Testing for radon emissions that may be coming from granite counter tops is viable and should be a part of your company's services!
In the last few months, hundreds of special granite-surface test packages have been sold to do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners concerned about radon coming from their kitchen and bathroom granite counter tops. Hundreds of tests results show that most granite counter tops are radon-safe, but some of the more exotic granites may have random "hot-spots" that can be missed using DIY hit-or-miss testing. The main problem is that DIY testing only looks at a few random areas of the total counter surface. What is needed--and what you can provide--is a device that can locate potential "hot-spots" in their granite.
We understand that our inspectors want to provide homeowners a "peace of mind" test that is reasonably priced. HomeGauge has made a deal with our vendor for a limited number of special testing devices that can quickly locate hot-spots in granite at a great price break.
Watch the video and learn how to add more money to your bottom line. (sign in required)
Click here to
get to the video and purchase info. (sign in required)
 Trick
or Treat? ... How about a Treat?
HG mobile view – Use
your Pocket PC or smart phone to view report status and more! Now with your
mobile device you can:
- Confirm viewing
or report pick up
- Check payment status
of any report
- Confirm agreement
signature receipt
- Edit/give viewing
permission
- Resend email report
notifications
- Send 3rd party email notifications
- Make report documents public/private
It’s easy to
do! Just go to www.homegauge.com/mobile with
your mobile device and stay on top of your business!
 NAHI gets their own version of HomeGauge!!
www.NAHIGauge.com
From Jim Turner,
President of NAHI (National Association
of Home Inspectors):
"For 15 of my 17+ years
as a Home Inspector I have been utilizing report writing software in one
form or another. I have even assisted in the development of a couple of
the more popular brands, and they all seemed to lack something. That is
until now.
After reviewing HomeGauge 4,
I have found the answer to my software frustrations. HomeGauge 4 is easy
to learn, can be manipulated to fit any reporting style, and is operated
on a stable platform. The ability to use HomeGauge 4 with a handheld device
is not only convenient, but it reduces my reporting writing time considerably.
And my clients rave about the online report retrieval service.
When reviewing their products,
it is obvious that HomeGauge listened to the inspectors in the field and
adopted those suggestions into their products. In my opinion, HomeGauge
is the best home inspection software suite available."
Jim Turner, CRI
President — National Association of Home Inspectors
www.turnerinspections.com
NAHIGauge includes
the NAHI logo on the cover page, NAHI SOP template, and more!
See
a sample report here!
 HomeGauge Services gain more value, even in a down economy!
Along with you, we at HomeGauge
are feeling the effects with slower sales, and some inspectors we have talked
to are struggling. However, our sales continue to remain steady, albeit down
from last year’s sales. The brightest news for us is the resiliency
of HG Services (Gold and Platinum services). Many inspectors continue to
see the many benefits and extra value they provide their circle of agents
and contacts using the HG Services. During this down time we are glad to
be able to keep our HG Service prices the same since 2001.
Special
offer for HG users who have not tried our HG Services.
Try HG Gold Service or Platinum Service free for 60 days. Here’s what
you do to get the free trial offer:
- Click
this link and sign up. Choose the Platinum Service to include the
website builder. Or, if you already have a website, select the Gold Service
- Learn how to upload a report
(watch
this tour) and do a practice upload. You can use an extra email address
of yours or of your spouse, as an agent or buyer, to experience how they
will get the report.
- When your website is ready, call
us to help you place the sign in window on your website. Start branding
your company’s name by having your agents and buyers come to your
website to sign your online agreement and to pick up the report. Here’s
how to do it yourself, but calls are welcome! Support
FAQ - click the preceding link and scroll down to, "Can
agents and buyers get their report at my own website instead of HomeGauge.com?"
- Tell your agents in a newsletter,
or by mail, that you now include HomeGauge Services. See
example newsletter.
Those of you that are
struggling need to take a serious look at all aspects of your business and
use this time to groom and improve your services. The market will change,
and when it does, you want to be the perceived leader in your area. Ask yourself,
what you can do right now to give more value to your company? Where are your
weakest areas in marketing? It makes no difference how knowledgeable you
are if the phone is not ringing. Good inspectors can fall out of business
if they are bad marketers. Good inspectors are not necessarily savvy business
men and marketing choices are important when money is tight. Some inspectors
make choices that do not promote their business, but can actually harm it.
For example, disguised as an “email marketing campaign”, spewing “Me
Me Me” to agents over and over can do more damage to your name, by
being thought of as a spammer, and can quickly become an annoyance. Emailing
regularly (more than once a month) can dilute your company’s value
and leave a negative feeling, rather than a positive one, especially if you
don’t have anything of substance to say. Marketing companies who want
hundreds of dollars a month, and promote this type of spam as email marketing,
can have a negative impact, or a reverse action. You only need 60-75 agents
who use your company to do hundreds of inspections a year. Quit emailing
them and go see them. Stop by and say hello. Call them. Give them personalized
service, not spam. Offer to do some seller inspections for them (see
previous news alerts for more tips).
Remember, before you
can make a million dollars, you need to learn how to make a 100K first. Then
learn how to make 200K. Tip: you cannot pay your way there.
You must earn relationships with your contacts (agents, mortgage brokers,
attorneys, home buyers and sellers). This is done through personalized service.
Why pay hundreds of dollars a month for marketing tips, when what you need
is the basics:
- Great software: HomeGauge!
- HG Services: Many
benefits here for $30 a month.
- Your Website: (HG
websites are $15 a month) Brand your company name by having them come to
your website and stop sending bulky PDF attachments (PDF= Poorly-Done-Forwarding).
- Professionalism: Company
image, personal image, prompt service, manners and diplomacy.
- Marketing: Advertising
should be direct contact. Pick 75 agents and go after them. Replace those
on the list that are not receptive or are difficult to reach. Keep working
the list, not by spamming them, but by calling, giving them offers, using
postal mail, having short and sweet meetings. Become active in networking
groups, like the local chamber of commerce or business growth organizations
in your area.
Now is the time to contact
your favorite agents to say hello and let them know you are still in business!
Ask how you can help them in this slow time.
Upcoming shows HG will attend
- Vegas baby! HomeGauge
will attend the Inspection
Expo event this month!
- CAHPI National Home Inspectors Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia - cahpi.ca
- Kentucky's
KREIA
- InterNACHI has been having great
success with their recent shows in Toronto (Russell Buchanan of HG was
a guest speaker) and Fort Lauderdale, giving inspectors marketing tips.
It is open to all inspectors from any association. Two more shows are coming
to Charlotte and Atlanta in
November. Please attend if you can!
- Plan now for ASHI’s
Inspection World! HomeGauge was the main sponsor of last
year's event.
See
all of our upcoming events
Until next time,
Russell Buchanan
HomeGauge, President
russell@HomeGauge.com
877-274-4299
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