Above and Beyond a Naysayer
Many years ago I went to a local community college for a small business seminar. I had not even started doing inspection for fees yet. I was practicing on some friend's homes to develop a system and not waste so much time rewalking the home. The speaker at the seminar was a retired local businessman. He spoke for over an hour about general business practices and the economy and politics of business etc.
After his talk time ended, he went around the room and asked every person what business they were looking to start and what was their plan to be successful. I listened for ideas on things that would help me in my new inspection business. I had plenty of ideas but since I hadn't been paid even one dollar for my inspections to date, I had no idea if these ideas would even work.
He finally got around to me and I was the last person in the room to tell their story. After I finished, he folded his arms,, shook his head and said these exact words. "My friend, there are way too many home inspectors in this town. You will never make any money. The ones that are in business are barely getting by. I would look for another business idea."
I went home wondering if I was making a huge mistake, and if all the money and time I'd invested in classes and tools and my license was going to be a waste. I called my Dad and told him about the class. He asked who the teacher was. How do you think my face looked when my Dad told me that the teacher's son was a local home inspector?
Since that time I have grown my business every year as many as 100 inspections one year. I survived a widowmaker heart attack in 2012, became a healthy eating vegetarian and finished this past year with over 340 inspections. His son has moved north and last I checked, he's selling real estate.
I would love to run into the Dad someday and hand him my card.
SLS Home Inspections @815-644-6271
Inspecting homes like yours in the Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Illinois area since 2007.
Real Estate inspections with same day report delivery. Mold and air quality testing.
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