Posts

FAQ’s About Starting an NPI Franchise

August 3, 2021

By Celeste Black-Harr, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator If you want to become your own boss and take control of your schedule, starting a home inspection franchise could be for you! As a franchisee with National Property Inspections, Inc., you get to run your business how you want and join the entrepreneur sector. But you might have some questions before you begin. “Do I need a construction or technical background?” A common misconception about becoming a home inspector is that you already need years of training and experience in the industry before you can start. However, you don’t have to already be a professional to join! When you become part of the NPI team, we give you the training and knowledge you need to be a successful inspector. Our extensive, hands-on training covers the essentials to give you confidence as an inspector and business owner. And your education doesn’t end when you leave training! “How can I pay for a franchise?” There are several options you have when it comes to financing your NPI franchise. Traditional bank loans are a great place to start, and are relatively easy to apply for. The Small Business Loan Program or SBA in the U.S.

Best Foot Forward: Marketing Your Strengths to Customers

July 27, 2021

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist Marketing is all about showcasing your best abilities to your clients. What do you do that others don’t, and why should someone ultimately choose to hire you? As a small business owner, especially when you’re just starting out, it’s crucial that you put your top skills front and center as often as you can. This helps draw in your clients and allows them to understand the quality of service they’ll receive before they even contact you. So what are some things to highlight and where can you display them? Consider these options. Figure Out What You’re Best AtStarting off at square one, sit down and determine what you’re strongest at. A way to quickly discover your advantages is to create a SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis breaks down your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats so you know what you do well and what needs improvement. If you have a team that works with you, bring them in on the process as well to get input from people with different expertise. Creating a SWOTA SWOT analysis is easy to set up and complete. You can create a presentation, a shared document or simply

The Millennial Effect: How a Generation is Shaping Commercial Real Estate

July 20, 2021

Throughout the history of commercial real estate, each new workforce cycle has left their mark. Office designs have evolved to meet the needs of workers and help them be successful. Now, Millennials are showcasing their influence and developers are overhauling spaces to follow along. The Millennial Workforce is Big Almost 50 percent of the world’s workers are part of the Millennial generation. Because of this, they’ve been the vocal majority on building designs from offices to multifamily properties. Their uniqueness is often reflected in commercial construction and grows as they do. That means the developers that don’t keep up, are likely left in the dust. So what are some of the features that Millennials have to have in their office buildings? Leaving Behind a Small Impact Environmental change is one of, if not the most important, causes among Millennials. They’re always looking for ways that they can cut energy consumption and try to improve the earth as much as they can. Around half of Millennials are more likely to go with a company that actively works to reduce its carbon footprint. Both inside and outside, there are ways to make your younger tenants–and the environment–happy. Changing out older lights and

How You Can Use Social Media to Teach and Interact with Clients

July 13, 2021

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Assistant Being a small business owner allows you to interact more personally with your clients and build strong relationships with them. The integration of your social media accounts for your business means that you are able to reach out and build with even more customers on a daily basis. Using social media, plus in-person meetings to reach potential clients has been proven to help you grow your business faster. But it can be tricky to know the type of material that will resonate with people and inspire them to interact. One way you can get viewers interested is making educational content. What It Is Educational content might seem a little dull, but it can actually be very captivating to an audience. People like to see things that are unusual or unknown to them and learn more. This is especially true to homeownership. There are many different issues that can arise when owning a house, and the average owner may not know how to deal with them. They are always on the lookout for advice about how to best deal with these problems, and your social media pages can provide just that. Take Photos

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

Stop Yourself from Getting Distracted in Business

June 29, 2021

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Assistant One main benefit of becoming a small business owner is breaking free of the typical corporate structure. You set your own hours, make the important decisions, and continuously choose which direction you’ll head in next. However, these benefits can also quickly become challenges. When you’re overwhelmed, it’s easy to get sidetracked and feel as though you’re stagnating. Focus on what really matters with these tips: Begin by recognizing the distractions. First, you have to recognize what’s taking up your time. While you’re going about your day, try to be more aware of what you’re doing and where your thoughts tend to take you. You might be surprised about the things that tend to steal your energy and attention. From scrolling through your phone to speculating about the reason for an unreturned email, there’s always something readily available to distract us from a goal. If you need to, write these down, along with how long or how often you tend to do them. Then be sure to note which of these is something you personally have control over. For example, you can limit mindless scrolling, but you can’t control whether someone gets back

Using Community Events to Market Your Business

June 22, 2021

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach As a franchisee, an important aspect of growing your business is marketing. You can use most any outlet, from social media to handing out flyers to get your name out there. One great way to get personal interaction with potential clients is participating in local events. Farmer’s markets, main street gatherings and small business expos are just a few options. You should always keep an eye out for these through your city’s website or social media. If it’s someone other than the city government, be sure to check with the organization putting these events on so you are following their guidelines. BannersNow that you’ve gotten all signed up and secured your spot, how do you draw attention to your booth or table? You’ll want to stand out from the sea of businesses with something to catch the gaze of passersby. Investing in a collapsible banner or renting one from the Omaha home office is always worth it to make your booth stand out! TablesThe majority of the time these events will provide you a table, but always double-check if you need to get a collapsible one yourself. Depending on what you decide you

Best Ways to Ask for Reviews

June 15, 2021

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s SEO and Marketing Specialist It can’t be stressed enough how essential review gathering is to forming a strong presence for your business online. Living in the digital age, you have to take advantage of it or risk being left behind. Especially as younger generations, namely Millennials, are hitting the age where they’re ready to buy a home, reviews are a necessity. If it’s been a while since you’ve marketed for reviews or if you haven’t ever started, here are a few ways to get the ball rolling. Why do you need to stay connected? So how important are reviews in someone’s final decision? Great question! While Millennials do tend to be more plugged in, the general statistic for people that make a choice on who to do business with based on reviews alone is over 90%. Over 80% trust them like a personal recommendation, and nearly 70% decide whether you’re a quality business in as little as 3 reviews. That means you don’t have much time to make a great first impression. Not only are positive reviews important, but stockpiling them is as well. If you only have low-star reviews, a handful of reviews, or

Protect Your Private Information from Scammers

June 8, 2021

You’ve most likely gotten a robo-call or spam email at some point. In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission received a staggering 2.2 million reports of fraudulent activity, tallying up to $1.2 billion lost. Disguised phone calls and texts, especially those claiming to be about stimulus relief, were the most common scam. While the government tries to crack down on illegal activity, you need to take precautions to protect your and your clients’ personal information from criminals. Legal Requirements Depending on your state or the federal government, you could be legally responsible for offering some layer of protection to your customer’s private data. If a breach were to happen and it’s found you weren’t in compliance, you could face repercussions. Always check that you have the necessary security measures in place, and that any third-party services you use do as well. Before using one of these services, research their policies and what they do (if anything) with your information. Even if they only pass it to other mailing services, your customers may not be happy having their personal data out there when they didn’t consent to it. Password Protection Your email and any other applications you use should have a password

Making Your Business Stand Out Against a Large Competitor

June 1, 2021

By Bill Erickson, NPI, Inc.’s Executive Vice President As a small business owner, you’ll be going up against competition of all sizes as you work to grow and achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself. While you might have the confidence that you can take on companies closer to your size, it can be intimidating to try and tackle a larger, more established firm. But that doesn’t mean you should shy away from the challenge completely. Here’s what you can do to take on the “giants” in your industry. Get Your Name Out An easy way that you can get started with growing your business is getting your name out to as many potential clients as you can. Attend open houses, stop by real estate offices, work your social media profiles, and give out fliers or business cards advertising your name and company. For instance, a great way to spread the word about your new franchise is to attend community events. You’ll make lots of new connections and people will get to know you on a more personable level. Putting a face to your name helps break the ice with clients so that they’ll be more likely to remember you.