Make it fun

[George A. H. Luck]

"Hey, just flew in from Lansdowne and my arms are killing me!"
FRADDA - BOOM
"Hmmm. Ugly crowd . . . . "

[William J. Decker]

Couple of thoughts:

1) I am 6' 8", wear a size 15 shoe and have a deep voice. I found that this tends to intmidate some people. So, I chose my logo shirts in orange. When I book the inspection, I tell the client to "look for the tall, dorky guy, with glasses and in an orange shirt. Breaks the ice, they can easily identify me and I am no longer seen as the imposing figure, but more as a big bear grandfather type who is just there to help them. I also have about 30 jokes about the orange color.

- "It's so you can find me easy, if I die in the crawlspace".

- They ask about issues of style, color or cosmetic issues. I say, "Yea, I'm the expert on style" (pointing to my shirt).

- Especially on St. Patrick's day. "Hey, I'm William of Orange".

- "I charge a little more. This is both a home inspection AND a stand up comedy routine".

But one thing with this. Be careful to always be PROFESSIONAL, even when you are being funny. Clearly deliniate the jokes from the serious stuff. Develope a "serious face" for when you are being serious.

2) I tell my clients that I have a club for them. Free to join. It's especially for the male clients. It's called the "cheap lazy bastards club for home maintenance".

This means that I will give them tips to properly maintain their new home (always refer to it as a "home" if it is OK. Emotional bonding thing). These tips are not really about being "cheap" but about doing maintenance or repairs properly, and paying for it, because in the long run a cheap repair is more costly than a properly priced (and long lasting) repair.

"It is very easy to get less than you paid for, but you will NEVER get MORE than you paid for."

- Have the coils of the A/C compressor blown out and wrap it in window screen fabric. In this way, it is easy for them to clean, it ruls more efficiently and lasts longer.

- Seal floor tile grout with silicone grout sealer. It's not so much for water but to keep all the dirt out of the grout. Cleaning tile grout is not fun.

- Pour gel type (Drano gel max) drain cleaner down the drains, about every 3 months. This is a preventative measure.

- Use the cheap, blue fiberglass disposable furnace filters and not the expensive "Filtrete" or "HEPA" filters. The expensive ones (like the cartridge filters) are expensive, you still have to replace them every 30 days and they are not recommended by the ASHVAC group. Too big a pressure drop before the blower.

3) Have standard, canned jokes, and stories, for diffent situations that commonly occur. People just role their eyes when you throw facts and figures at them, but they will listen to (and learn) from a story. It's like a good bar joke. People listen, learn and remember.

Hope this helps;

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by wdecker

Couple of thoughts:

1) I am 6' 8", wear a size 15 shoe and have a deep voice. I found that this tends to intmidate some people. So, I chose my logo shirts in orange. When I book the inspection, I tell the client to "look for the tall, dorky guy, with glasses and in an orange shirt. Breaks the ice, they can easily identify me and I am no longer seen as the imposing figure, but more as a big bear grandfather type who is just there to help them. I also have about 30 jokes about the orange color.

- "It's so you can find me easy, if I die in the crawlspace".

- They ask about issues of style, color or cosmetic issues. I say, "Yea, I'm the expert on style" (pointing to my shirt).

- Especially on St. Patrick's day. "Hey, I'm Willima of Orange".

- "I charge a little more. This is both a home inspection AND a stand up comedy routine".

But one thing with this. Be careful to always be PROFESSIONAL, even when you are being funny. Clearly deliniate the jokes from the serious stuff. Develope a "serious face" for when you are being serious.

2) I tell my clients that I have a club for them. Free to join. It's especially for the male clients. It's called the "cheap lazy bastards club for home maintenance".

This means that I will give them tips to properly maintain their new home (always refer to it as a "home" if it is OK. Emotional bonding thing). These tips are not really about being "cheap" but about doing maintenance or repairs properly, and paying for it, because in the long run a cheap repair is more costly than a properly priced (and long lasting) repair.

"It is very easy to get less than you paid for, but you will NEVER get MORE than you paid for."

- Have the coils of the A/C compressor blown out and wrap it in window screen fabric. In this way, it is easy for them to clean, it ruls more efficiently and lasts longer.

- Seal floor tile grout with silicone grout sealer. It's not so much for water but to keep all the dirt out of the grout. Cleaning tile grout is not fun.

- Pour gel type (Drano gel max) drain cleaner down the drains, about every 3 months. This is a preventative measure.

- Use the cheap, blue fiberglass disposable furnace filters and not the expensive "Filtrete" or "HEPA" filters. The expensive ones (like the cartridge filters) are expensive, you still have to replace them every 30 days and they are not recommended by the ASHVAC group. Too big a pressure drop before the blower.

3) Have standard, canned jokes, and stories, for diffent situations that commonly occur. People just role their eyes when you throw facts and figures at them, but they will listen to (and learn) from a story. It's like a good bar joke. People listen, learn and remember.

Hope this helps;

LOL "Willima of Orange", explains a lot.

[Christopher Currins]

"Hello, how are you today? Nice to meet you? I sure hope this turns out better than my last inspection."

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

LOL "Willima of Orange", explains a lot.

Corrected, and thanks (you spelling Nazi, you)

"I always rely on the comfort of strangers"...

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by wdecker

Corrected, and thanks (you spelling Nazi, you)

"I always rely on the comfort of strangers"...

Now Willima of Orange, I am laughing even harder.

But laughing with respect.

[William J. Decker]

I could say that I purposely did this to prove my point, and I will and it is true (as far as you know)

Brian, I will, one day, hunt you down and give you a gas detector enema.

Then, I will, dutifully, change the sensor.

After all, I am a professional.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by wdecker

I could say that I purposely did this to prove my point, and I will and it is true (as far as you know)

Brian, I will, one day, hunt you down and give you a gas detector enema.

Then, I will, dutifully, change the sensor.

After all, I am a professional.

Dangit Will, I usually have to pay extra for that downtown.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Dangit Will, I usually have to pay extra for that downtown.

Gee. You have to go downtown to change your gas detector sensor? Boy, do you live in the sticks. I just drive about 3 blocks to Home Depot.

For all others, this is the kind of funny story that you could use during your inspections.

Boy, I can really tie up loose ends, (and cover my sorry butt) great, can't I?

[Ted J. Glover]

As long as you wear the potato in front.

[Ted J. Glover]

Seriously, though, if you're not a naturally funny person, ask them about themselves; what they do etc.

The best conversationalist is the best listener, and they will think you were a great guy.

[smeyer]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

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

Good one Brian!!

Is the dogs name molly???

[smeyer]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Dangit Will, I usually have to pay extra for that downtown.

Is there still a downtown there?