Inspection Business Success Tips

Marketing helps others. If you provide a good service you have a moral obligation to let as many people as possible know about, and benefit from, your good works.

No. You cannot offend real estate agents by marketing to them. Real estate agents are in the marketing business. Agents may have difficulty distinguishing a good inspector from a bad inspector or a good roof from a bad roof, but real estate agents recognize sharp marketing versus bad marketing. Real estate agents legally represent the very people that need your services. Marketing to real estate agents is the key to a successful home inspection business. Visit www.nachi.org/brochure.htm

Times have changed. Nowadays, nearly all home buyers shop for their new home online before they ever contact a real estate agent. This is why lending institutions advertise so heavily on the internet. NACHI dominates the internet , finds good clients , and sends them directly to you . You could not buy this much internet exposure if you spent $50,000.00 of your own money. NACHI provides these clients and many other benefits  to you for free. We are way upstream with a big net... the internet. Also, NACHI's Marketing & Lead Generation Department is strengthening the home buying community's awareness of the importance of using only NACHI certified inspectors.

Nearly every home seller is soon going to be a home buyer. Mail your inspection brochure or flyer to the sellers of every property you recently inspected. Your client (the buyer) probably gave the sellers a copy of your report about their own house you just inspected, so the sellers will have already seen your work. This marketing tip works especially well if you are a thorough inspector. For the same reasons sellers hated your thoroughness when you inspected the house they were selling, they'll love you as the inspector for the house they are buying.

Be proactive. If you see a for-sale sign or can get hold of a real estate office's list of homes for sale, send the sellers your flyer. Nearly every home seller is a home buyer. Even better, offer to perform an inspection of the home they are SELLING, not buying. Seller's pre-listing inspections are becoming more popular. You often get to perform the inspection on the home they're buying (if moving local) too. Learn more about seller's pre-listing inspections.

Real estate agents are hesitant about referring anyone for anything. They don't want to get sued for negligent referral. Giving real estate agents a stack of gift certificates or coupons for a $20 discount off the cost of an inspection is a way for agents to refer you to their buyers. However, real estate agents would feel safer about giving out your coupons to their buyers if they contain the following sentence: "Not an endorsement of you the inspector by your real estate professional." You might also want to add "Limit one coupon per home inspection." Remember these tips the next time you print coupons. Real estate agents feel safe when you use NACHI's negligent referral program.

Real estate agents, like most of us, are adverse to change. Agents regularly working with an inspector are unlikely to call you just because your prices are a little cheaper. Try this... go to the real estate office and simply ask the name of their biggest agent. Then go back home, call that agent, and schedule a 5-minute appointment. At the appointment, offer to perform a free seller's pre-listing inspection. You may have to explain what a seller's inspection is. Most agents will take you up on your free offer and allow you to inspect one of their listings. Seller's inspections are easier to perform because you do not have to deal with buyers or time. You only have to generate a professional report at your own pace. When you deliver the report to the agent, ask to be added to his/her short-list of inspectors. You might not be at the top of the list, but at least you will be on it.  At this point, the seller will have seen your work and may use you on the buying side. This is another chance to work with that agent (this time getting paid). Getting in with the office's top agent will be a stamp-of-approval provides a comfort level for other agents. Learn more about seller's pre-listing inspections. Also read about using NACHI binders. And finally try using NACHI's flyer designed for real estate office presentations.

Perhaps you are an "Associate" or "Candidate" member of another association. Agents recognize these types of members as inexperienced. You should not advertise your membership in those associations. NACHI does not brand its new members with derogatory terms like "Associate" or "Candidate."

No. Never give a real estate agent a kickback, bird dog fee, finder's reward, gift certificate or money for sending you work. It is appropriate to give them gift certificates or coupons for their clients to use (see above), and it is probably O.K. to send a real estate agent a modest holiday gift. NACHI offers a gift that will boost your business.

No. You are wasting your money. Homebuyers typically stay in their homes 8 years, so you won't be getting any repeat business from them any time soon. Save your money for marketing techniques that work.

Help is on the way! Give your home inspection business a quick boost. NACHI's direct marketing tools are free.

Feed them, especially if you are not comfortable with public speaking. Most sales meetings are in the morning. Bring fresh cut fruit, bagels, nice pastries, etc. Also, hand out your marketing flyer. The combination of food and a flyer is a winner and will take the attention away from you. If anyone has a question, they'll ask. Prompt them for questions: "Has anyone had a bad or good experience with a home inspection?" It is easier to answer questions than to deliver a speech. Don't forget plates, napkins, silverware, binders , and your business cards. Mousepads work too.

Sure. We can provide you with a display booth, custom banner, or table skirt. Also, pass out this flyer: http://www.nachi.org/documents/blame-the-agent.doc

Because you are a member of NACHI. Click here for advice to offer agents.

Yes. Visit our home inspection name search tool. 

Charge more. Prospective clients have almost no way to determine which inspector is the best from brochures. However, they believe that the best costs the most. For example: If you are in an area where your competition is charging $275, raise your prices $55 to $330. With regard to price, there are only two kinds of clients: The ones that shop for the cheapest price and the ones that shop for the best. When it comes to buying a home, there are more clients in the latter category than the former. That's right! Raising your price will get you more inspection work. If a price shopper acts startled by your prices ask him/her how much the home they're buying costs. Then say "Wow, that's a lot of money. A home inspection is no place to skimp. You'd better spend the extra $55 and have ME inspect it." Read "How to Convert every Call into a Scheduled Inspection."

Form your own local NACHI Chapter. Being President of your own local Chapter of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors is easy, fun and good for your business. NACHI will pay for everything and help you.

Yes. NACHI offers free professional email accounts.

No. Unlike most businesses, you will rarely meet your client before he/she hires you. Let me repeat that again: You will rarely meet your client before he/she hires you! So there is little need for direct salesmanship. However, strong marketing is a must. The only time you need to sell will be when a potential client calls you to inquire about your services. This of course requires somephone-salesmanship (see below). Marketing is what you do to get them to call in the first place. NACHI is the king of home inspection marketing and will help you get your phone ringing.

You are answering their question. That is what you are doing wrong. When someone asks for your prices, don't tell them, initially. First ask them if they have a pen and paper. Then tell them everything good about yourself. Talk slowly as if you are expecting them to write it all down. If you act like they should write it all down, they will. Make their notes become your brochure. Have a script ready: "We are locally owned and operated, we are members of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, we..." Some price-shoppers are just real estate agents gathering information for their clients. Some price shoppers are just shoppers who don't know what else to ask. Give them the answers to questions they should be asking.

An article which includes a telephone flow-chart script is available in Dear NACHI . This flow-chart is guaranteed to "convert" most price-shoppers into scheduled clients. Also check out http://www.nachi.org/smartchoice.htm .

Yes, but instead of telling them over the phone, offer to fax them a price list. Then fax or email them your brochure, your NACHI promotional material, your NACHI membership certificate, the NACHI Code of Ethics, reference letters, and anything else you can think of. Oh, and then finally fax them your price quote.

Advanced tip: Emphasize the relative difference between the extra amount you charge above and beyond your competitor and the price of the item (house) you are inspecting. Example: "Two hundred fifteen thousand nine hundred dollars is an expensive purchase. Spend the extra $85 and use me. I know I'm a little expensive, but very little compared to the price of the home you're buying."

How to convert every call into a scheduled inspection.

Say"Any inspector can give you a few references. You can better check on us by calling the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Their number is (610) 933-4241. " We at the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors answer our phone 24/7 and will gladly help your clients. You should also read the Advanced Tip at the bottom of the current issue of Dear NACHI , our advice column.

Time is of the essence clauses exist in every real estate sales agreement. Most callers need to get their inspection report fast and so schedule with the first inspector who answers his phone. Your business phone should be answered by a human being. Try using an answering service that will page you if someone wants to schedule an inspection or better still, have your calls forwarded to your cell phone.

It is more important that you answer your business phone than perform your inspections uninterrupted. Try this...After greeting your client explain that your prices are reasonable in part because you answer your own phone. Apologize in advance for any interruption. Remind your client that you pride yourself on your accessibility. Most clients will be fine with this. If you sense your client will be upset by such interruptions or if your cell phone begins ringing too much... turn it off. Most clients view your ringing cell phone as confirmation that they hired a popular, reputable inspector. Also, if you take a call that can be handled later, just tell them that you are on an inspection and will call them back. Let the caller wait. But if you take a call from someone who wants to schedule an inspection, schedule it then. Let the buyer you're with wait while you schedule it. If your wife calls to tell you bring home milk just say "I'll call you back to schedule your inspection ma'am." You should also give your client and the real estate agents something to read so that the wait doesn't feel awkward.

A related article.

No. Most home buyers look for a local area code. Why pay to dilute your local image. Also, any prospective client who calls you because you have a toll-free number is not a client you should seek.

Use NACHI's Spectoscope telescopic roof inspection tool. Marketing tip: Putting a set of three roof pictures of yourself in your brochure will instantly express that you perform thorough roof inspections. Pic 1: using a Spectoscope. Pic 2: inside the attic with a flashlight. Pic 3: ground shot of you on the roof (if safe).

Don't get stuck like Winnie the Pooh. Use NACHI's Spectoscope with digital camera and lighting.

Wear slippers indoors. If you are like most inspectors, you start with the exterior where your shoes can get covered with mud, or worse. Before you come inside, take your shoes off and put your slippers on. This one simple precaution tells everyone that you are careful in everything you do. Besides, many families regularly remove their shoes at the entry regardless. If you don't want to wear bedroom slippers you can purchase disposable slip-overs from a medical supply house. More inspection business tips are available to members only. Join today!

Dress professionally but not over the top. If you have your oil changed at one of those 10-minute lube franchises you will notice how professionally dressed mechanics are. You should dress at least that well. Avoid sneakers, t-shirts, shorts, sweat pants, and plaid. A solid white shirt is best. Polo shirts and blue jeans are probably alright but on the casual side. Ties are probably too formal. And of course... no smoking.

 

Many home inspectors "fill" their brochure with reasons to have a home inspection. This is a mistake for 2 reasons:

1. You are wasting precious ad space and spending money promoting our entire industry rather than distinguishing yourself.  While you're convincing everyone to hire a home inspector, your competitors are convincing everyone to hire them.
2. If someone has picked up your brochure, opened it, and is reading it they are likely already sold on hiring an inspector. Stop preaching to the choir. At this point, you don't have to sell them on a home inspection, you have to sell them on YOUR home inspection service.

Read http://www.nachi.org/brochure.htm to find out more.

NACHI has put together a committee of some of the nation's top marketing experts. Simply gather up copies of your ads, flyers, and brochures and send them to the address below. Our experts will write their comments, suggestions, and recommended improvements on your marketing literature and return them to you. This committee meets once every week so allow 10 business days. This service is free but only available to members. Join today!

You can also avail yourself of NACHI's free proofreading service.

You can also add My Promise to your brochures.

You should also read http://www.nachi.org/brochure.htm

Don't do that! Personal service is what counts. Don't use a postage meter, use stamps. In your flyers don't say "our inspectors", say "I."

Read My Promise.

Contact your clients a week after you perform their inspection. Ask them what they think you did well. Ask them what they think you did poorly. Encourage them to be critical. Feedback is important to any business. You might also ask them for a letter of reference and permission to reproduce it. If they agree, immediately send them a postage-paid return envelope. You should also ask them where they got your name: NACHI, Target Marketing System , real estate agent, Featured Inspectors page , yellow page ad, NACHI owned website , NACHI mousepad , NACHI binder , www.FindAnInspector.US , www.InspectorSEEK.com , or a friend. And finally read this message.

Market yourself in another town. Doing your first inspections outside your local market is a good way to build your confidence. After you smooth out all your rough edges, start marketing locally.

Read about and take our free online inspection exam (interactive learning tool), take our free online inspection course , visit NACHI University , take our free online Standards of Practice Quiz , and take our free online Ethics Obstacle Course. You should also browse our visual aid inspection frames , our inspection community photo web gallery , and our inspection glossary. All are categorized and searchable.

Take our free online exam and then visit the National Statistics page. Also, most of your fellow NACHI inspectors offer free ride-alongs.

It is difficult for most inspectors to design and run an ad that pays for itself (breaks even). You should run your ad by our free Marketing Committee first. Having said that, your membership fee of $289 already provides you with tremendous internet exposure and advertising benefits. Running $50,000.00 of your own local ads would not have the same marketing effect as membership in NACHI. Your membership fee is by far your best bang-for-the-buck. Read about NACHI"s new client generators. Also carefully read about NACHI Binders and visit www.nachi.org/brochure.htm . And visit NACHI's Marketing & Lead Generation Department.

No. Being licensed is like being up to code. If you did any less it would be illegal. In other words, licensing sets a bare minimum. NACHI members are on the other end of the scale.

Yes, of course. Over 4,500 of them including the internet's most popular inspector search engines: www.InspectorSeek.com and www.FindAnInspector.US . We own many more websites  which we use to promote your home inspection service directly to online home shoppers.

No. Branding works great for athletic shoe companies but not for individual home inspectors. The home inspection business is a people business. Put your NACHI logo on the back of your brochure and put your smiling face and company/franchise name on the front. Never let any association or advertising company charge you to brand their name/logo. Read the Forbes Magazine article 'Branding Is Dead. Billions are Spent on Useless Strategy' at: http://www.forbes.com/asap/2002/0325/068_print.html

NACHI can provide you with inspection work in a large geographic area. Just submit your name and up to 20 zip codes you service. All search engines will be updated to include your expanded market area. No charge. Then check it by visiting www.FindAnInspector.US or www.InspectorSEEK.com .

No law requires you to publicly announce the level of your NACHI membership, so you are simply a "Member." This is true for many other professions. For instance, a lawyer is not required to warn his first client about his lack of experience. Also, no law recognizes experience and knowledge gained outside the performance of inspections (many inspectors were once involved in construction). Since every inspector's experience is different there is likely no correlation between real experience and level of membership. Furthermore, since no law requires a public disclosure of an inspector's experience (or lack of it), NACHI doesn't require it either. If you are only a new working member you need not alarm your clients. If you are a full member there is nothing preventing you from touting it. You must be one or the other though. NACHI does not brand new inspectors with derogatory terms such as "Associate" or "Candidate" because NACHI has an entrance exam . Many agents blacklist associates and candidates.

Attention REALTORs: Is your inspector blind?

No. This is a bad idea. New inspectors should not advertise their lack of experience ("Grand Opening"). Nor should you join any association that brands you with derogatory terms like "Associate" or " Candidate." Many REALTORs blacklist Candidates.

Sure. A hi-resolution downloadable copy of NACHI's Trademarked logo is available to you. All members (both working and full) may use it as they like. NACHI makes no public distinction between working and full members so we only have one logo. Get your NACHI logo.   However, the general public does not respond to the logo as well as they do the actual full name of our association. Google at www.google.com says the phrase most used to search for a home inspector is "certified home inspector" so for best response, use the full words: "National Association of Certified Home Inspectors" written out. You should also use our consumer certification verification seal at http://www.nachi.org/webseal.htm . Also, you may use our InterNACHI logo at http://www.nachi.org/internachilogo.htm .

Yes. You may use the NACHI logo provided you are the lead inspector and the non-member is merely an assistant. NACHI also permits secretaries and spouses to assist on an inspection without they themselves being members. However, if you employ inspectors who perform inspections without you and write their own inspection reports, they should each join NACHI before anyone in your firm uses the NACHI logo. In other words, as long as every inspection is performed and every report is written by at least one NACHI member, NACHI logo use is unrestricted. Multi-inspector companies receive membership discounts:

• Membership fee: $289
• Additional inspectors in the same firm: $100
• Assistants and secretaries: $100 but not required to join
• Spouses: $75 but not required to join

You may also use the InterNACHI logo at http://www.nachi.org/internachilogo.htm .

If you have an assistant, it is better to split up and have your clients go with your assistant (assuming your assistant is confident in his duties). Have your assistant dress better than you. When you arrive, have your assistant introduce himself to the clients while you carry all the tools. Your clients will attach themselves to your assistant and you will be free to get the inspection done.

Of course. All members are "certified" by NACHI. The general public looks for the word "certified" more than anything else. Also use our consumer certification verification seal at www.nachi.org/webseal.htm .

Add our Cool Links , visit our Website of the Week and Month section , and see what other inspectors have on their websites (30 second download time), and get a NACHI banner.

Sure. Anyone may put a link to www.nachi.org on�his or her�website, even non-members. A hi-resolution downloadable copy of NACHI's Trademarked logo is available for members to use. Get your NACHI logo. However, the general public does not respond to the logo as well as they do the actual full name of our association. For better response, use the full words: "National Association of Certified Home Inspectors" rather than just the acronym "NACHI." You should also add other cool links and banners. Also add our consumer certification verification seal at www.nachi.org/webseal.htm . Also use the InterNACHI logo at www.nachi.org/internachilogo.htm .

If you are a member your website and email address will be automatically posted in the real estate referral network, on NACHI.org, and in every Find an Inspector form nationwide. You should also add it to your member profile . The power of this network is growing every day. You can also add your own site to our Useful Links section by using the free link exchange program . You can also use the automatic Target Marketing System . You can also add other cool links . NACHI.org receives millions of hits a month! All 4,500 of our sites combined with www.FindAnInspector.US �and www.InspectorSeek.com produce nearly a billion impressions a month for our members. NACHI will also promote your website through our exclusive deal with Google . Members may also enter their site in NACHI's Website of the Week and Month contest. All this is free to members. You should also visit www.nachi.org/site-comparisons.htm

Sure. You know you're a member. We know you're a member. The purpose of the certificate is to let everyone else know you're a member. You should also include them in your binders.

Sure. Members may use all of our articles royalty free. You need not credit us. Just use them. What Really Matters by Nick Gromicko is very popular. Members need NOT credit Mr. Gromicko or NACHI. Members can put their own name on them if they wish. You should also add other cool links.

This is an easy one. Simply add the following line (in big proud print) to the top of all your flyers:

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

NOT A FRANCHISE!

Simple. NACHI can provide you with inspection work in any geographic area you want. Just submit your name and�up to 20 zip codes you�service. All search engines�will be�updated�to include your extended areas. No charge. Then check it�by�visiting www.FindAnInspector.com . This service is available to all members, not just franchise owners. You can make any changes you want, anytime, by visiting our member-only profile editor.

Yes. NACHI has members in 34 countries, and our real estate referral networks function in all of them. Check out our new at www.nachi.ca . NACHI also recently formed InterNACHI, an international organization for home inspectors in other countries. NACHI has released a 100% Canadian-friendly site at www.InspectorSEEK.com .  Our member-controlled profile editor is Canadian-friendly. And finally our Consumer Recovery Fund is managed by our Canadian non-profit organization.

NACHI will do it for you. We constantly seek out home buyers who do not use English as their primary language. We can also provide you with�links to put on your website that speak to these ethnic groups.

The single best thing you can do to keep from losing a lawsuit is to use the NACHI Agreement. In one page, this Agreement (between you and your client) sets forth your obligation as an inspector: to generate a written report identifying the major defects you observed. That is all. If you promise to do more, then you are selling insurance. Don't. If during the course of performing the standard home inspection you don't observe a major defect, then you have no duty to report it. Do yourself a favor. Read the NACHI Agreement carefully. You will be convinced that it is better than the one you are using now. All inspectors can benefit from our challenge: If you or your attorney believe there is any way the NACHI Agreement can be improved, let us know and we will send you $250 and redraft the Agreement accordingly. The NACHI Agreement is periodically tweaked and free to members. Join today!

Adhere to the NACHI's Inspector-friendly Standards of Practice . They provide you an additional layer of legal protection. Take our free online Standards of Practice Quiz . It will tell you if you are inspecting too little or too much. And participate in our Consumer Recovery & Legal Defense Funds  and our Alternate Dispute Resolution Service.

Here are some suggested clauses for your attorney only. Your attorney can explain why they strengthen your agreement and determine which ones are right for you. If you are a member of NACHI, your attorney should also review the NACHI Agreement. The NACHI agreement has been fine-tuned many times and is a one-page work of art. It is downloadable under NACHI Documents.

1. INSPECTOR agrees to perform a visual inspection of the subject house and to provide CLIENT with a written inspection report identifying the deficiencies that INSPECTOR both observed and deemed major.
2. INSPECTOR may offer comments on items or systems as a courtesy, but these comments will not comprise the bargained-for report.
3. The report is only supplementary to the seller's disclosure.
4. The inspection will be of clearly visible and accessible areas of the house.
5. The inspection and report are performed and prepared for use of CLIENT, who gives INSPECTOR permission to discuss observations with real estate professionals, owners, repairpersons and other interested parties. INSPECTOR accepts no responsibility for use or misinterpretation by third parties.
6. INSPECTOR wants the CLIENT to know: CLIENT should not expect that INSPECTOR will find every problem that exists or ever could exist, but only that INSPECTOR will report deficiencies that INSPECTOR both observed and deemed a significant material defect.
7. INSPECTOR does NOT claim expertise in specific home components or systems.
8. INSPECTOR will not move personal property, debris, furniture, equipment, and carpeting or like materials, which may impede access or limit visibility.
9. The inspection is NOT intended to be technically exhaustive.
10. Equipment and systems will NOT be dismantled.
11. INSPECTOR does not perform engineering, architectural, plumbing, or any other job function requiring an occupational license in the jurisdiction where the inspection is taking place.
12. If any provision of this Agreement is declared invalid or unenforceable by any court, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
13. CLIENT shall have no cause of action against INSPECTOR beyond the earlier of one year after the date of the inspection or the date of this Agreement.

If you have a website, post your inspection agreement on it. This upfront, forthright move will counter any argument that your client didn't get an opportunity to read it. You can also email the inspection agreement to your client. The NACHI agreement is periodically tweaked. The agreement and future revisions are available to members for free. You might also want to add links to other documents.

No charge. You can download the latest version which is posted under the NACHI Documents section. NACHI also has a negligent referral (real estate agent hold-harmless) clause you can add.

Yes. Complaints should be addressed quickly. Law suits cost money and cause damage to your public image. NACHI can try to help resolve complaints before things get out of control. Sometimes a client or real estate agent will be more receptive to a response from a third party like NACHI. NACHI's mediation services are provided to members at no charge. NACHI also has a separate Inspector Arbitration Service for member use and Consumer Recovery & Legal Defense Funds.

Act fast. Visit our advice column. The current issue deals with this very subject.

Yes. NACHI members get deals on E & O insurance and everything else. Remember though: NACHI does not require you to purchase E & O insurance unless your state/province requires it. Even then, you should not purchase it until just before you perform your first fee-paid inspection. No sense in paying a premium for nothing. Help NACHI reduce your premiums by taking our E&O insurance survey.  Also participate in NACHI's Consumer Recovery and Legal Defense Funds. Also check out NACHI's Alternate Dispute Resolution Service.

First impressions are everything. The front cover page of your inspection report should be about the home you are inspecting, not you and your company. Take a photograph of the front of the home and use it on the front cover page of your report. You can use a digital camera if you know how. Some inspectors use digital photographs throughout their entire report. A front photo also makes it easier to remember the home if you have to refer to the report later. You should also consider using a binder.

NACHI has put together a committee of some of the nation's best Master Inspectors. Simply make hard copies of your latest inspection reports and send them to the address below. Our experts will write their comments, suggestions, and recommended improvements on your reports and return them to you. This committee meets once every week so allow 10 business days. New working members should use this free service for their first 100 inspections. This service is free but only available to members. Join today!

Make yourself a little inspection dictionary of words you frequently use in your reports. Add to it every time you come across a word like recepticle... receptical... receptacle . Also, it is "peace" of mind, not "piece" of mind. Run your flyers by NACHI's free proofreading service.

Yes. Evidence of rodents should be noted. Mouse traps, poison, or damage should be reported as well. Oh, and don't refer to it as "poop", "crap", or "s#%t" of course, call it "rodent droppings."

Include a copy of "What Really Matters " with your report. Or, simply refer all parties to www.nachi.org/what_really_matters.htm . Sometimes it is better if it comes from a third party like the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Real estate agents love this short article because it keeps everything in perspective.

No. A material defect is a problem with a residential real property or any portion of it that would have a significant adverse impact on the value of the property or that involves an unreasonable risk to people on the property. The fact that a hot water tank is beyond the end of its normal useful life is not by itself a material defect. Refer your clients to www.nachi.org/what_really_matters.htm .

Offering additional environmental inspections is a great way to boost profits. Typically these types of inspections are offered in addition to a typical home inspection. They are high profit because you have already paid your overhead and marketing that got you the home inspection and you are already going to the home anyway. Reminder: When someone calls you to order a home inspection, ask if he or she would like a lead paint, mold, radon gas, or water quality inspection as well. Another tip: Take pre-packaged environmental kits with you to the home inspection. Offer them for sale (including analysis) to everyone at the home inspection. Often homebuyers will purchase them from you to use after they move in. Inspectors can order environmental kits directly from our laboratories. NACHI members get preferred pricing and priority analysis in some cases. You should also visit our advice column and read our current issue which pertains to this subject.

Don't turn down the little jobs. But while performing the ancillary inspection look around out of the corner of your eyes. If you see a defect, alert your client even though you were not hired to perform a whole home inspection. Your conversation might likely lead to you getting the whole home inspection. By the same token, when performing whole home inspections let your clients know you can perform other inspections while you are there.

Subcontract out these inspections to people who are qualified. For instance, if your state requires you to be certified to perform radon inspections, ask your state to provide you with the list of those that are already certified. Contact a few that are local to you and ask them if they would be willing to perform radon inspections when you do your home inspections. You might even ask them for permission to use their credentials in your marketing literature.  For example: "Radon gas inspections offered for additional fee and performed by a certified radon inspector, license # 1234". Homebuilders use subcontractors all the time. You should too.

Contact the septic company and explain that you want to sub-contract them when someone orders a septic inspection with the home inspection. Explain that all you want in return is a no-conflict-of-interest statement from them first. This statement from the septic company promises that they won't offer a bid to repair any septic system they inspect for you. You can then publicize that your add-on septic inspections come with a no-conflict-of-interest promise. Smart real estate agents will order septic inspections through you rather than direct, just to take advantage of the promise.

NACHI has negotiated special agreements with many laboratories across the country. These laboratories have agreed to analyze our member's samples first and fast. NACHI provides its members with priority analysis stickers that distinguish your samples from others. If your laboratory has not yet entered into such an agreement with NACHI, please let us know. We want you to receive your laboratory results as fast as possible.

The use of of tamper resistant techniques in real estate radon inspections is sometimes required. Learn how to build an inexpensive radon cage that looks and works great. This cage does not rely on electricity or batteries.

Take NACHI's free online Ethics Obstacle Course .

Take NACHI's free online Standards of Practice�Quiz .

Go toNACHI's Free Book and Video Library where you can have an inspection video mailed to you today. Also, non-members can take our free, online inspection course . You need not be a member to take our free course . You can also take our free online exam which determines your weak areas. And finally, read this message .

Certainly. NACHI can find an inspector not too far from you who is willing to let you tag along for a day. Typically, he will be outside your projected market area so that he is not a future direct competitor, so expect to drive about 50 miles to get to him. These live inspection ride-alongs are the best way to learn. Performing this service to help new working members is requested, but not required of full NACHI members.

Yes. Dear NACHI, our advice column is open to all. The current issues deal with handling complaints and boosting profits.

No, but InterNACHI does. Download your copy now.

Yes. Visit NACHI's Online Inspector University.

Yes. NACHI operates the industry's most popular message board that has some advantages over other message boards:

1. Everyone is welcome to both view and offer posts on NACHI's message board, even non-members.
2. You can add photos to your posts on NACHI's message board. A picture is worth a thousand words.
3. It is linked to NACHI's Photo Web Gallery. See actual defects.
4. You do not risk getting kicked off of our message board even if you are there to NACHI bash. Feel free to criticize NACHI if you like. Freedom of speech.
5. NACHI's message board automatically corrects foul language. It is Lady and Gentlemen friendly.
6. Unlike other message boards (Baghdad Brian's), our moderator does not have authority to edit or delete your posts even if you NACHI bash. Feel free to say and ask what you want. Freedom of speech.
7. NACHI's message board hires SpellChecker.net to correct your spelling errors.
8. NACHI's message board is frequented by members of other associations and non-inspectors. There are no restrictions. Freedom of speech.
9. Promotion of your company, association, seminar, products, laboratory, etc. is encouraged on NACHI's message board. We want to know even if it has little to do with inspections. Let's keep the money in the family.
10. NACHI does not pollute its board by selling�pop-ups or banners. Also, you don't have to worry about offending our advertisers... we don't have any. Freedom of speech.
11. NACHI's board is the inspection industry's most popular message board.
12. NACHI uses an