$40 Draw Inspection with DDN - Digital Draw Network - anyone make more?

[Blaine Wiley]

Originally Posted by lungar

Blaine;
Thats great, all within ten, but what about the one that are 30 away???? That's a hours just driving????

I figure they all balance. I would rather have the 1500 I made last month from DDN than the 0 I would have gotten waiting for the phone to ring.

When only 12 houses in a county sell in a month, every source of income is welcome!!

[ntoll]

I really didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers. If anyone can come up with a viable way to get them to raise their rates, I would support it. The problem is, we on this board are but a smalll percentage of NACHI. Not to mention the other associations and the folks that don't belong anywhere that do these things.

DDN called me and asked if I wanted extra money and I said yes. They are going to pay someone to do these inspections. My wife appreciates the extra funds for her new auction addiction. I like to keep her happy.

[Bruce Thompson]

I had been getting $55 from Trinity for inspections within my county. This magicial number was given to me by them the first time they called (rush job). Per the Trinity caller, "I have to get special approval for anything $60 and over."

So I'm rocking along. I was getting one a month...ho hum...

I go out of town and tell them I'll be out for three days. Sure enough, that's when the draw comes in and they find someone else for $45!!!

Now, if I drop to $45, they'll put me back on the list for this house (very large, already had 10 draws from it, I've been doing it since day one). Now I'm suddenly $45 for my county. However, no great loss. They only call once a month and it's 15 minutes from the house.

I told them that someone in their office told me $55 !!!

aaarrgh

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

I just pulled and accepted a DDN draw, that I found out was a 39 mile drive
from where I live, so I called DDN and asked Becky if I could have an increase in the fee, and she said sure, one sec...when she came back and said sure, we can do that, "what would you need for that area?" and I stated I could do it for $65, she said "is this a normal zip code area for you?"
I said no, to which she replied, "I'll put you down for $65 for that area then, if thats alright?"
I said sure (until we see how many, and how far they come in at.)
Thanks a lot, and we'll see you...
I use Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 on my laptop, running in my truck,
and it specs out at a 78 mile round trip, 1 hr. 45 travel, and $9.40 cost.
So I believe that all inclusive costs with time and travel don't make it too bad, since I'll stop and have ice cream once I get there...
and its a nice night for a leisurely evening drive out there and back...

[wforsyth]

Yep. Same thing for me. Had the whole area south of me set up and even though it was 40 miles out, I would do them all on the same days. Someone new came along and before you know it, I was locked out of my account. Not even told what was going on. Nice. Then it happend with Granite AND Trinity. I lost all three of them to someone else. That was bread and butter.

[lkrausz]

I charge them $60 in the St.Louis area and I will travel 1/2 hour for that price. They dropped 3/4 of the inspections they were sending me since I raised my price. Who cares, work less for them. but they pay me more when I do work for them.

[Leonard E. Ungar]

Hey guy's & dolls;
That's the problem, no one sticks together and they play one against the other.

[bdoles2]

Originally Posted by bwiley

I have yet to get anything from Granite or Trinity.

Me either...DDN sends me plenty.

[ldapkus]

DDN called today to see if I could do a commercial draw inspection. $125 minimum, I agreed. Not much different than a new home draw inspection just a larger building. DDN has brought me close to $3000 this year, Trinity $7000 and CSI $7000. Home Inspections are increasing with the purchase of IR cam.You gotta do what works for you and your situation. Then there is Service Magic and that angle. With all the rain we have had last week I have had an influx of mold sampling inspections. $$$$$$

[bdoles2]

Originally Posted by ldapkus

...and CSI $7000.

Is that CSI Miami or Vegas!?

[klott]

I bet they charge their clients more when fuel prices go up, and instead of sharing it with us, they pocket it.

[gporter]

I di alot for Granite but none lately. Must have been outbid.

[Justin Watts]

Thanks for the feedback everyone...Looks we are in the same boat. Charge more get less inspections... Get paid more to do less work?!?! It could equate to, possibly....

Does anyone know how much they are charging their clients???? I bet its $150 per report.... it has to be!

I want start my own Draw Inspection Company, they sure are easier that home inspections.... For $150 a pop, to take some snap shots, add some progress comments... Could be a new way to go for some of us..

Everyone pitch in some comments, if it is difficult setting up a Draw Inspection type company in your area??????

[tchristopher]

Linus, may I ask what is CSI & could we get a link ???

I get some DDN, LCN (Lenders Choice Network, it's Draw Inspections also), Mueller Services (Insurance Inspections), SafeGuard Properties (Occupancy Verification), can't get nothing out of Granite, maybe they don't do WY, or I need to shake the tree. Anybody have any more links to anymore of these "Filler Work" co's ??/ May not be much, but it sure helps fill in the gaps, & I'm not to good to figure out a way to make them profitable, I'm not as fortunite as some guys who do a half a dozen inspections a day (clearing my throat & snickering under my breath )...I use my motorcycle in warm weather to save gas also for these inspections that only require a camera, a clipboard, & a pencil...plus ya get to see a lot of country..

[Blaine Wiley]

Like any other business the lower people on the ladder rung get the lower wages. DDN et. all have a staff to pay, and all of the other business expenses that all businesses have.

If you think about it, draw inspections are simple. No, they are easier than simple. 40 or 50 bucks to take 15 pictures, and fill out an online 5 minute report is pretty darn good.

The exception would be for you rural guys that have to drive 20 miles to each. With gas prices you're only making 30 bucks or so for an hours work. Then again, I don't see too many jobs in my area that pay $30 per hour for simple work.

I was doing 30 to 40 jobs a month with DDN for a while, and those checks were nice. With the construction slow down, I'm lucky to get 8 a month. I'm always glad to do them though, and rarely are they more than 10 minutes away.

If I were still doing 12 inspections a week at $350 each I probably wouldn't do draw inspections, but with the real estate slowdown, they are a welcome supplement.