As a home inspector, it seems like we’re wired differently than other people. We can’t help it, we were born that way. For as far back as we can remember, we’ve always been inquisitive. We’ve always asked questions. We’ve always wanted to be given a reason why. And if you’re anything like me, your mother probably told you “Because, I …
The Dreaded Question
I am a Professional Home Inspector, which is a pretty cool job, as I get to help people for a living. I obviously do my best to make sure that my clients’ needs are met. This usually involves answering questions about the house they’re considering purchasing, as well as the occasional question about the home-buying process. While inspectors typically answer the …
A Dream Job…
To many people, being able to do home inspections seems like a dream job (at least, that’s what I keep telling myself..) The reality of working as an inspector is that we’re faced with an almost impossible task. We’re not like an HVAC technician, that’s simply looking at the AC to see what needs to be repaired. We’re not like …
Right Place, Wrong Customers
Customers. They’re the lifeblood of any successful business. Without them, we’re just standing around, thinking about how great our business ideas are. Without them, we’re soon on the way to the unemployment line. No business can survive without cash flow, and that means customers. Unfortunately, customers can also be the worst part of our business, often causing untold grief and pain. I’m …
Guaranteed Success
At a recent continuing education class, I was speaking with some other home inspectors, and one of them asked the group what was the one trait that made them successful. Most of the group gave predictable answers, touting their experience or explaining how thankful they were for their good fortune. I didn’t provide an answer at that moment, as I couldn’t …
All the World’s a Stage!
I hope that this post finds everyone happy and healthy. I would like to open today with a well-known saying: “All the world’s a stage.” Depending on how old you are (and your musical interests), you may believe that this saying originated in a song by the rock band Rush. It’s actually a phrase that begins a monologue from William Shakespeare’s play …
Unrealistic Expectations
I hope that this post finds everyone doing well, being happy, and making money! Great way to start, right? While it would be great if just wishing for things could make them happen, it would be quite unrealistic to expect that mere wishes were truths. We are all imperfect creatures, living in an imperfect world; nothing will ever be perfect. We will …
Hurt Yourself. The Pain of Becoming Experienced.
As business people, we are subject to scrutiny by our potential clients. They’re often probing and prodding, looking for insight into whether we’re an inspector they can rely on. Much of the time, the first thing they look for is experience. When did you start doing your job? Clients want to know how long we’ve been practicing our craft. When …
The Best Plan
As I often talk about the role that ethics plays in running a successful home inspection business, as expected, I tend to get pushback from some inspectors. One thing that’s often said is that it’s very easy for me to say that I place ethics and relationships over money, because I’ve been an inspector for so long that I don’t …
Become the Authority
I am fascinated by the possibilities of digital marketing. It enables us, as small business owners, to vastly extend our marketing reach without breaking the bank. However, the sheer number of options available to us can seem overwhelming: Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, the list goes on and on. I’ve spent a good bit of time researching the various marketing methods …