Marketing to Real Estate Agents

[wnapier]

>>>In short, the Realtor today do not want anything to interfere with the sale, so many are in fact telling buyers they don't need to get a HI.>>>

That agent shouldn't be in the business then IMHO. Insisting on having a Home Inspection is probably the best thing an agent could do for their seller (and/or buyer) client in the arena of Risk Reduction.

It reduces the agent's exposure as well and is just a smart thing to do in one's real estate practice.

I went to a Home Show here recently to get a general lay of the land since I've lived here all of two months. Stopping at a local real estate company's booth we got to talking shop when (of course) the subject of home inspections came up and a mortgage officer piped in bragging on how "most home inspections aren't really needed."

I explained my Risk Reduction philosophy for clients (and agents AND mortgage reps who discourage inspections) to him and you could see the light bulbs go off in that booth over everybody's heads as I spoke.

They *need* to be told things like this, for many it has never come up as a subject I'm really starting to believe. Inspections are good for everyone involved in the transaction.........especially since written state mandated Seller Disclosures are pretty much useless in my experience.

On a related note, and this applies to all business whether pizza makers, real estate salespeople, auto repair shops or home inspectors -- The best marketing in the world is useless if your actual business offerings are bad or weak, all the marketing will do is put you out of business faster than if your marketing efforts were poor and your offerings were good.

In other words; if your inspections (or pizzas) suck then spending a million dollars a week marketing will put you out of business real fast since word will travel super quickly.

Improving one's wares, techniques, education/product knowledge could well be the best marketing tool available to any small business person.

Simple I know but many who open small businesses don't seem to understand this cardinal rule of marketing so I figure it is worth mentioning........One still needs to market their business though just the same..........

Al in TN

[mivie]

Originally Posted by wnapier

>>>In short, the Realtor today do not want anything to interfere with the sale, so many are in fact telling buyers they don't need to get a HI.>>>

That agent shouldn't be in the business then IMHO. Insisting on having a Home Inspection is probably the best thing an agent could do for their seller (and/or buyer) client in the arena of Risk Reduction.

It reduces the agent's exposure as well and is just a smart thing to do in one's real estate practice.

I went to a Home Show here recently to get a general lay of the land since I've lived here all of two months. Stopping at a local real estate company's booth we got to talking shop when (of course) the subject of home inspections came up and a mortgage officer piped in bragging on how "most home inspections aren't really needed."

I explained my Risk Reduction philosophy for clients (and agents AND mortgage reps who discourage inspections) to him and you could see the light bulbs go off in that booth over everybody's heads as I spoke.

They *need* to be told things like this, for many it has never come up as a subject I'm really starting to believe. Inspections are good for everyone involved in the transaction.........especially since written state mandated Seller Disclosures are pretty much useless in my experience.

On a related note, and this applies to all business whether pizza makers, real estate salespeople, auto repair shops or home inspectors -- The best marketing in the world is useless if your actual business offerings are bad or weak, all the marketing will do is put you out of business faster than if your marketing efforts were poor and your offerings were good.

In other words; if your inspections (or pizzas) suck then spending a million dollars a week marketing will put you out of business real fast since word will travel super quickly.

Improving one's wares, techniques, education/product knowledge could well be the best marketing tool available to any small business person.

Simple I know but many who open small businesses don't seem to understand this cardinal rule of marketing so I figure it is worth mentioning........One still needs to market their business though just the same..........

Al in TN

What about Mickie D's the millions they spend help a great deal in peddling the crap they call food.

[lvass]

1. No
2. Not any more, they have my card. A few want discounts as much as 50% on the fee.
3. No to phone books. Yes to talking to Loan officers. I agree with the note that the agents are holding off inspections until the buyers demand it, by then the report is due in 24 hours. Trying to figure out other ways without spending a fortune in my area. I think the key to this is the balance of everything and if it feels right, do it; if it doesn't, don't.