Running a mul.-inspector company...Running a mul.-inspector company By Reuben Saltzman Structure Tech 13 inspectors 2 appren.ces 2 schedulers 1 backup scheduler 1 master of radon 1

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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”


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Avoidtheuseof“Irecommend”


•  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


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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

Documents

Running a mul.-inspector company...Running a mul.-inspector company By Reuben Saltzman Structure Tech 13 inspectors 2 appren.ces 2 schedulers 1 backup scheduler 1 master of radon 1