Is FLIR infared imaging the future wave of Home Inspections?

[ekartal6]

David,

I stand corrected. It is pretty cool.

Erol K.

[Justin Watts]

Good info.

[jmichalski]

Originally Posted by dandersen

I totally agree!
Marketing part of this technology remains to be seen.
However, after looking at $14,000 lawsuit in comparison to thermal imaging, you may get a positive return on your investment!

A thread on marketing attempts for thermal imaging may be helpful here by those who have the equipment.

A good idea. I had attempted to start this thread a few months back, but the few guys who responded seemed to indicate that, while they got the sense that clients loved it, no one was sure it had resulted in significantly more inspections. I don't think those guys were charging an up-fee for the IR as an add on, they simply include it in standard inspections.

I am fairly certain that no one (at least no one who has posted here) has met with any sucess at all in marketing it as a stand alone inspection.

Compared to a major lawsuit, yes it is a good ROI. However, that is what the E&O is all about.

It is tremendously cool, but I am just puzzled as to why people are having such a hard time selling it.....

[tstithem]

I recently received my certification from NACHI. My primary business is thermal imaging and ground penetrating radar inspection. While I intend to do real estate inspections both residential and comercial, I also want to market my thermal imaging services to other inspectors. They could recommend my services as an add on, add my services to their bill +10% or 15% of course for the phone call. This frees them up from some liability, training, years of experience, and the expense of a thermal imaging camera which for a good one is exceptional. Does this sound like something anyone would use?

[Carl Pennick]

I have toyed with the idea of investing in a Thermal Camera, like most inspectors I am worried that I will not be able to add a enough money to the inspection fee to warrant buying one.
This said I think I go for it in the new year and purchase one, problem is the wife will kill me when she finds it

[gporter]

Carl we have an empty room you can move in.

[gporter]

Originally Posted by gporter

Carl we have an empty room you can move in.

only if we can share the camera

[David A. Andersen]

Compared to a major lawsuit, yes it is a good ROI. However, that is what the E&O is all about.

This is not about replacing insurance. However, any claims against your insurance has the possibility of putting you out of business for not being able to obtain insurance if it's required by your state. The insurance thing was just a passing thought to me. However it makes more sense than inspectors not wanting to use the device because it's going to cause more liability!

I do not believe that the home inspection market currently or in the very near future will support thermal imaging for widespread use. However, there are those that have enough money floating around to use it. Maybe working with associate home inspectors in your area could get someone in another field and out of your competition area! I'll do thermal imaging if you take care of my basic home inspection stuff!

One problem is the time restraints on real estate transactions and the scheduling of home inspections. Thermal imaging companies will also be doing home inspections to stay afloat in between jobs initially so they can't really just drop what they're doing and run over and take pictures at your inspection.

Anyway, this is something that may evolve down the road along with the standings of the home inspection industry.

It is tremendously cool, but I am just puzzled as to why people are having such a hard time selling it.....

$$$$$

They are willing to pay 6% RE Comission though! Why?

$125,000 x 6% = $7,5000
$300,000 x 6% = $18,000
$1,000,000 x 6% = $60,000

Anyone been paid this lately?

Anyone ever try setting fees by % ?

$125,000 x 1% = $1,250

Instead of doing three inspections a day, how about spending the day there?

[jmichalski]

It would seem that there should be a consumer market for this, but this does not appear to be the case. I can't quite figure out why, but I suspect that it may be related either to limitations of the camera (I would guess that many HIs will emphatically state that it does not see through walls, etc, which makes it less impressive to clients), or it could be that they do not understand what they see and how it is important.

I will have to learn more about it.......and try some sample marketing ideas on my focus group!!

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by jmichalski

It would seem that there should be a consumer market for this, but this does not appear to be the case. I can't quite figure out why, but I suspect that it may be related either to limitations of the camera (I would guess that many HIs will emphatically state that it does not see through walls, etc, which makes it less impressive to clients), or it could be that they do not understand what they see and how it is important.

I will have to learn more about it.......and try some sample marketing ideas on my focus group!!

We ain't talking x-rays here. Of ocurse it can't "See through walls". To allow the client to believe that would be dishonest and unethical.

A market must develop. Remember marketing is not the sale thing as sales.

[Carl Pennick]

Gary with the cost of one these things you better live in Buckingham palace

[Justin Watts]

Hi Everyone,
If you want to see the FLIR in action check out the show on Cable called T.A.P.S, its on the Sci-Fi channel (science fiction channel). Anyways, these paranormal investigators use it to track heat sources of strange occurrences, ghosts, etc. etc.

I have always been skeptical of the "psychic" shows... a lot of them seem like a bunch of crap but the TAPS guys, who are also LICENSED PLUMBERS when they are not investigating the paranormal. They only rely on scientific evidence using instruments we all use.. IR thermometers, etc. etc.

Check out the show.... it is worth watching. and You will see the FLIR in action.

[jmichalski]

Originally Posted by wdecker

We ain't talking x-rays here. Of ocurse it can't "See through walls". To allow the client to believe that would be dishonest and unethical.

A market must develop. Remember marketing is not the sale thing as sales.

Will, of course I understand that, but it is hard to describe the potential usefulness of the item to a client while at the same time attempting to disclaim its limitations.

"It may find hidden leaks" or "it helps detect heat loss" are not strong marketing statements and I think this issue may be limiting the effectiveness of marketing.

And of course sales and marketing are separate. In this case, marketing appears to be the necessary (and missing) component that can produce interest, leads and result in sales (jobs closed).

The thing no one seems to have quite found success with yet is effectively marketing this technology to potential clients and transalting that into jobs.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by jmichalski

Will, of course I understand that, but it is hard to describe the potential usefulness of the item to a client while at the same time attempting to disclaim its limitations.

"It may find hidden leaks" or "it helps detect heat loss" are not strong marketing statements and I think this issue may be limiting the effectiveness of marketing.

And of course sales and marketing are separate. In this case, marketing appears to be the necessary (and missing) component that can produce interest, leads and result in sales (jobs closed).

The thing no one seems to have quite found success with yet is effectively marketing this technology to potential clients and transalting that into jobs.

That's what I am working on, Jim. I am doing presentations (as the local NACHI Chapter Pres, not as a private inspector. Marketing, not sales.) to local Realtors, mortgauge companies and first time buyers seminars. Just getting the word out there.

I have also been volunteering my time to local members who thing they might have a need for the technology (we have had a number of heavy rains, recently) for them at their inspections. I charge nothing and provide the pictures and show them where the problems are and they incorporate it in their reports.

Hope there is long term pay off. For everyone.

[Justin Watts]

Most Realtors are going to HATE this tool....... It will be the DEAL KILLER TOOL! just watch...