ASHIFirstThing
November2017
InThisIssue:The3-LeggedStoolRiskManagementWebinarReflectionsofLTCSprint'sExclusiveOfferChapterChallengeStandingOut6CommonMisconceptionsSocialMediaEtiquette
Quicklinks:
ASHI.orgTheASHISchoolOnlineEducationInspectionWorld2018InspectPACInspective:ASHIBlog
TheThree-Legged
StoolMarketingPhilosophyAsabusinessdevelopmentprofessional,Imakeitapracticetolistento
podcastsfrequently.IlovedthismarketingphilosophysharedbyacollisionrepaircompanyandIthinkitcanbeappliedtothehomeinspectionindustry.It’sthethreeleggedstoolphilosophy–alllegsareequallyimportant.Onewithouttheothermakesitwobblyandunlikelytowithstandthetestoftime.Themoresturdythelegs–themoresuccessful–anddependable-itbecomes.
1.GREATSERVICE–Youhavetodeliverimpeccableservice–notmediocreservice–notjustgoodenoughservice.But,great,impeccableservice.Youcanbetheonewhostandsoutinthecrowdbysimplyimprovingtheservice,goingtheextramileforclients.
TheASHI
School'sUpcomingClasses
60-HourOnlineClass
120-HourClassCumming,GA11/27-12/8Lakewood,CO11/27-12/8Leesburg,VA11/27-12/8Tampa,FL11/27-12/8
MoldClassDesPlaines,IL11/18-11/20
4-PointInspection&WindMitigationTampa,FL12/2
Whodoesn’tliketoreceivegreatservice?Whenyoudo,doyoutalkaboutit?Refertoothers?Ofcourse.It’smemorableandintoday’sworld,unfortunately,it’sunexpected.
2.COMMUNICATION–Youneedtocommunicate–withyourclients,youragents,yourco-workers.Wehavetospendthetimeandtakethetimetocommunicate–inyourbusiness,it’svitalthatyourfindingsarecommunicatedeffectively.Anyonecanimprovetheircommunicationsskillsandstyle.Bewhoyouare–thenbeteachable,tweakandimprovealongtheway.(Listeningtopodcaststoandfrominspectionscansharpenyourcommunicationskills.)
3.APPRECIATION–youcan’tthankpeopleenoughforspendingtheirhardearnedmoneyforyourgreatserviceandforreferringyoutotheirclients,friendsandfamily.Thankthem–verballyandinwriting.
Obviously,there’smorethatgoesintobuildingahomeinspectionbusiness;however,havingthesethreesturdylegsinpositionandmasteredisakeytosuccess.
FaithGreenwellInspectorTraining&DevelopmentManagerBuyer'sProtectionGroupDirectLine:800-285-3001,[email protected]
HomeInspectorRiskManagementWebinar
InspectPACraisesmoneytohelpelect
hostedbyBNKInsuranceTuesday,November7at8PM-11PMEST
TheHartfordandBNKInsuranceServicesarepleasedtooffer"RiskReduction&ReportWriting,"awebinarforhomeinspectorsfeaturingMichaelCasey,PrincipalofMichaelCasey&AssociatesandDirectorofEducationforHomeInspectionUniversity.
MichaelCasey&AssociationsisanationalA.M.BestrecommendedconsultingfirmbasedinSanDiego,CA.
Thiswebinarwill:•debunkmythsaboutpreventingclaimsandavoidingliability,•touchonwhatotherinspectorsaredoingtolimitprofessionalliabilityexposures,and•coverriskreductionissuesforhomeinspectors,includingtipsonbestpracticeinspectionproceduresandreportwriting.
REGISTERNOW
byJoelSinger,CEO,
Applica/HomeWizardWhenDaveKoganandIwerediscussing
Applica/HomeWizardattendingtheASHILeadershipTrainingConferencethatwasheldafewweeksago,hementionedthatthiswouldbeagreatopportunitytotalkwithASHI'schapterleadersandfutureleaders.HesaidtheseweretheleadersofASHIwhowerefocusedongrowingtheirchapters,andhelpingtheirmemberstogrowtheirbusinesses,andassuch,theLTCwouldbeafantasticopportunitytoexplorenewideas.
Thisabsolutelyturnedouttobetrue.
Itwasagreatopportunitytomeetexisting
andre-electcandidatestoCongresswhohaveanunderstandingofthehomeinspectionprofession,andwhoaresupportiveoftheprofession.AtInspectionWorld2018,we'replanningsomethingnew.Afteralongdayofclasses,expohallandnetworking,comerelaxandunwindwithuswithmusic,horsd'oeuvres,andsignaturedrinks.It'sjust$50togetin(moneytosupportInspectPAC).Whilerelaxingandenjoyingtherelaxingvibes,helpusraisedonationsforthePoliticalActionCommitteeonMondaynight,January22from7:00-8:30PM.
Thisisa"signature"eventyouwon'twanttomissouton.PurchaseticketswhenyouregisterforInspectionWorldorpayatthedoor.
Ifyouwon'tbeatInspectionWorld,orwanttodonatenowbeforeIWrollsaround.Download
clientsinperson,likeHankSanderoftheGreatLakesChapter,andRogerGerhardtoftheOhiochapter.AnditwasfascinatingtoheartheinnovativewaysthattheywereusingApplica/HomeWizard'stools,whichwerewaysthatwehadnevereventhoughtof.Plusthereweregreatdiscussionswithinspectorswhotalkedabouttheirneeds,andwhattheywerelookingfortohelpthemgrowtheirbusinesses.
AsImentionedattheluncheonontheseconddayoftheLTC,thesediscussionsincludedtalkingwithRobertStockmannofthenewSouthernColoradoChapter.Asafollow-uptoourdiscussionsearlierintheday,heasked"whataboutdoingatwo-for-onedealfortheirchapter...twoyearsforthepriceofone?"AtfirstIthoughthewasjustkidding,butaftertalkingwithourteamandothersattheconference,ifwedidtheorientationsaswebinars,itactuallycouldbeawin-win.SoweannouncedattheLTCthatwewouldbeofferingthistoalloftheChapters.Therewereothergreatdiscussions,andI'mabsolutelygladtohavebeenabletoparticipate.ItwasgreatseeingeveryoneattheLTC,andI'mlookingforwardtobeingatInspectionWorld,wherewe'llbedoinga"Grab&Go"session.
Applica/HomeWizard(www.applica-solutions.com/ASHI)isaGoldAffiliateMemberofASHIwhohelpsinspectorstogrowyourbusinesswithmarketingtoolsthatkeepyoutop-of-mindwithrealtorsandhomeowners:interactiveeNewsletterwithpersonalizedhomecarereminders&tips;mobileapp;socialmediapost-ables;webSEOenhancers;andmore.
REGISTERFORINSPECTIONWORLD
thisformtocontribute.Personalchecksandcreditcardshighlypreferredasbusinesscheckers/creditcardscannotgodirectlytolobbyist.
DONATENOW
Mr.Fix-It'sQuickTip#58
WhyistheToiletFlushingItself?OK,soyoujustheardthetoiletflushinthemiddleofthenight.Nooneelseisinthehouse,andyoudon’tthinkyourhomehasaghost.Laterthatnight,youhearitagain.Ughhh.Howwillyouexplainthistotheplumber?
Don’tworry.
Sprint’sexclusiveofferstosaveASHImembersmoney:ReceiveA$100servicecreditforbothnewandexistingSprintbusinesscustomerswhoactivateanewline.Sprintwillalsopayyourswitchingfeesupto$650andwaiveaccountactivationfees.UseyourSocialSecuritynumberinsteadofabusinesstaxidtosetupyourbusinessaccountandtakeadvantageofalloftheBusinessPerks!ClickfordetailsQuestions:[email protected]
Whatyou’reprobablyhearingisthetoiletrefillingasifithadbeenflushed.Buthowisthatpossible?Waterinthetankisslowlyleakingpasttheflushvalveandintothebowl.Asthebowlfills,thewatersilentlyflowsdownthedrainline.Whenthewaterinthetankgetslow,theautomaticfillvalveopensandyouhearthetankfilling–justasifthetoilethadbeenflushed.Thefixissimple:cleanorrepairtheflushballorflapvalve.Attimes,theproblemcanbefixedjustbywipingdepositsoffthematingsurfaces.Othertimesyou’llneedtoreplacethevalvebecauseofacrackorsurfaceimperfection.Ifyouwanttotestforthistypeofsilentleak,placeafewdropsoffoodcoloringinthetank.Withinashorttime,you’llnoticethecolorinthebowl–asuresignofaleakingflushvalve.
PlatinumProvider:
MastermindInspector
Community
ASHIMembersandHomeEnergy
ScoreCandidatesandAssessors!
TheASHIandHomeEnergyScoreChapterChallengeissteamingfullahead!ASHIChaptersareinaheatedrace.Herearethecurrentstandings:
CHAPTERLEVELMOSTASSESSORS:OhioSouthernMOSTSCORES:GreatLakes
INDIVIDUAL/BUSINESSMOSTSCORES:GordonGliddenof
InlandLakesInspectionServicesLLC
Here’saquickreminderofjusthowgoodtheprizesare:
$400worthoftools/hardwareforeachcategorywinnerfromIDEnergy/InspectionDepotFreeadmissiontoInspectionWorld2017
inOrlandoforeachcategorywinnerfromASHIAmarketing“overhaul”packagefrom
ASHIandtheDOEfortheIndividualWinner
Andwhileourleadersaredoinggreatwork,they’renotsofaraheadthatyourchaptercan’tstillmakearunforthebigWIN!
GoldAffiliates:
Applica/HomeWizard
BusinessRiskPartners
HomeInspectorPro
HomeGauge
HowToOperateYourHome
InspectionCertification
Associates
InspectorProInsurance
KaplanHome
InspectionEducation
LiftMaster
McKissock
OREP
Palm-Tech
Pro-Lab
Radalink,Inc.
SilverAffiliates
UnitedInfrared
CarsonDunlop
EMSLAnalytical
GeneralTools
HolmesApprovedHomes
InspectITReporting
Software
ZAITrust
BronzeAffiliates
3DInspectionSystems
AllenInsurance
America'sCallCenter
BNKInsurance
BostonEnvironmental
BuyersProtectionGroup
CompleteAppliance
Protection
EBPHI
EliteMGA
HomeInspectionReport
HomeBinder.com
HomeTeam
InspectionSupportNetwork
InspectorServicesGroup
Kritter-Caps
MonroeInfrared
RAdata,Inc.
ReportHost
Gotowww.EnergyScoreUSA.comtomakeithappen
I.D.Energy-ASHIMembersOnlyDEALS!UNLIMITEDQAfor12MonthsOnly$399OnlyAvailableUntilDecember31st!NotAvailableforthePortlandHomeEnergyScoreProgram.DoesnotincludeDOERequired“Initial5QAScores”.ASHI
MembersOnly.
UseI.D.Energy’sNewHomeEnergyAndroidApp,DownloadontheGoogle
PlayStoreToday!https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inspection.Home_Energy&hl=en
AsanexhibitoratInspectionWorld(orany
conferenceforthatmatter)yourgoalistowalkawaywithasmanyleadsandnewbusinessaspossible.Todothat,youneedtostandoutfromtherestofthecrowd,Standourfromyourcompetitors,otherexhibitorsandeventheattendees.It'suptoyoutomakeyourtimeworthwhile.WhichiswhyyoushouldseriouslyconsidersponsoringInspectionWorldOrlando.Therearenumerousopportunitiestochoosefrom,including:-ToteBag-Umbrellaw/specialcase-ConferencePens-T-Shirt-ToteInserts
RTCA
SunNuclear
S.W.A.T.Environmental
USInspect
VanguardEmergency
Management
EndorsedMembers:ASHIStore(GEMMarketing)
ASHI@Home
BuildFax
GuardianFinancial
HomeOwnersNetwork
InspectionContracts.com
JoeFerry,LLC
LegalShield&IDShield
LibertyMutual
MoverThankYou
OneSourceSolutions
Porch.com
Quill.com
TargetProfessionalPrograms
UpcomingChapterEvents:11/11
EastTennesseeChapter
11/18-11/19
OhioSouthernFallSeminar
12/2LouisianaChapterEvent12/9-12/10FABIWinterConference
We'restartingtohear
fromexhibitors(andacoupleofuswere
-SpecialEvents
VIEWSPONSORSHIPS
The6Most
CommonMisconceptionsAboutHomeBinderInthelastseveralmonthswe’vebeenfieldinganumberofrecurringquestions
aboutHomeBinder.
Despiteeffortsotherwise,manyinspectorshavecometothinkthatourbusinessmodelisbasedonsolicitingclients.Wheninfact,ourtruenorthisthehomeownerandourjobistomakesurethattheyhaveagreatapptomanagetheirlargestasset.
ThesearethemostcommonmisconceptionsthathomeinspectorshaveaboutHomeBinder:
1.HomeBinderbusinessissellingallourhomeownerdatatothirdparties.Thisisnotourbusiness.Wedon’tdothis.
2.HomeBindermakesoutboundcallstosolicitmyclientsandupsellservices.Wedon’tdothiseitherdirectlyORindirectly(throughapartner).Thisisnotthebusinessweareinasweheardfrominspectorsthattheydidn’twanttoworkwithfirmsthatdidthisasitleadstotoomanyproblems.
3.HomeBinderworkswithOneSource,thereforeHBissellingcustomerdata.WedoworkwithOneSource.Thatis
calledatHQaswell)abouthowtheyhavereceivedcallsfromTravelBusinessPartnersandothercompaniesstatingthattheyareworkingwithASHItobookhotelroomsattheCaribeRoyaleforInspectionWorld2018.
ASHIhasnever,norever,workedwithindependenttravelsbrokerstobookhotelrooms.Weworkdirectlywiththehotel.Ifyou'reattendingIW,followthislink:BookaRoomNow
absolutelytrue.ButthemisconceptioncomesfromHOWweworkwiththem.WeONLYworkwiththemifahomeownerasksforhelpwithsomethingthattheycanhelpthemwith.Whatthismeanspracticallyisthatlastmonth(September2017)1.4%ofnewhomeownersaskedforhelpinsidetheHomeBinderapplicationandONLYthosehomeownerswereconnectedwithOneSource.Nooneelse.Wewillhelpthosethatask,notthosethatdon’t,aswebelievethistobethebestapproach.
4.TobeacustomerofHomeBinderyouhavetobeawarrantycustomer.Absolutelynottrue.92%ofourcustomersdon’tuseCompleteProtection.
5.HomeBinderofferswarrantiessotheyaresellingcustomerdata.Nottrue.EarlierthisyearwebegantoofferawarrantyintegrationwithCompleteProtectionbecauseaportionofourcustomerbaseaskedforustooffera90daywarrantyprogramthatmettheirneeds.WesawthatCompleteProtectionwasaleaderanddidn’tfallintoissuesthattypicallybefalltheindustry(andweencourageanyfirmsthatareinterestedtotakealookatthemthroughourintegrationorindependently).Whatthismeansisthatabout8%ofourinspectorcustomerswantto,andchooseto,usetheirwarranty.ONLYthoseclientsaresetupwitha90daywarranty,noannualwarrantiesarepushedonclients,andtheinspectorcanevenpickandchoosewhichoftheirclientstheywanttoset-upwithawarranty.NOOTHERHomeBinderusersaresharedwithCompleteProtection.
6.Homeownersdon’tusethebinderssetupforthem.Thisoneregularlycomesupbutisfarfromthetruth.Whatistrueisthatthereisawiderangeofengagementbyhomeownersdependingontheinspectionfirmtheareworkingwith.Somehavenearlyall(90%)of
theirclientsacceptandusetheirHomeBinderaccount.OurtopperformerswithhomeownerengagementdoseveralthingssuchasbringingupHomeBinderatthetimeoftheschedulingandattheinspection.Ifyou’dliketolearnmorewe’dencourageyoutowatchthisvideo.https://support.homebinder.com/using-your-account/increase-client-login-rates
Asyoucanseeabovethemajorityofquestionsarearoundcustomerdataasthisisaconcernacrosstheentireindustry.
WeMUSThandleyourcustomers,whichbecomeourusers,withtheutmostcare.Why?Thereasonistwo-fold:Inspectorshavetoldusthattheywantareasonablypricedservicethatdoesnotsellclientdataordooutboundcallstothehomeownertopushproductorservices.Thisisaparamountconcernwe’veheardfromDay1andwe’veorientedeverythingwedoaroundthis.OurvisionistobeTHEplatformthatpeopleusetomanageandeventuallyselltheirhome.Wecannotbeshortsightedaboutannoyingthembytryingtosellthemservicesoutofthegateintherelationship.We’donlybehurtingourbrandandourvision.Weneedarelationshipwiththathomeowneruntiltheydecidetosell(andthenagainintheirnexthome).
Ifyouarelookingforacompanywithabigvisionandthatthinksdifferent,you’vecometotherightplace.Ifyouthoughtdifferentofuswehopethatyouunderstandwhoweare,andthedirectionwearegoing.Wehopeyou’llgiveHomeBinderatryandfindoutforyourself.AnyonethathastoldyoudifferentaboutHomeBinder,wehopeyouaskyourselfwhy?
Nocontracts,nohiddenfees,nosetup,nopenaltyforleaving.We’llevenpro-rateyourcurrentmonthifyouwanttoleave.That’sjustanotherexampleofhowwe“think
different.”
Wehopethishelpssettherecordstraight.
SocialMediaEtiquette:What'sSafetoShareonSocialNetworksSocialnetworks-self-containedonlineforumswhereuserscansharetheirlivesandcareersandengageinongoingdialoguewithothersintheformoftext,photos,videos,commentsandotherformsofhigh-techcommunication-havegrownbyleapsandboundsoverthepastdecade.Billionsofpeopleworldwidenowregularlyturntosocialnetworkstoprovidefriendsandstrangersalikewithsnapshotsandupdatesoftheirdailylifeand,inturn,seewhatfriends,family,andacquaintancesaredoingatanygivenmoment.Infact,it’sfairtosaythattodaywe’rejugglingtwolives:Realandvirtual.Butwhatdobasicrulesofonlineetiquettelooklike,andwhichinformationandviewpointsareOKtoshareonthesemostpublicofforums?AswenoteinthenewbookNetiquetteEssentials:NewRulesforMindingYourMannersinaDigitalWorld,answersareoftenhardtocomeby.Below,you’llfindessentialhints,tips,andguidelinesformaintainingasafeandpositivepresenceonpopularsocialmediasitesfromFacebooktoInstagram,Snapchat,andbeyond.MaintainingaPositiveOnlinePresenceSharingextremely-opinionatedviewpoints
(e.g.politicalleaningsorthoughtsoncontroversialtopics)canbealightningrodonline.Thinktwicebeforelikingsupportingstatusupdatesorpostingsuchopinions,whichcaninciteandaggravateothers(andliveoninperpetuity).Ifyoufeeltheneedtoexpresstheseopinions,considerconfiningsuchcommunicationstoexchangeswithindividualfriends,orspecificFacebookorGoogle+groups.Ultimatelythough,it’simportanttoremember:Ifyoudon’thaveanythingnicetosay,perhapsit’sbestleft
unsaid.Postingembarrassing,revealingor
negativephotosofyourselfshouldbeavoidedatallcosts.Remember:Imagesyousharemaybetakenatfacevalue,and/orviewedasrepresentativeofyourcharacter-nottomentionliveonforeverontheInternet.Whatseemscuteinhighschoolorcollegemaynotseemquitesoendearingtopotentialemployers.Neverpostphotosofotherswithouttheir
expresspermission.Relationshiporpersonaldramaisbest
keptprivate.Ifyoucannotresisttheurgetoshare,dososparingly-andinthemostvague,unspecifictermspossible-forthesakeofinvolvedparties,orfriendsuninterestedorunwillingtoparticipateinthesituation.Nocommunicationsshouldbesharedaboutotherindividualsandthoseinvolvedinreal-lifesituationswithouttheiradvancepermission.Avoidpostingonsocialnetworksunless
youhaveatightgraspoveryourprivacysettings,andarecompletelycomfortablewiththegroupofonlinefriendsthatyourupdateswillbesharedwith.
ToneofVoiceandAttitudeProfessionalismisimperative-ifyou
wouldn’tsayitinasocialorworksetting,don’tsayitonline,inthemostpublicofforums.Politenessandrespectarevital:Alwaysbe
considerateofothers,andtreatthemthewaythatyou’dwishtobetreated.Avoidbad-mouthingotherusersasitwill
negativelyimpactyourimageandcasualbystandersmayjudgeyoubasedontheseactions.Maintainapositivetoneandattitude:
Negativity,complaintsandcondescendingmessagesoftenreflectpoorlyontheposter.Braggingandself-aggrandizing
statementsshouldbeavoided,andmakingthemmaycauseyoutolosefriendsandfollowers.Sincesocialnetworksaresharedvenues
enjoyedinmixedcompany,alwaysavoidusingvulgarlanguageandmakingderogatoryremarks.Demandingthatothersshareyourstatus
updates,projects,thoughtsorideasisinappropriate.Reserveconfidentialdiscussionsfor
privatemessagethreadsor,betteryet,phonecalls,emailsorothervenueswhereinteractionsaren’trecordedinperpetuityonline.Beadvisedthatconversationalnuances
andsubtleshiftsintoneorpersonalitymaybelostintranslation,andthatindividualusersmayinterpretmessagesdifferently:Considerhowpostswillbereadandinterpretedbeforesending.Poorspelling,punctuation,grammarand
choiceofwordscanreflectequallypoorlyupontheindividual-proofreadallcommunicationsbeforesending.Shorthand,abbreviationsandonlineslangshouldbeavoidedifpossible,andusedonlyinthemostinformalofconversations...READMORE
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