chicago

Chris I know you directed your question towards jim, however after many years of replacing glass panes and window frames I can tell you with certainty that any small fracture whatsoever will eventually crack the entire pane. Just put your foot on something ice and watch the cracks spread as you apply pressure with your foot. Although I suppose in Arizona this might be difficult to achieve.

Could tip Kurt . Whoever getting the handyman jobs also involves some marketing which I would rather be spending my time on marketing the home inspection business not the contracting business. I figured during the Comcast gig at least I will enter half a dozen homes a day. Oh and a slightly off the subject I cracked the frame on my van yesterday and ran into a gentleman from alpha home inspection who tells me only 15% of his businesses is real estate agent referral. He swears most of his business is people selling through BUY OWNER. It actually encouraged me but made me wonder why with three websites I am not getting more phone calls. He says his is all through Yahoo and very rarely gets business from the city itself. Mainly in the Elgin area a suburb northwest of the city.HUMMMMMMMMMM[:-graduat

Yes it is quite a prediciment. Doctor and patient. Lawyer and client. Or just not withholding any information. I think I know where the real estate agent stands on this issue. When you do finally speak with your lawyer be sure to let us all know what he has to say.

Chris I think Kurt might be on to something, you can probably forget about the header idea since some of these windows are sliders it's doubtful. You never mentioned what the framing material was. If it's wood than what Kurt is referring to is the window points. Therefore one clue might be in the glazing which basically acts as a shock absorber while the points hold the glass in place. Also a lousy glass cutting job can set up a small fractures which will magnify over time.[:-graduat

I'm new here so I apologize if I'm sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. However it seems to me that if you did this inspection one year ago the present seller was the prospective buyer one year ago. What this means is according to full disclosure laws it's up to the seller to disclose any problems not corrected. If home inspection is a visual profession and you do not presently see a problem, then why not assume the seller took care of the problem based on the inspection report you had given him previously. It has just been covered over like a pig with perfume and I feel it should be the seller's liability not yours.[:-graduat

Unfortunately it looks like I'm heading back to my crappy Comcast job, in order to pay for all this marketing. I can see getting into home inspection is not like winning the lottery for me. And since we are on marketing, any opinions on use of the Yellow Pages. Does it seem to be cost effective to have more than a one line mention. Should I sell the farm and get a large ad? In the Chicago area deadlines are at November.[?]

Kurt I think you may be correct as this has almost become an obsession.I was hoping for easy answers thinking my PC could do anything.I just bought my first laptop 1 year ago.Time to concentrate on the home inspection and learn to delegate the small stuff.Thankyou[:-graduat

Thanks now that is what I am looking for. A few new ideas. As far as the Microsoft templates go I did look into that. These prefabricated templates are very limiting and that you must put your graphics where they want you to without having any control of placement. I just bought my first fax. It's a broadband fax, perhaps the idea of scanning then transferring to a JPEG file may have merit. Thanks again[:-graduat

Thanks guys,but an opinion is not the same as an answer.Iam looking for a way to create a blank template with preset margins which can then be transfered to JPEG in order to adjust my graphics.IS this complex for a newbe or somthing easy.There must be some better way I like the idea of guerilla marketing.And in todays competitive world it sure cant hurt to understand as much as you can.Not every Idea can wait for the printer.[:-graduat

Does anyone know a simple way to create a custom brochure with their computer. Graphic design programs seem to be fine if so in a couple of words I'm talking full brochure. I set up a template in Word going 8 1/2 times 3.6. Unfortunately this can only be done in a text format. How can I turn this into JPEG format. Right now I am getting horribly mixed results by cutting and pasting into SERIF draw plus four. I use this to switch formats saved to (my pictures) then transfer to gimp. This is extremely time consuming with mixed results. Can anyone tell me what I am doing horribly wrong.[?] All the brochure templates I see online force you to use their style brochure.[?]]

http://www.myreportwriter.com/ this is the one I have for a reasonable monthly rate. It's published by a couple of guys with ashi. I personally am a member of nachi, but feel any association is a good association is better than none. I believe they actually give a discounted price for Ashi members so it works both ways.[:-graduat

Ever since I made my first reply to this thread have been logging on every day to check the replies. I see lots of realtor bashing and plenty of inspectors claiming they never use realtors, but never really mentioned how to get business. What's the alternative? Sorry if you tell me family and friends I just don't buy it. Is it purely marketing to sellers by hitting the for sale signs? Just curious.[:-graduat

WOW! Sounds like a lion's den full of predators. Obviously they could care less who they give the business to which is one reason I was going to work the pre-inspection inspection angle. Perhaps offering that 90 day home warranty and a yard sign listing the home as be inspected by a certified certified inspector. This is something they would be of benefit to them and the seller. In this way they now I am hoping in a solo home plus I'm getting free advertising in front of the property. Also I'm hoping that I'll get a second deal for inspecting the home that the seller will be buying. Anyway I should be hitting my first real estate offices sometime later this week with brochures in hand. Other than that Mike what would you recommend other than marketing to real estate agents, perhaps real estate lawyers ,brokers etc. once again thanks for your input I appreciate it. Oh and by the way I assume that private cubicle conversation to which were referring has something to do with an unethical bird-dog fee. (Bobe).

Fritz checked out your site nice pictures. I'm sure both of us appreciate your input. I suspect that in the Midwest home sales will cool off with the weather, so we need to boost inspections quickly as we can. Your advice to play Speaker of the week is a good one, however us novices may need to build a little bit more confidence before attempting this. You feel that pre inspections will grow with the slowing market?[:-graduat

Darren welcome to the club. I'm new to the game myself, one of the things my instructor taught me was that 90% of all business comes to real estate agent referrals. Right now I am working on pre-inspection brochures for home sellers, and will be personalty distributing these real state offices. Remember the product you're selling as yourself, so let them see face to go with those letters and they may have more confidence in giving you a call. I'm also told it may take one or two years before you have a full thriving business. Just remember they can't recommend you if they don't see and hear from you. Better to oversell then undersell. And by the way going to this site seems a great way to get started. Lots of tips from older more experienced inspectors. Also have you tried mortgage brokers and real estate lawyers. Anyway good luck in the future as I am in the same boat as you. Sincerely Chicago(Bobe).[:-graduat

Intresting link tho I freaked when my curser turned into a hammer. thanks for the link.

Has anyone here ever tried a voice recognition program like naturally speaking by dragon,inconjuntion with a word processor?

In baseball pitching determines how good a team is.In football it is the line play,and gentlemen Da bears have the best in football. Even ESPN or eastern seaboard programing network admit it.Throw in the magic of Grossman and there we are,best team in football. GO BEARS.[:-graduat