I know we all get them. Those e-mails from someone we don't know, and they are going to trust us enough to give us millions of dollars (for a slight fee to ensure OUR honesty), just for being a nice person.
OK, that isn't really what I wanted to talk about. I want to discuss those e-mails we get from a prospective client. They usually ask a bunch of questions, give little information, and never seem to turn into anything.
I may get an e-mail from a link on the ASHI website where someone has narrowed a search to KNoxville, TN ASHI members, then clicked on my profile, and then clicks on a box that says "contact inspector". I may get an e-mail out of the blue, maybe they got my website address from a yellow page ad, a business card, a brochure, Google search.....who knows?
The e-mail will usually ask about pricing, but there isn't enough information to give an accurate quote. Most times there isn't a phone number to contact them.
I will respond to the e-mail, ask for the needed information, refer them to my website, give them the office phone number and tell them the best time to call to catch me in the office, and ask for their phone number.
i have to say that most of these e-mails go nowhere. They rarely got past my response. If they give a phone number, I have called it to find it's not a real number.
I just chalked it up to cyber-shoppers, or someone just sitting at a computer browsing and not really serious about getting an inspection. Maybe they have a fear of human contact? or commitment? Or maybe they are just messing with people.
Mind you, I do get some of my clients from the web. I have done inspections for people I have never met, or even spoken with. They e-mail a request, I e-mail a contract, they send me their credit card info, I do the inspection and post their report to a web site and give them a password. If they have questions afterward, they e-mail them.
THREAD DRIFT WARNING!!! A few years ago I was in line at Wednesday night dinner at church, talking with the guy behind me. He was telling me that they had just moved here from New York, and he had the greatest experience with a home inspection. This caught my attention. He had no idea I was a home inspector. He went on and on about how easy it all was, and what a great report, and all that, when I asked him who the inspector was. He said, "Jack Feldmann". I just put out my hand and said glad to meet you.
So, not all cyber prospects are flakes, but it just seems that a lot of them are. I was curious if others have the same results.
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