1-hour Advantage presentation in Chattanooga, Tennessee on June 29, 2007.

[lcapaul]

Nick, do you read the ads, watch the videos, or gather any information about Vendors or their products before you post them here and allow them to use the NACHI Logo as part of their marketing?

Is there any other connection between NACHI and Advantage that we are not aware of? You've been pushing your new FetchReport System pretty hard lately, telling us how great it will be for all NACHI Members, if that's true, why are you endorsing an organization directly in competition with your stated goal of dominating the Listing Inspection Market, how is that good for NACHI Members?

If you read Advantage's literature and watch their video you will see that it is not just another Home Inspection Company, we compete with each other and other HI Companies everyday, but Advantage is another Home Inspection ORGANIZATION whose stated goal is to dominate the HI Industry including both NACHI Inspectors and NACHI itself, and all other HI Associations. If they were able to do so, how does that not harm individual NACHI Inspectors?

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NACHI, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Nick Gromicko and Advantage Inspection International are joining forces to provide inspectors an avenue to grow their businesses from beyond themselves to beyond their dreams.

For the first time, NACHI and Nick Gromicko are endorsing an inspection franchise as one that will definitely change the way inspectors, REALTORS and consumers buy inspections. "

If we were all to believe the Advantage line of bull, and follow your endorsement and join Advantage, why would we have any need for NACHI? Advantage has its own training, its own SOP, its own reporting software, and its own 24/7 help line, along with I imagine a future line of "Products" for its franchisees.

I'm with Peter and the others who view Advantage and your endorsement as a threat to my business, not an Advantage

[David Nice]

They're just another franchise scheme. Some will feel that it's worth plunking down the bucks and most will not. Hooking up with Realtors may be their downfall, rather than the prize. Homebuyers are (more and more) moving away from a model that has real estate agents help them choose an inspector

Their marketing talk blows a lot of smoke but then, who cares. If they are going to end up with all their inspectors being NACHI members, that's OK too.

Nick is simply doing what he does with any other NACHI member that provides an inspection product or service. If they end up doing something illegal, I'm sure he will remove them. Having a page among the thousands on the NACHI site is not likely to get them far anyway.

Chill.

[David A. Andersen]

Actually, if you viewed the "stuff" , Advantage is working the pre-listing angle, which in many cases goes against the grain of many Realtors and seems not to be an area of much interest to many NACHI members. Nick still endorses pre-listing inspections, hope you don't fault him for that.

Peter, I am sorry for implying YOU uses this word. It was John not you.

Peter, just chill and take Advantage for what it is. There are more battles in this war to be concerned about. As you read these posts, you will see that those that do not strongly oppose Advantage are just taking it , or leaving it.

[lcapaul]

Originally Posted by dandersen

Actually, if you viewed the "stuff" , Advantage is working the pre-listing angle, which in many cases goes against the grain of many Realtors and seems not to be an area of much interest to many NACHI members. Nick still endorses pre-listing inspections, hope you don't fault him for that.

Peter, I am sorry for implying YOU uses this word. It was John not you.

Peter, just chill and take Advantage for what it is. There are more battles in this war to be concerned about. As you read these posts, you will see that those that do not strongly oppose Advantage are just taking it , or leaving it.

David, If you have read Nick's post and campaign for Fetch report you'll see that it is also targeted at dominating the Listing Inspection Market, what there is of it.

What makes Advantage any different than other franchise companies like Pillar to Post etc? This is Nick's Association, we don't vote, he can do as he likes, but endorsing a franchise that is in direct competition with both his stated goals and individual NACHI Inspectors doesn't, to me, appear to be in our best interests, maybe it's in Nick's.

Do you think Nick should come into your local market, which he did, and endorse one NACHI Inspector over another?

Advantage is going no where, and I don't believe Nick's Fetch Report will do much either.

[David Nice]

Originally Posted by lcapaul

Advantage is going no where, and I don't believe Nick's Fetch Report will do much either.

I think the best they will do is leave everyone the impression that they dominate Tennessee. As for Nick, he's just an equal opportunity promoter as far as Advantage goes. He has always advocated pre-listing inspections. I think many inspectors would love to do them but so far there hasn't seem to have been any effective way to market the concept.

Creating a franchise around the concept is a pretty big gamble, but heck, they are counting on gambling with the potential franchisees money. As far as I can see, it is pretty much a training company that has figured out a way to grossly overcharge it's students. Me thinks they are counting on PT Barnum being right.

Given the time it takes to get a home inspction business to begin to turn a profit, add the additional expense of a franchise that limits you to a fairly small geographical area, and I think they have a prescription for making enemies of their own franchisees in pretty short order. IMO

It will be interested in seeing where they are 5 years form now. My guess is Aruba.

[David A. Andersen]

Do you think Nick should come into your local market, which he did, and endorse one NACHI Inspector over another?

Makes no nevermind to me! I don't depend on Nick, Nachi or any other association to keep me in business.

I think the best they will do is leave everyone the impression that they dominate Tennessee.

If you did your homework, you'd know it's SC/NC not TN.

Advantage is going no where, and I don't believe Nick's Fetch Report will do much either.

So what is your plan? Can I join?

It will be interested in seeing where they are 5 years form now.

Interesting to see where you will be!

My guess is Aruba.

I hope to see you there!

[David Nice]

Originally Posted by dandersen

If you did your homework, you'd know it's SC/NC not TN.

Right you are. I guess I jumped the gun since they are just getting ready to do a "workshop" sales blitz in TN.

As for Aruba. I don't want to go there to live but it's a nice place to visit.

[nwagner]

Let us look at the 10 percent discount a little closer ...

As a buyer or seller of a home, most likely you will hire a REALTOR to represent you, regardless of some goofy incentive. Looking at the Lowe's site, the REALTOR association provides the same discount, so who cares about the home inspection company?! No Advantage there ...

Homeowners? How many people are actually going to decide to get a home inspection to receive a 10 percent discount at a home improvement store, even if it theroretically saves them a cool hundred bucks? Homeowners currently do not hire us because we have not convinced them that they need our expertise. They still do not need our expertise when they are given a coupon and an impotent salespitch. Good luck with that Advantage!

[David Nice]

My impression was that the "workshops" are more a vehicle to sell franchises. It might be a good place to find some people who are tired of the hard work and headaches of construction related work. Now if they can find any with a spare $25,000, they might get a few takers.