Running a mul.-inspector company...Running a mul.-inspector company By Reuben Saltzman Structure...
Transcript of Running a mul.-inspector company...Running a mul.-inspector company By Reuben Saltzman Structure...
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Runningamul.-inspectorcompany
ByReubenSaltzman
StructureTech13inspectors2appren.ces2schedulers
1backupscheduler1masterofradon
1moisturetech
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Informa.onandadvice
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Manyideas,manyopinions.
Focusonwhatyouenjoy.
Youareyourbusiness.
• Whatdefinessuccess?
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Pardonthis15-secondphilosophicaldigression…
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Exponen.allymorework.Headachestoo.
• Customercomplaints• Personalityconflicts• Badhires• Paperwork• Emails• Calls
Readthis
– Oldbook,s.llapplicable– HomeInspectorsaregoodatmanythings,managingpeopleandrunningabusinessmaynotbeoneofthem.
• Decidewhyyou’reexpanding.• Decideonwhatyou’dliketokeepdoing.
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Whatelseishappeningrightnow:
• GroundingandBondingMul.-wireBranchCircuits
• Construc.onGuidelinestohangyourhaton• TheSignificanceoffindingVermiculiteA`cInsula.on
• TheUseofInfraredCamerasaspartofahomeinspec.on
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Soyou’vemadeupyourmind.
Buildyourbusinessasthoughyou’rebuildingafranchise.
• Companyhandbook• Companyuniforms,dresscode• Repor.ngsobware• Reportwri.ngstyleguide• Inspec.onpoliciesandprocedures• HRStuff
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CompanyHandbook
• Aeorney?– Excerpt:
Companyuniforms,dresscode
Yes.
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Repor.ngSobware
• Mustbeuniform• Commentlibrarymustbeeasilychanged,distributed
• Teaminspec.ons• Sharingofreports,edi.ng
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Aquicksobwarediscussion
HomeGauge,HomeInspectorPro,HomeHubZone,Horizon,andothersthatdon’tbeginwiththeleeerH.
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CreateaReportWri.ngStyleGuide
Alwaysusecompletesentences.
• Recommendreplacementofthegarageservicedoor.
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Alwaysusecompletesentences.
• Recommendreplacementofthegarageservicedoor.
• Irecommendreplacementofthegarageservicedoor.
Avoidtheuseof“Irecommend”
• Irecommendreplacementofthegarageservicedoor.
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Avoidtheuseof“Irecommend”
• Irecommendreplacementofthegarageservicedoor.
• Replacethegarageservicedoor.
Whendescribingthecondi.onofcomponents,makethecomponentthesubjectofthe
sentence.• Rotwasnotedatthegaragedoor.
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Whendescribingthecondi.onofcomponents,makethecomponentthesubjectofthe
sentence.• Rotwasnotedatthegaragedoor.• Thegaragedoorwasro8ed.
Avoidtheuseofabsoluteswhilegivingrecommenda.ons.
• Installahandrailtopreventaccidentalfalls.
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Avoidtheuseofabsoluteswhilegivingrecommenda.ons.
• Installahandrailtopreventaccidentalfalls.Installahandrailtohelppreventaccidentalfalls.–or–Installahandrailforsafety.
CreateaHomeInspec.onPoliciesandProceduresDocument
• ASHISOP(andstateSOP?)setsforththeminimumrequirementsforeveryhomeinspec.on.
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ASHISOP:
6.1Theinspectorshall:A.inspect:
1.interiorwatersupplyanddistribu.onsystemsincludingfixturesandfaucets.
• Companypoliciesandproceduresdocumentistheretofillinthegaps.Here’sasampleofsomeofthewordinginmyownpoliciesandproceduresdocument:
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Sample6.PlumbingA.Floordrain–inspectthefloordrainforbackupaberrunningalargevolumeofwaterdownthedrains;preferablyaberdrainingafilledbathtub.B.Homesbuiltbefore1960mayhavegalvanizedsteeldistribu.onpipes,homesbuiltbefore1950almostsurelyhave(orhad)galvanizedsteeldistribu.onpipes.Payspecialaeen.ontowaterflow,testupperplumbingfixtureswiththelaundrysinkrunning.C.Homesbuiltbefore1935mayhaveagalvanizedorleadservicepipe,homesbuiltbefore1928almostsurelyhave(orhad)agalvanizedorleadservicepipe.Again,payspecialaeen.ontowaterflowinthesehomes.D.Performadrabtestonatmosphericallyventedwaterheatersunderworstcasecondi.ons.*BPI
GeneralA.Takephotosofeverysideofthehouseandgroundsforyourrecords.Ideally,atleasteightphotosshouldbetakenatthebeginningoftheinspec.on:front,front-side,side,side-back…etc.Thisisagood.metodeterminethebestloca.onforaccessingtheroof.B.Tourtheinsideofthepropertyatthebeginningoftheinspec.onandturnonanythingthatremovesairfromthehome,suchasbathfans,kitchenfan,clothesdryer,etc.TurnontheHRVifpresent.Turnonthefurnaceblowerfan.C.Thepreferredinspec.onorderistop-down.Thisisthebestwaytoiden.fyplumbingproblems.
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Jobsforowner?Hireout?
• HR• Scheduling• Marke.ng• Inspec.onmanager
HRStuff
• PayrollservicescanprovidealotoftheformsandHRservicesthatsmallbusinessesneed,suchas:– Employeehandbook– Reviewforms– Backgroundcheck– Remindersofinterviewques.onsthatcanandcannotbeasked
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• Dothemath
CallCentervs.Employee(s)
EmployeeCompensa.on-scheduler
• Hourlyvssalary?• Whata$10/houremployeewillgiveyou,whatawellpaidemployeewillgiveyou.– Findawaytoletyouremployee(s)workfromhome.
– CallforwardingàGoogleVoice– Considerbonuses– VoiPservices?
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Marke.ngiscri.cal
• Hireamarke.ngperson?
Marke.ng–WebSite• Investment• Mobile-Friendly• Dynamic• Photos• Videos• Aboutus• SEO,design,andimplementa.on• Samplereport• Blogpoten.al
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Marke.ng–WebSite(cont.)
• Don’t:– Sayahomepurchaseisalargeinvestment– Offerpeaceofmind– Men.onyourSOP,license,independence,price– Claimyou’rethebest/mostthorough/etc.– Badmouthotherinspectors/associa.ons– Warnaboutblindinspectors
Marke.ng–bloggingispowerful
• 1997–StructureTech• 2004–Homeinspector,phones• 2008–Startedblogging• 2009to2016–Addedmanymoreinspectors
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Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
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Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
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Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
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Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
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Marke.ng–myhistorywithblogging
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It’strue
Marke.ng–SocialMedia
• Facebook,Google+,Twieer,LinkedIn,YouTube
• Don’tpromoteyourcompany• Behelpful• Entertaining?Educa.onal?
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Marke.ng–otherideas
• TeachCon.nuingEd• Getanddisplayreviews• Yourreport– Photos– Illustra.ons– Hyperlinks– Videoclips
• Brochures?Candybowls?Joiningboards?
Useaninspec.onservice(ISN)
SchedulingClientemailconfirma.on,SMSfollow-upAgentemailsSMSinspec.onreminderReportdelivery,storage,accesshistoryDuplicateinspec.onno.fica.onBusinessrepor.ngCalendarsyncingInspec.onagreementsCreditcardintegra.on
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Inspec.onmgmtservice-email
Onlineschedule,liveEmailsenttoclient:• Confirma.onofaddress,date,and.me• Costofinspec.on• Paymentlink• Inspec.onagreementthatgetssignedonline• Informa.onaboutaddi.onalservices• U.li.eson?• Cancella.onfee
Cancella.onFees
• No.
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SMSFollow-up
• “Wejustemailedconfirma.onofyourhomeinspec.on.Pleasecallifyoudidn'treceiveit:952-915-6466.Thankyou”
Inspec.onservicecon.nued
Emailsenttobuyer’sagent:• Confirma.onofaddress,date,and.me• Inspector’snameandmobilenumber• Aeendancepreference• U.li.eson?
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Inspec.onservicecon.nuedEmailsenttolis.ngagent:• Confirma.onofaddress,date,and.me• U.li.eson• Accessprovidedtoeverythingthatwillbeinspected:Pleasemake
surethatthefollowingcomponentsareaccessiblefortheinspec?on:– Crawlspace– Furnace– Waterheater– Electricpanels(s)– AHc(s)-thismightmeanmovingsomeitemsoutofacloset.– Garage-pleaseleavekeysoragaragecodeifnecessary.Pleasehaveallofthedrapesopenedandcurtains/blindspulledintotheopenposi?on.Ifthereareanypetsinthehouse,pleasesecurethem.Pleaseprovideallappliancemanuals,aswellasanyspecialopera?nginstruc?ons.
Sidenote:add-onsales
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Howtofindyournextinspector
• ReadWHO:TheAMethodforHiring,byRandyStreetandGeoffSmart
• Alwaysbelookingforyournextinspector/employeethroughwordofmouth.Always.
• Facebook• Otherestablishedinspectors
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Weedingoutpoten.alinspectors
• Youcan’tteachcommunica.onskills,personality,jenesaisquoi,etc.
• Basicrequirementsmustbemet– Walkroofs– Carrya28’ladder
• Discusstheworstpartsofthejob,don’tpullanypunches
• Discusstools/investmentstraineewillneedtomake
Weedingoutpoten.alinspectors(con.nued)
• Havethemdoafewride-alongs– Don’tsettoomanyrulesfortheride-along.
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Paythenewinspectortotrain?Yes.
• Thisisaninvestment.• Theywillbeanassistant,makingyourjobeasier.
• Treatthemwell.• Letthemscheduleandanswerphone?
Compensa.on
• Salary?Commission?Both?• Benefits• Tools
Thisallneedstobemadeclearinthebeginning.
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LegalStuff,Paperwork
• Employeevs.Subcontractor– Snifftest/isitaduck?– Uniforms,equipment,procedure,reports,scheduling,beginningandendingof…“employment”?
• Insurance• Licensing• Associa.ons• Non-competeagreement
Dealingwithproblems/complaints
• Doyouwanttoberightorsuccessful?• Respondquickly,gatherinforma.on,handlestuffyourself.
• Sa.sfac.onguarantee?Allornothing.• Complaintform?
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Howtokeepyourinspectors
• Shouldhappenautoma.cally
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• Onceyouhaveenoughinspectorsworkingforyou,startworkingforthem.
• Getthemgoodtools.• Helpthem.• Schedulethemfirst.• Slow?Paythemtohelpyou.• Companymee.ngs• Companyhappyhours• Unlimitedvaca.ons• Meetwhateverpromisesweremadewhenhiring.
• Letthemknowaboutreviews
• Doalotofteaminspec.ons.– Camaraderie– Enjoyable– Educa.onal– Improvesconsistency
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TrainingPeriod
• Traineeshadows/helpstheinspectorfortwomonths
• Traineeconductsinspec.onsforonemonth• Traineetypesreportsforanothermonth• TraineeisresponsibleforaLOTofhomework.Puttogetherastudyplan.
ReviewingReports
• ExpecteveryreporttotakeaLONG.metoreview.
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Reportreviewing.p:
• What’sthemostimportantpartaboutwri.ngahomeinspec.onreport?
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• Berightabouteverything• Don’tmissanything
SampleStudyPlan
• ASHISOPs• Internalhomeinspec.onpoliciesandprocedures
• Reportwri.ngstyleguide• StatePlumbing,building,mechanical,andfuelgascodes
• ElectricalInspec.onofExis.ngDwellings• OnlinecoursesthroughASHI
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They’llneedtobepushedout
Conclusion
• Corpora.on• Maximiza.onofprofits• Beagreatemployer