Category: Inspection Tips

Staying Covered: Choosing an Insurance Provider

August 17, 2021

By Bill Erickson, NPI, Inc.’s Executive Vice President With so many insurance plans and providers, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds when shopping for coverage for your business. On the surface they can seem almost identical, with “almost” being the operative word. But as you look closer at what each provider offers, you’ll notice differences in their claims process, payouts, and the extent of their coverage. Don’t Make a Million-Dollar Mistake Shocking statistic time: it’s estimated that nearly 40 percent of small business owners don’t have insurance! Having any coverage at all can help you avoid being a statistic. That said, it’s crucial to vet an insurance company before you commit. The smallest difference in coverage can result in paying out a mountain of cash in claims and legal fees. And in turn, inspecting before you get insurance or letting it lapse is also a major risk, as you’ll be subjecting yourself to hefty fines and possible lawsuits. While it can be overwhelming, try to think of insurance as your friend and not your enemy. Understand the Types of Insurance Along with the array of providers, there’s a variety of insurance policies as well. These are just a

Is It Worth It To Offer Warranties?

July 6, 2021

By Bill Erickson, NPI, Inc.’s Executive Vice President Warranties can provide great benefits for both your clients and you. The different coverages you offer can make you stand out from your competition, leading to more business. Especially when the market is hot and things are moving fast, every bit of leverage matters. Set Yourself Apart As much of an obvious choice as warranties seem, not every inspector in the industry offers them. Some don’t want to deal with the hassle of filing and settling a claim, while others think simply sticking by their work is a good enough service. However, clients see the warranties you offer as further verification that you’ll follow through on your word. If you offer a warranty that other inspectors in your territory might not, you’re well on your way to setting yourself apart and building rapport with customers. This one part of your business can solidify your market share! Customer Satisfaction Every customer likes to know that what they’re getting is dependable. And if a problem comes up, they want to be sure they won’t be left figuring it out for themselves. A warranty says to the customer that you want them to be happy

Mitigating Risk as a Home Inspector

April 27, 2021

By Bill Erickson, NPI, Inc.’s Executive Vice President Taking steps to limit your liability as a home inspector is as important as your marketing plan or report-writing process. You don’t want to leave a customer unhappy, especially to the point where they seek legal action against you. While you can’t erase your risk completely, there are ways that you can significantly lower it: Constantly Communicate From the time the inspection is scheduled to the report review, keeping your clients in the loop is an easy way to manage risk. Having a record of each interaction involving the inspection will come in handy in case you need to refer back . Prior to your arrival, send the client or homeowner a list of what they need to do to ensure a complete and uninterrupted inspection. Most people might assume that you’ll be moving items to access parts of the house (a major no-go in terms of liability), and may not realize an inspection is all visual. After, take the time to explain your findings to the customer so they aren’t left guessing. Relaying information before, during, and after the inspection is sure to clear any confusion about the process and your

Inform vs. Intimidate: How to Deliver Reports without Scaring Clients

March 23, 2021

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator The home-buying process is lengthy and intricate. From searching for the perfect place to finally signing, there are lots of things that have to fall in line. One of those steps is the home inspection and subsequent report that both play a big role in a buyer’s final decision. It’s important to disclose your findings along with any concerns so customers know what they’re getting. But how do you make sure you’re properly informing a client without fully turning them off from a purchase? Negative reputations stick with you. Nobody likes being labeled negatively, as it follows you around and could eventually affect business. Gaining a reputation for turning off buyers and undoing an agent’s hard work is something you definitely want to avoid. It can lead to frustration on both sides and strain otherwise healthy working relationships. While you can work to reverse a less than desirable reputation, it’s better to develop a positive one beforehand. Small, actionable measures show your customers that you’re a professional who cares about them. Properly identify items in your report. How you label an item in your inspection makes a world of difference.

Expanding Your Business With Add-On Services

February 2, 2021

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator Additional services can be a strong source of income for a home inspection business. They set you apart from your competition and can be a great value to your customers. If you’ve been interested in adding on services to your business, there are a few things to take into account before starting. What to Offer There’s an extensive list to choose from when it comes to add-on services. The good news is you don’t need to master them all. Not all of them will serve your customer’s needs, but having a solid number of choices to pick from is a good starting point. Some examples of services you can provide are: • Pool and Spa• Radon• WDO• Infrared• Mold Determining Demand Before you fully dive into new services, you need to know how popular they are for your market. This might take a bit of research. For starters, you can always ask your agents about what services they see requested the most. Your ability to offer what they most require can translate into an increase in referrals. Second, customer feedback is a great primary source. Keep your ears open for

Keys to Writing a Quality Inspection Report

January 19, 2021

For potential buyers, an inspection report is a crucial part of the process, a sort of roadmap of the property that allows them to make a confident investment decision. That’s why it’s important to make sure you turn over a thorough, well-written report for your clients to review. As you write your inspection report, keep these techniques in mind to create the best experience for your clients. Review Your Notes Rushing anything tends to result in a less-than-polished look, and that applies to writing your reports. Especially when you’re just starting out, it’s important not to worry about hurrying through a property to get to your next inspection. Small typos and larger errors call into question your professionalism as an inspector. With enough practice, you’ll fine-tune your writing and hone your skill so that you’re able to complete reports more quickly. Making your report easy to follow will help your customers better understand their purchase and resolve any doubts they might have. Get Acquainted With Your Software Every inspection writing software is different and has its own unique features. As updates and changes are implemented, it’s essential that you get yourself acquainted with them. When using a tablet, it’s easy

Going Virtual: Why Many are Buying Homes “Blind”

October 21, 2020

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Assistant Over the past year, inspectors have adjusted their processes to help ensure client safety and peace of mind. Wearing personal protective equipment and bringing disinfectants to inspections have become commonplace. In addition to precautions taken throughout the inspection process, social distancing measures may still sometimes prevent many agents and clients from opting for an in-person walkthrough to go over report findings. So what does this mean for the future of inspections and how they’re conducted? Read on to learn more. COVID Has Altered BuyingBetween 10-20 percent of Americans under 30 have moved or know someone who has since the pandemic began, either as a direct result of it or due to other circumstances. The housing market remains competitive in many regions, with buyers acting quickly to take advantage of low interest rates. This means that the window of time between the inspection and closing has continued to tighten. More and more employees are also moving to a permanent work-from-home setup, giving them location flexibility. Oftentimes, in this situation, buyers are unable to travel long distances to see a home in person, forcing them to buy “blind.” For inspectors, this makes proper photo

Our Top 5 Time Management Tips

June 3, 2019

By Stepha Vesper When you’re out inspecting a home or business for clients, your time is practically managed for you. You have your set routine in place for inspecting and reporting and it usually takes a fairly predictable amount of time to complete. But what about time outside your day-to-day inspection schedule? Or weekdays when you may not have an inspection at all? Time management is among the top challenges small business owners face. There’s always so much to do, and you probably feel the pressure to do it all . . . and more! While it’s up to you what tasks you prioritize, we’re here to help you buckle down and get those tasks done. Follow these tips to make the most of your time and have more left over for summer fun with family and friends. 1. Actually decide what your priorities are. Keeping yourself busy is easy as a small business owner. Prioritizing is a different story. With a full plate, it can be challenging to determine the tasks that matter most. Start easy: which tasks on your list will have the most direct impact on your bottom line? Which will help you advance toward your goals

The Importance of Photo Documentation During an Inspection

May 8, 2019

By Jon McCreath, Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator A picture is worth a thousand words. We’ve all heard this before, but it’s especially true in the field of property inspection. Not only does top-notch photographic documentation of a home or commercial property provide value to your client, but it also protects you and your business from potential litigation. As we dive deeper into this topic, we’ll see that taking plenty of photos on an inspection isn’t just for your customers’ benefit—this best practice also serves as evidence of your job well done. In addition to photos of obvious (or not so obvious) defects, here are the three types of photos you should focus on during your inspections to optimize your process and protect your business and reputation. 1. Areas Without DefectsAs inspectors we pay a lot of attention to defects in homes, but it’s equally important to document areas without defects. The reason might not be immediately clear. While photos of non-defect areas won’t necessarily end up in your report, they can be incredibly valuable as a visual record of the condition of the home on the day of the inspection. If you don’t have a thorough visual record of

How to Ethically Refer Repairs

March 22, 2019

As a home inspector in an evolving industry, sooner or later you’ll probably be faced with the question of whether to refer your clients to qualified contractors who can repair the issues you find. Home inspectors used to not deal with this question at all—many worried (and many still do) about the liability involved, as well as appearing to have a conflict of interest. As more millennial first-time homebuyers enter the market, however, this “hands-off” approach is quickly becoming outdated. The bottom line: millennials expect a higher level of service from anyone they do business with. In order to stay competitive, home inspectors have to look at new ways of referring repairs for their clients while avoiding potential ethical pitfalls. 1. Don’t Repair Items YourselfYou might think you’re going above and beyond by performing small repairs yourself as you see them. Replacing a burnt-out light bulb or tightening a loose drawer pull doesn’t seem like a big deal, but you should never repair any items in a home you’re inspecting. Your professional standards of practice dictate that an inspection should be visual and non-invasive, and performing repairs yourself, no matter how small, crosses that line and could potentially open you

6 Traits To Look For When Hiring A Marketer

November 21, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach Entrepreneurs tend to start off their business solo, or if they’re lucky, they can tap into spouses or family members for help. Eventually, as business picks up and they begin to struggle to keep up with the demand, marketing efforts tend to be some of the first activities that begin to fall off. This situation isn’t all bad, of course! But once a business pulls back on marketing, that inevitably means that they’ll end up missing out on opportunities for further growth – leaving work either on the table for the competition, or leaving would-be clients’ needs unmet. Of course, business owners aren’t simply doomed to fall into this trap! They have options: first, to allow software to take marketing efforts off their hands, such as through scheduled social media posting, recurring email campaigns, or automated review gathering. Once these routes have been explored, though, it’s time to face the facts. It’s time for some extra help. Inviting a new voice into a small business can be incredibly exciting, and somewhat terrifying at the same time. After all, a bad hire could result in a time, effort, and money investment loss

5 Cost Effective Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses

November 14, 2023

By Sydney Bailey, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Director Seasoned business owners know that every industry experiences ebbs and flows. There are times when the phones are constantly ringing and the calendar is packed. On the flip side, there are stretches where work is more scarce. It’s often during the slow seasons where cutting back on expenditures is a natural impulse, but business owners should be careful not to handicap their marketing efforts. Marketing is critical for reaching new clients and keeping your business top-of-mind for your established referral sources, so you should be hesitant to cut your marketing spend when business is down. With that said, there are ways you can be more intentional with your marketing budget. If you find yourself limited on funds, here are a few cost-effective marketing strategies worth exploring. Refine Your Communication SkillsStanding out from your competition is critical when business slows down. For some owners, explaining to prospective clients exactly what sets their business apart can be difficult. While effective marketing and networking can make your phone ring, it won’t do much good if the person answering the call doesn’t conduct themselves with enough confidence to actually book the job. With this in mind, business

Key Steps For Managing Your Work Vehicle As A Home Inspector

November 7, 2023

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator When imagining life as a home inspector, naturally one’s mind jumps to the on-site experience of gathering photos of a house’s interior and landscape, as well as maybe climbing onto a roof or roaming through a crawl space. What people who haven’t actually been a home inspector may not realize is that a surprisingly large amount of our time is actually spent in the car, traveling between locations, especially if you’re an inspector that serves a larger or mostly rural region. Keeping your work vehicle looking sharp and in working order is crucial to running a professional, successful property inspection business. Although you may have a great system already in place, here are a few reminders about how to take care of your mobile property inspections headquarters! The Importance of Vehicle MaintenanceKeeping a consistent routine of vehicle maintenance and servicing appointments scheduled should be a normal piece of your business’s expenses each year. While it may seem obvious, if an inspector’s vehicle breaks down or is delayed on the way to a job, their entire day’s schedule could be thrown off. Emergencies happen, of course, but changing plans at the

Marketing Insights: The Importance of Finding Your Audience

October 31, 2023

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Senior SEO & Marketing Strategist Any experienced marketer, when speaking about how to grow a business and reach long-term goals, will preach on how important it is for a business to find its audience. For many business owners, this might sound a little strange. After all, shouldn’t entrepreneurs be looking to find as many clients or customers as possible in order to convert on leads and maximize their sales? Of course this is true! But this doesn’t mean that the best marketing strategy is to speak to everyone all at once. Imagine you’re making a speech in a massive auditorium. For most people, the more people there, the more difficult it will be to capture everyone’s attention. If too many people are there, the audience further in the back will struggle to see you, and even the most expensive sound equipment will start to fail, leaving your message completely unheard to many. In the same way, marketing to a massive audience tends to be expensive, and a business that chooses to market in this manner can often see their message lost, becoming indiscernible as it competes with too many other businesses for attention. Instead of

Got Your Six: The Veteran’s Guide To Re-Entering The Workforce

October 24, 2023

By Sammi Marcellus, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator Enlisting in the military is a great opportunity for many to learn practical, real-world skills, all while serving their country. With that said, many struggle with making the move from the structure that military life provides, to the seemingly chaotic nature of being a civilian. Finding a career that’s fulfilling while also featuring these same benefits of a position in the military can be a tough ask, but that doesn’t mean veterans should be caught with application paralysis. Veterans looking to find a good job fit for themselves should recognize their strengths and the challenge ahead. To move forward with confidence, here are just a few notes to consider when pursuing the next chapter. Acclimate to Civilian LifeOne major struggle that Veterans experience upon transitioning away from the military is their daily schedule. In the military everyone has a specific job and their days are planned out extensively for them, which frees them up to focus solely on their duties rather and reduces the need for self-management. In the majority of civilian workplace settings, this strict schedule is gone, which can be jarring for many to adapt to. Veterans should decide early on

How Celebrating Holidays on Social Media Can Benefit Your Business

October 17, 2023

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Senior Marketing Communications Strategist As your business grows, building an audience online can quickly become a strong stream for new leads and an opportunity to set yourself apart from your competition. In our previous article discussing how to use pictures to boost engagement on social media, we talked about how varied content is important for businesses that want to improve their performance online. While this is a great goal in theory, coming up with a consistent stream of unique content is tough. That’s why if you haven’t jumped onto the holiday post train yet, now is the time to start! Holiday posts are a great way to capitalize on current events in a way that breaks up your regular social media schedule. For some extra inspiration before the holiday season really kicks into gear, here are some things to consider when it comes to posting during the holidays! Choose Which Holidays to HighlightCapitalizing on a holiday on social media isn’t as simple as looking at the next one on the calendar and making a graphic to accompany it. Ideally, owners and social media managers should take some time to think about why their business has

Tips for Delivering a Bad Inspection Report

October 10, 2023

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator There’s a reason why “don’t kill the messenger” is such a commonly repeated phrase. Delivering bad news is a tough position to be in, especially when someone is caught blind-sided by the message. Even though you may have not been the cause of the situation, you were the one that disrupted the status quo. Whether fair or not, the one that delivers bad news often becomes the villain, and no one wants to be the villain. Home inspectors are frequently caught in the awkward position of needing to deliver information that clients probably don’t want to hear. The truth of the matter is that issues and defects in homes would exist whether the inspector discovered them or not. It’s only through a thorough home inspection that buyers can make their biggest investment with confidence. For property inspectors, delivering bad news in a calm and courteous manner is a skill worth building. Start by setting the right expectations. Don’t Hide from the ReportMany negative reactions from clients can be curbed through establishing a proper understanding before the inspection even begins. Inspectors know very well that no home is perfect, but sellers

Getting the Most Out of Networking Events

October 3, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach There’s a lot that goes into growing a small business, between learning the industry, making smart connections, and keeping up with the newest innovations. Naturally, this means that networking events can be a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs to get their foot in the door and truly elevate their business. Any time a business owner can get themselves into a room where they are surrounded by other like-minded industry professionals, they have a chance to learn new strategies and techniques that can take their business plan to the next level. Unfortunately, many find networking events to be lacking as they struggle to make meaningful connections. Whether spending time at a convention, giving a presentation, or attending some other industry event, sometimes it can be tough to see immediate returns on your time and energy. If you’re looking for some strategies on how to capitalize best on networking events, give this process a try! In so many ways, successful businesses are built on relationships. Here’s how you can more reliably make a good first impression. Take Some Time to PrepareAs with most things, good preparation is the best way to set yourself up

How to Prepare Your Business for Your Vacation

September 26, 2023

By Michael Trimble, NPI, Inc.’s Content Marketing Coordinator Small business owners take so much pride in their work, it can be hard to take even a short break. The risk of losing momentum, missing out on business, and potentially damaging valuable relationships keep small business owners from taking a vacation–some go years and years without a break. While these concerns are valid, many may not realize that they are missing out on a necessary reset by forgoing an extended holiday. The truth is everyone needs a physical and emotional break from their work. Plus, new experiences and a broader perspective can provide much-needed creative energy to entrepreneurs. If you’re nervous about how to handle an upcoming vacation, here are a few actions you can take to ensure your break goes off without a hitch! Notify Your Clients (and Share Your Experience!)If you are your only employee, vacations mean that your business can’t do much without you. To keep any consistent referral sources or clients from being surprised, it can be smart to send out a notification in advance. Whether through an email blast or a few phone calls to associates with established relationships, offering a heads up is sure to

What to Research Before Becoming a Home Inspector

September 19, 2023

By Celeste Black-Harr, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator There are plenty of attributes that draw those with an entrepreneurial spirit into the home inspection space. Whether it’s the opportunity to own a business, innovate within a market, or control a personal schedule, many look to the prospect of being a home inspector as the answer to their career goals. The only issue is that, with the wealth of information there is out on the internet about how to get started as a home inspector, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Owning a successful home inspection business begins with asking the right questions. How can I be sure that my business will be profitable? What business model should I choose? What hours should I list for my business? No two businesses are the same, and while there isn’t necessarily a cookie-cutter model for success, there are a few places worth starting before getting caught up in the minutiae. With this in mind, here are some important areas of research from which every prospective home inspector would benefit. Check Out Your State WebsiteThe first step of becoming a home inspector should always start with nailing down an area of operation and reviewing that state’s