Are you your own worst enemy?

Steve Hord (Cardinal Home Inspection) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:48:59 -0800

Ok, you get a call from Mr. & Mrs. Joe Blow about selling their home. They tell you they are going to talk to you and a few other agents to choose which one will work best for them. Wise choice... Are you the best? Are you going to stick a sign in the yard and a few photos on the MLS and then wait for another agent to bring the buyers to you or are you going to truly bring your A game to the table? Think about your competition. Think about the blogs on Active Rain and the stories that they tell about what they are going to do. A listing is like a first date... Best dress, best smile, and best stories about yourself. (No lies, they aren't allowed, remember...) But what are you going to do to seperate youself from the rest? A very good and extremely successful businessman and friend of mine told me years ago, 95% of people can go into business, but only 5% will be on top or succeed. Anyone can do the 1st 95%, but to do the last 5%, so few do. Why is that so? Do the extra 5%. When you are done for the day and tired of answering that phone, ask yourself what extra thing could you do today before you go that would make a difference? That one thing will set you apart from the rest. Over and over again, it will continue to separate you and put you on top. You will know it, your clients will know it, and your banker will know it too! Now, to my business, Home inspection... Lets say you meet with Mr. & Mrs. Joe Blow about listing their house. You tell them about the MLS, the virtual tour, the Tuesday meeting walkthough with your office tour, but do you tell them what to expect when they get a contract? About appraisers, WDO's and Home Inspections? You should. You should approach them not as "Let's list this house" but as "I am going to sell your house and here is the way it will work." Contol the situation from start to finish. I recommend having a pre-inspection done prior to the listing to give the buyers an opportunity to discover and correct any issues that may cloud the deal. Everyone has a bad home inspection experience, ask around your office. How about eliminating this experience by having the inspection done prior to the contract (think of it as preplanned funeral expenses.... tongue in cheek).... But, seriously, with this approach any issues can be addressed PRIOR to any offers or any buyers leaving the Blow's home to buy the Jones's across the street. Any items found are handled without pressure or time constraints of a contract. I have several agents in my town that pay for the home inspection for their buyers or sellers, as a courtesy. Expensive? No, not really. Around $200.00 and can truly save a deal. How many times have you wished that you didn't have to reveiw a home inspection summary only to go back to your sellers to repair items or reduce funds...? Consider a pre-inspection. I offer a 120 day no pay inspection for any pre-inspections that I do. If the home is under contract in that time, I will allow the seller to pay for it at closing. A no brainer if you ask me. Think outside the box, do what others don't and set yourself apart form the rest! Good luck in '09!

Are Realtors using Home Inspectors for their clients Monetary gain only?

Steve Hord (Cardinal Home Inspection) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:22:05 -0800

Welcome to 2009.... and so long 2008.... the times fly by faster every year it seems.... 2008 for us was actually very active. Business is strong and running along into '09. However the homes that I am inspecting have certainly changed. Over 80% of homes that I inspect are short sale or have already foreclosed. And, with the foreclosure the bank makes their famous statement "Seller has never occupied the property..." which would make the case that much stronger for a home inspection, but I hear constantly from buyers that their Realtor told them that it was an "as is" home and that the bank would not pay for any repairs. And,since they were getting such a good deal that no matter what was wrong, they should by it and fore go the inspection. First, there are some tremendous deals out there, Real Estate is undoubtedly the place to invest in this market, buy low sell high.... But to assume that the bank won't pay for anything is not right. I recently completed in home in town that Countrywide just put a new roof on, repaired a lot of moisture and termite damage, and placed a termite bond on the home after our inspection. Certainly more than the norm, but it does happen.... However, who pays for repairs needed should not be the determining factor in obtaining a home inspection. You never know what you are buying, and saving a few hundred dollars could wind up costing thousands of dollars in repairs or God forbid have safety issues that harms or kills someone. Realtors, please recommend a home inspection for your clients, it is for their benefit as well as yours!

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Are you your own worst enemy?

Are Realtors using Home Inspectors for their clients Monetary gain only?