Posts

Being Flexible in Your Small Business

March 9, 2021

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach Flexibility is a business trait that benefits your customers, you as an entrepreneur, and even your employees. With a landscape that’s constantly changing, it’s important to stay on your toes and adapt for consistent growth. While it can sometimes be hard to change from doing what you’ve always done, being open to new processes isn’t as scary as you might think. Flexible With Customers Being your own boss means that you’re in control of how and when your business operates. Customers certainly appreciate when you go out of your way to accommodate them and make them feel like a priority. Obviously you won’t be able to juggle your schedule all the time, but making adjustments when you can reflects positively on your customer service. Keep in constant contact with your clients to figure out what works the best for both of you. Flexible With Employees A flexible schedule also applies with your employees. They have their own projects and deadlines to meet, which can make coming together for a meeting difficult. Having a good working relationship with your employees can mitigate a high turnover rate. There’s nothing more stressful than having to regularly

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

What Makes a Successful Home Inspector

January 5, 2021

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training AdministratorPictured: Brian Shabino (middle) and Team, NPI Sioux Empire Home inspectors have a particular set of strengths they continue to cultivate throughout their careers. These go way beyond the inspection process itself in ways that might surprise you! Here are the top traits of the most successful inspectors: DetailedIn a field like inspecting, it’s the little things that count. Thoroughness is crucial in everything from writing a report to communicating with a customer. There can be a fine line between diligence and over-bearing perfectionism, and it’s important to find the right balance. Nobody is perfect, and stressing over it will slow you down. But crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s shows clients that you care about them as people and don’t think of them as just another sale. Desire to Learn Whether it’s picking up a book, talking to a mentor or simply reevaluating after you’ve made a mistake, continuing your education is crucial to becoming a well-rounded inspector. Taking it upon yourself to learn new inspection best practices shows great initiative, and your dedication will shine when you interact with clients and agents. Online classes, following along with updates

Tips to Keep Growing in 2021

December 29, 2020

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach As we head into the new year, now’s the time to start planning for more growth in 2021. Following the events of the past months, the forecast for how small businesses will operate has dramatically shifted. Here are a few of the things you can implement over the next 12 months to stay on track and achieve your goals. Dig in with your social media. It can’t be stated enough how crucial a strong social media presence is to grow your business. This last year especially showed how much your digital accounts factor into keeping your company afloat during uncertain times. Looking ahead, it’s only going to become more important that entrepreneurs leverage their social media. Twenty percent of consumers are likely to choose a brand that they can reach on social media, meaning that you’re missing out if you’re not online. Take the time this year to revisit and rebuild your social media to get the most out of it. Nail down those customer reviews. Going hand in hand with a strong online presence, collecting reviews also needs to be part of your plan. Almost 90 percent of customers read reviews before

How to Perform Effective Employee Reviews

December 22, 2020

By David Stamper, NPI, Inc.’s President & CFO Constructive meetings should be held on a regular basis to continually improve employees’ performance, refine their goals and of course make sure your business is headed in the right direction. Here’s what to cover in your next performance review to give employees and yourself the best insights. When to Conduct Reviews You can set the timeframe for when you want to assess your employees and their work. For newer hires, it’s more beneficial to hold a meeting after a few months of employment. This allows you to catch any issues early on that you can help them iron out. The longer a staff member is with you, the longer you can space out the time between reviews. Eventually, you may not need to continually conduct reviews for employees who have been with you for a prolonged period of time. But if you haven’t ever done a review with them, it can be beneficial to look over their work and use it as a guide for others. What to Include in a Review There are several key performance indicators (KPIs) to include in your performance review. While you can add in others that

Top 10 Customer Appreciation Gifts

December 15, 2020

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist Clients and agents do so much for your business, and showing your gratitude goes a long way in maintaining a strong relationship. A small token of your appreciation makes them feel valued, and they’ll be more likely to recommend your services. Here are a few ideas you can use to keep people coming back. 1. Offer a discount or coupon. More than anything else, people like to save money wherever they can. They may even exhaust every search avenue to find the best deal that also provides great service. A slight markdown on a service you offer will grab their attention. Create a flyer that you can hand out or a post you can share on social media. 2. Give away snack bags. To sweeten the deal with customers and agents, treats are just what you need. They’re a simple and inexpensive option that still shows your customers you’re thankful for their business. Customize your baggies with a thank you note for a more personalized feel. You can also attach your business card that clients can pass along to their family and friends that may need you. These are also perfect to

Navigating Difficult Times in Your Business

December 8, 2020

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Specialist Running a business isn’t always smooth sailing, and you’ll likely experience rough waters more than once. One day you’re moving along without a hitch, then the next, you’re facing snags and hiccups left and right. When you do run into a rough patch as a business owner, getting through it means keeping your priorities straight and your thinking positive. Attitude is Everything It’s easy to have a negative outlook when things aren’t going how you’d like. Yet pessimism has a tendency to snowball until everything seems much worse than it actually is. Developing and maintaining a positive attitude goes a long way in helping yourself through struggles. There’s an assortment of ways to stay positive, and doing so will make your hardships feel much more manageable. Reach Out to Others It’s very likely that you aren’t the first person to go through your situation. While each experience will be unique, there will likely be multiple similarities between what you’re facing and what someone else may have already put past them. If you do know of a person that’s been in your shoes, don’t hesitate to reach out! They’ll be able to provide

A Manager Mindset: Using DISC for Smoother Communications

December 1, 2020

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach The world is made up of people with all types of personalities and backgrounds, so naturally, business is no different. From clients to employees, each individual has their own unique style of communication and leadership. Each style can provide a great advantage to your business, but getting over initial communication barriers to reach your team’s full potential can be a challenge. That’s where DISC comes in. Introduction to DISC The DISC personality assessment reveals the four most common communication styles seen in personal and professional settings. Most people are a combination of two styles, though some may find that they’re a combination of three. Technicians and Entrepreneurs You can think of the “C” and “D” styles as being technicians and entrepreneurs, respectively. Cs, or Technicians tend to be perfectionists, and are quick to notice something that’s out of place. They’re also practical, and are more “doers” rather than “dreamers.” Meanwhile, Ds, or entrepreneurs thrive on change and growth. They always want to reach new goals and are determined to do whatever it takes to achieve them. Managers The “S” personality represents a managerial way of thinking. They’re steady-going and like to help others

The Science Behind Brand Consistency

November 24, 2020

By Sydney Arp, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Specialist & Designer We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Consistency is key when it comes to marketing. It’s true in more ways than one. Consistency on social media increases your following. Consistency in customer service improves your reputation. And consistency in branding earns you more money. In fact, consistent branding across all of your marketing channels is proven to increase revenue by 23%. What is Brand Consistency? Consistent branding can involve anything from the colors you have on your brochures to how you interact with customers. It’s the experience–from start to finish–that you want to give each person, with as little variation as possible. The best way to maintain a steady brand is by establishing your operating principles: identify your core values and develop your company’s mission and vision statements: At NPI, we encourage our franchisees to develop their own mission statements using our organization’s core values of Honesty, Integrity and Professionalism. Once you have these important items established, you can use them as a guide in future decision-making. Whether it’s the way you talk to clients over the phone or the design of your business cards, brand consistency is all