3 Home Inspection Marketing Tips Guaranteed to Double Your Business

If you’re anything like me, just the idea of visiting an open house makes your stomach turn. I am not social. I don’t like being in front of people. So face-to-face marketing is not in my comfort zone. However, your growth will only occur when you are outside your comfort zone.

Comfort is the enemy of progress. Our bodies have a desire to feel safe and protected. Unfortunately, for some of us, a fight or flight response activates at the thought of face-to-face marketing. I promise you won’t die from visiting open houses, though.

Critical points for visiting open houses

• Do not talk about how thorough you are. No one cares.
• Do not interrupt the Realtor if they are busy. They are also there trying to get new clients.
• Bring something of value. The photos below are examples of what we bring. Make it seasonal. In the winter, bring something warm. In the summer, bring something cold. Be thoughtful.
• Always include a coupon. Realtors love special offers. We use scratch-off coupons. You can see how we make them in the video below, and you can purchase the  Scratch Off Stickers HERE.
• Always grab business cards. You will need these later.
• Don’t just drop the bag and leave. I call this ninja marketing (when you sneak in, sneak out, and no one knows you were there). Instead, be genuinely interested in getting to know them. You might need to remind yourself that you are genuinely interested in them before you go. Ask them how the open house is going, how long they’ve been in Real Estate, what they did before etc.
• Don’t worry if they seem annoyed by you. Some people are just like that. Move on. There will be at least one person excited about it for every person who is annoyed that you stopped by.

The Gold is in the follow-up

We have gotten lucky a few times. We show up to an open house, and the Realtor needs an inspection and books one right away for the next week. However, this is one in about 200 or less. In most industries, you need to follow up with your leads. Remember, never bore them with how awesome you are and why they should use you.

• Add the Realtor on Facebook and other social media when you get home.
• On Monday or Tuesday, message them. Ask them if they got any solid leads at the open house. Most know they aren’t going to sell the house due to the open house. So they are usually collecting leads. Many new real estate agents host an open house for the listing agent in exchange for any leads.
• Invite them to like your Facebook page and post on your business page every day. This is a great way to demonstrate that you are a professional home inspector.
• Ask them if you can send them a sample inspection report. Most Realtors want to see your product before they will recommend you.
• In a month or so, you could follow up, asking if the house ever sold.

The results will not happen overnight. Expect a few months, and rarely, even a few years, before they will schedule. It WILL work, though. You will see results. The key is following up and keeping your business page active to keep your company fresh on their mind.

If you have a newsletter, you could ask them if “they mind being sent monthly home maintenance tips (or whatever your newsletter is about).” However, don’t just ask them if you can add them to your newsletter. If you don’t have a newsletter, it is a good idea to start one now.

There are tons of ways to follow up. Just make sure you have a solid follow-up plan and a way to track it.