Make it fun

[Chip Roberson]

This is my first post with this forum so I would like to say a quick hello!


An agent spoke with me about my personal presentation during the inspection process with my clients. She thought my personality was a little dry and could use more humor to easy the tension. She thought that by including an attractive fun personality it could attract more business. I agreed with her and thought it would be a good idea and a fun thing to do, to present this question:

What techniques, approaches and bag of tricks do you use to easy your client’s fear and tension to make the inspection process creative and fun?

There must be some great jokes out there that are timeless. Most times you meet your clients one time, so you could use these same jokes, tricks and techniques over and over.

Thanks and let’s have some fun!

Chip Roberson

Mission Home & Pest Inspections LLC
www.missioninspect.com
missioninspect@flymail.net

[Michael Roberson]

First off might I state that I think you have a GREAT last name.

This is good for light reading...
http://www.nachi.org/forum/f2/new-members-advice-39705/

I suggest making up a few lines that lighten the situation.... You may have one of mine for starters. (on something not really important) "If your friends notice that you have got the wrong friends.."

[jwarner]

The GOOD NEWS is there is no perfect house.

The BAD NEWS is this house is not perfect!

[dmcauley]

My advice, if you're not normally a funny person with humour, don't try to be. It just doesn't come off well IMO. Be you! Don't be so serious all the time, but open to new ways to present yourself and your services.

You may have been very nervous about your presentation, which for most people the funny stuff doesn't come out. You'll ease up in time and become more of the person you really are. How you interact with people of all personalities will get you business, not how funny you can be.

So relax, prepare and be you!

Good luck. Now I'm off to continue to market to Realtors for the rest of the day.

[rmaday]

Stolen from RR.
"I am a generalist, which means I know a little bit about a lot of things and a lot about nothing."

More important than having a bunch of one-liners at the ready is really just to be yourself. People are paying you to inspect their home, not do comedy. While there may be times that you may say things to "ease the tension", all of the time you will be a professional inspector.

Don't try to change your personality based on one agent's view.

[Richard Fitzwater]

Now the hard part of the job, press the doorbell.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

I've found yelling WTF at the first thing I look at breaks the ice.... just kidding. A simple smile goes a long way but just relax and be friendly.

[gfrazier]

When I see duct tape I ask them if they are a Star Wars fan. If yes (or No) I ask "How is duct tape like the Force?" Are you ready?
...
...Wait for it...

"Because it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together".

I get groans and chuckles in about equal amounts. But seriously, be yourself and always come across as a professional. Good luck!

[smeyer]

I've got the match, if you got the gas?

There is no bag of tricks, just be friendly, honest, and yourself. Anything else, will come over as phony.

A good read is Dale Carnbige "How to make friends and influence people"

Show interest in your customer, an eagerness to accomodate them, and do a good job.

Humor in the right circumsatnce can be ok, but be aware, there are those who have NO sense of humor, and may take your remarks seriously.

Someone ought to tell this agent buying a house is "no laughing matter"!

[Brian E. Kelly]

Potato in the pants works wonders.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Potato in the pants works wonders.

I usually use a peperoni...... or

Hello, I'm from Acme Home Wrecking, here to do a home inspection.

[Brian E. Kelly]

"White cane Home Inspections, if I don't see it, my dog will."

[dbelmont]

Originally Posted by jwarner

The GOOD NEWS is there is no perfect house.

The BAD NEWS is this house is not perfect!

The rule of thumb is there is no perfect house. You'll be glad to know this house proves the rule.

[dbelmont]

Any questions you have please ask. I have lots of answers and some of them might even fit.

[David P. Valley]

I tend to get all my clients laughing at something during my inspection walk through.

I'm just naturally funny and I can't stand having a quiet room, so I just keep gabbing to my clients and I throw in a funny line here and there.

Everyone leaves the home inspection acting like we knew each other for years.