Franchise vs Independent

[Bob Elliott]

Interesting that you still need to sell since if you are capable of such a thing you would not need them in the first place.
If we all start a franchise will there be anyone left to do the actual inspection?

[Dave Morris]

My mother is a realtor and one of her listings sold. It was inspected by P2P and I must say that report was a joke. The inspector missed several blatantly obvious problems.
In the summer I perform 3 inspections a day. On houses above 2000 sq ft I team up with my dad or brother though. (we are a 3 generation company)
It is a long day even teamed up and its not uncommon to take a dinner break with the family when I get home then write reports until 10pm. I like to make money so I sacrifice some free time in the summer. I am certainly not turning away business for someone else to take!
As a company of 3 active inspectors we do 7-8 a day in the summer and 5-6 in the winter. Maybe we should sell franchises....lol.
I think people have more appreciation for family or individually operated businesses. We performed more inspections in NC last year than any other company including the franchises, at least across ASHI member companies. Two inspection companies performed over 500. One of them was us at over 1200. I vote keep the path you are on, get all the education/certs you can (general contractors license has been invaluable) and offer superior customer service. The when you succeed, you will be the one reaping all the benefits. Franchises in the HI business are just not even remotely household names. The vast majority of customers dont know US Inspect from Joe's Home Inspection, Inc. The more time you put in (while giving that above and beyond attitude) the more referrals you will get. Stick around 10 years or more and you will be turning away business in the summer time, and be as busy as you want to be in the winter. We have been around almost 25 years so our business markets itself. All we have to do is keep performing at a high level.
One other advantage to keeping it family owned; My grandfather started our business. He is more or less retired but gets a 10% take on the revenue. This is very helpful in retirement. When my father retires in 10-15 years we will be kicking back to him. When we retire hopefully our kids or other relatives will want to inspect and we will get our own piece of the pie. Try that with a franchise

Best of luck!!!!

[Erby Crofutt]

But I'll bet the P2P guy didn't forget to hang all his little P2P tags on the main water shutoff, etc.

[rwand1]

I am repeatedly told by clients that when they had their home inspected the P2P inspector wasn't as thorough as me. I love hearing that!

[James H. Bushart]

One of the usual benefits...to a consumer....of a franchise is consistency. When you go to a McDonalds in any city, you already have an idea of the menu and what the Big Mac is going to taste like.

Not so with home inspections and the varying levels of skill applied from one inspector to the next. Also, taking into account the varying SOPs encompassed by a national franchise...there cannot even exist a blanket report.

There could be some marketing benefit to home inspectors starting out...but the consumer, himself, is offered very little from a home inspection franchise. I have found it beneficial to include in my marketing a blurb that assures a consumer that I am NOT a franchise, but locally owned and locally accountable.

[dhelm]

I agree with most of the anti franchise posts. P2P is the biggest player in my area. I've gotten to read some of thir reports. Pretty simplistic and not thorough at all.

[gporter]

I had a realtor tell me she used them once and they stayed 45 minutes and left a hand written report on the counter top.

[rwand1]

Why do you think they put those tags on the water main, electric, et ceteras? They have to appear to have done something.