sales and customer service for many years, I think that will help alot in getting customers.

Thanks Again,
Donna Steg

[Donna Steg]

Hey Donna-

All it takes is good marketing, like with anything!

If you call my office, 1-800-544-8156, Mike Doerr will spend some time with you and give you some resources for your website once you get it going, and tell him you'd like a copy of our DVD- "Sell More Home Inspections". It's completely free and we even pay the postage. We work with over 3400 of the most successful inspectors in the country, most of whom don't pay us any money at all!

Thank You, I will look into it.

[Alton Darty]

Thank You, I will look into it.

What are of Missouri are you in? I service a small area of the Missouri Bootheel and there are only a handful of inspectors anywhere close. Property sales are still pretty slow in the area that I cover, and many real estate agents there tell buyers that there are no inspectors anywhere close and getting an inspection is just too expensive...

[Donna Steg]

What are of Missouri are you in? I service a small area of the Missouri Bootheel and there are only a handful of inspectors anywhere close. Property sales are still pretty slow in the area that I cover, and many real estate agents there tell buyers that there are no inspectors anywhere close and getting an inspection is just too expensive...

I live NW of the St. Louis area. And from doing research I have not found many that do home inspections around here either. But , after talking to several people that I know in the realty business , they said that its picking up a little. Possibly, Ill be able to start here with them, get referral's and go from there.
Thank You for the information, every little bit helps.

Donna Steg

[Kenneth hoff]

I too am a Missouri home inspector, took a course from AHIT 2 years ago and still trying to get off the ground. Best of luck to ya.
My company is Prominence Home Insp.
Maybe we can help eachother out and learn from eachother.

[Donna Steg]

I too am a Missouri home inspector, took a course from AHIT 2 years ago and still trying to get off the ground. Best of luck to ya.
My company is Prominence Home Insp.
Maybe we can help eachother out and learn from eachother.
Thank You for the reply, I am looking forward to this. I do believe that my years in the sales field will help me alot as in the marketing aspect of home inspections. If there is anyway to help each other , I would be more then happy too. I should be getting up and going here soon. What part of Missouri are you working?

Thanks Again,

[Kenneth hoff]

Thank You for the reply, I am looking forward to this. I do believe that my years in the sales field will help me alot as in the marketing aspect of home inspections. If there is anyway to help each other , I would be more then happy too. I should be getting up and going here soon. What part of Missouri are you working?

Thanks Again,

If u want to talk u can call me anytime at 816-612-0001.
I am in the Kansas city, mo vicinity. Hope to hear from ya.

Kenneth Hoff
Prominence Home Inspections
816-612-0001

[Dub Smith]

Thank You for the reply, I am looking forward to this. I do believe that my years in the sales field will help me alot as in the marketing aspect of home inspections. If there is anyway to help each other , I would be more then happy too. I should be getting up and going here soon. What part of Missouri are you working?

Thanks Again,


I too am a Missouri home inspector, took a course from AHIT 2 years ago and still trying to get off the ground. Best of luck to ya.
My company is Prominence Home Insp.
Maybe we can help eachother out and learn from eachother.


Donna and Kenneth, I didn't notice a website on either of your profiles. This is the first place I would start in beginning my own Home Inspection Business, or if you are trying to get one to take off. This is the age of the Super Highway, the Internet. You will find that the largest majority of your leads will come from your website, not from Realtor referrals, although they are certainly welcome. Grab onto any advertising that will increase your exposure on Google and Bing search engines using the web. Lots of luck to you;)

[Nathan Thornberry]

Donna and Kenneth, I didn't notice a website on either of your profiles. This is the first place I would start in beginning my own Home Inspection Business, or if you are trying to get one to take off. This is the age of the Super Highway, the Internet. You will find that the largest majority of your leads will come from your website, not from Realtor referrals, although they are certainly welcome. Grab onto any advertising that will increase your exposure on Google and Bing search engines using the web. Lots of luck to you;)


Having been the marketing manager for a multi-inspector firm performing more than 7,000 appointments per year, I can tell you that this is a formula for mediocrity. That's not to say mediocrity is bad, it may even be what makes you happy, but the inconvenient fact is that most all inspections ordered throughout the U.S. and Canada (over 80%) are ordered by a buyer of a home from a home inspection company that was the first one out of their real estate agent's mouth. You won't find a multi-inspector firm surviving in all of the U.S. that doesn't market heavily in real estate offices.

That being said, the advice isn't bad advice all in all, you need to have a good web presence because 20 years ago it was over 90% of inspections being referred by the agents- so it is trending downward but not as much as some would like to think.

Be careful about the advice you get from other inspectors and take it with a grain of salt. There are some inspectors out there that have mastered the internet as a lead source, but few that are posting decent numbers.

It's just a fact, and like a said, an inconvenient one.... haters in denial pile on begins now!

[Dub Smith]

Having been the marketing manager for a multi-inspector firm performing more than 7,000 appointments per year, I can tell you that this is a formula for mediocrity!

Nathan, I appreciate your years of experience and your seasoned advice to all of us. I don't think Mediocrity is anyone's goal ( I'm sure you were being cynical here). I do agree that your should market yourself to Realtors as well as Mortgage Bankers and any other avenue that is available, however, in marketing to Realtors, we need to ensure that we are maintaining our creed that our Inspections are unbiased and we are obligated only to the buyers (as Realtors commissions are dependent on a clean inspection that does not hinder the sale). All I am saying is, don't put all your eggs in one basket! If you do your job well, are fair and consistent, and report everything that you see, and don't compromise, then you will have an admirable reputation. Maintain your independence:).

[Nathan Thornberry]

Well said. You can imagine the types of responses I get at times on message boards...but I'll keep fighting the good fight because successful inspectors make for a healthy industry!

[Dub Smith]

Agreed!;)

[Lisa Endza]

Donna, we gals have to stick together. Email me and I'll give you free access to all of these inspector success and marketing programs. (http://www.nachi.org/success.htm)

No charge at all.

fastreply@nachi.org

[Dub Smith]

Appreciate you Lisa!:D

[Donna Steg]

Donna, we gals have to stick together. Email me and I'll give you free access to all of these inspector success and marketing programs. (http://www.nachi.org/success.htm)

No charge at all.

fastreply@nachi.org

Thank You, I will definately look into that .