Thread: easy come easy go

I'm approaching my 2nd full year of being in business. This past April and May were my best two months so far. I always had something on the horizon. Including the good run during April and May 09, I actually broke even including covering all of my past start up costs and have moved into the profitable margin for the history of my company.

Now, I have no bookings and the phone isn't ringing much. I guess I'll just wait for the tide to come back in.

How's business on your end?

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Such is the life a of relatively new inspector John. Hang in there, do good by your clients, and work will come your way eventually.

John,
What were you doing before, when things were slow, that you quit doing, or didn't do as much of, when the business was good?

For those wanting a picture into the sales and forecasting, this is from the local realtor organizations here. It may not apply to your area but as far as trends, it may shed a little light. Underlining is mine.

Collin County Sees Rise in Home Prices
Kim Nguyen - Staff Writer Plano Star Courier

Though the median sales price of homes is nearly 5 percent lower than this time last year, home buyers are taking advantage of the economic slump.
According to the Collin County Association of Realtors (CCAR), the median sales price of homes in Collin County and surrounding areas increased $2,000 in April to $169,000 from the previous month.
Steve Haid, CCAR member services director, said home sale prices in Collin County and other North Texas areas remain in an overall balanced market, but historically speaking, spring and summer typically show the strongest growth.
CCAR data shows there is currently a seller's market for single family homes priced less than $200,000 and a buyer's market for those priced more than $300,000. In addition, foreclosure listings average less than $150,000 and are selling quickly.
"We are selling more foreclosure homes than we are listing, and most of those fall into the lower price ranges," he said. "The good news is that we are absorbing the foreclosures on the market, but at the same time, we now have a shortage of lower-priced homes."
In theory, the median selling prices of Collin County houses could and would be much higher if there were not so many foreclosed homes, Haid said.
Being a high-growth area, Collin County has historically had higher-priced homes than those in surrounding counties, but some cities are pulling ahead of the pack.
Prosper reportedly has a 9.6 percent increase in home prices compared to the same time last year. Fairview-Lucas reported a 2.4 increase.
Economists have been predicting that the economic slump will be coming to an end in the coming months, but Haid said he wouldn't jump the gun too early.
"It is definitely better to be going in this direction than the other," he said. "It would be more discouraging if I were to see no growth or decreasing prices."

My work has moved toward or into Dallas and Collinn Counties (Dallas being North Dalls)

I still do a lot in the North Tarrant area but it just seems I get more calls lately toward that area.

In saying that the Fort Worth area is suppoase to have one of the best markets.

Who knows. I get an inspection I send fliers to that office and the listing areas offices. Nothing special and no pricing of course but it has worked out well. Other than mass email I never marketed to Realtors in years. Now It seems I have to. I really do not like doing it but if the money is there, go for it.

I talk to everyone no matter who it is and it works. When I was getting most of my work from the internet I did not have to and was actually pretty happy not. I should have never stopped marketing towards referrals from realtors and I would not have been in the position I was at the beginning of the year.

I guess the moral is to this story.....Spread it around. Pay as little as possible for as much markketing in all directions. Put yourself out there in one direction only and times change and you are screwed.

I still pay about zero for marketing. Just because you spend money on marketing does not mean in the slightest that you will have a good return.

For the last 6 weeks I have been 7 to 10 a week. Hope it stays that way because gas prices as well as everything else is on it's way up!