Sears to begin offering home inspections.

[Nick Gromicko]

Latest news:

Subject: It's now Official - Sears Home Inspections
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:08:32 -0500
From: dunlop@carsondunlop.com


Over the past few weeks we have been talking to inspectors in the Edmonton and Calgary areas about our expansion plans. We can now explain the drive behind this initiative is an agreement with Sears Canada who have selected Carson Dunlop to develop and manage a national home inspection service (beginning in Alberta). Sears Home Inspections will officially launch in the next few weeks.
Our plan is to take on existing home inspectors as full-time licensees – and build their workload towards the 400 inspections/yr level using the power of the Sears brand with consumers and an innovative value proposition with agents.
We are now looking for an experienced inspector to lead this initiative in western Canada. As with all start ups - this individual will be a jack of all trades. They will handle the coordination with the local Sears staff, promote the service with Realtors, manage the staff – and even do inspections. If you are interested in learning more about our initiative and/or this position, please contact Graham Clark – VP Engineering (email graham@carsondunlop.com or call (800) 268-7070 ext: 224).
Regards
Bob

Bob Dunlop
Carson Dunlop & Assoc.
407 - 120 Carlton St.
Toronto, ON
M5A 4K2
1-800-268-7070 x 233

[Nick Gromicko]

http://www.nachi.org/documents/give-...y-you-earn.pdf

[Bob Elliott]

Beginning of the end for all of us ?
Including NACHI

[Bob Elliott]

Having worked for Sears I can tell you that anything they touch is going to double the price of it since they are middle man and then the Sub will pay the Inspectors at $100-$150 @,just watch.
400 Inspections a year sounds good till you think about all the work and little reward for the little man.

That means YOU.

Good side is they will be priced out of business to some extent, much as they are in other fields.

The name is what they have going for them ,so people can use their plastic Discover card.

[Nick Gromicko]

It's good news. Sears knows how to charge.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by gromicko

It's good news. Sears knows how to charge.

I see your point

Kinda like how Unions help set pay scales.

Go Sears>>>>>

[Michael Roberson]

Somehow the liability completely disappears as well. I have had family work for them, and is is JUST as Bob said. They will make WAY more money than the guy doing all the work, and they will cut you out the minute someone else can do it for $10 bucks cheaper.

[Bobby Hamilton]

Sears and Kmart are owned by the same company. Do you hear Blue Light Inspection Sales

[Douglas Cossar]

I suspect they will have a tough time finding people. There is a split on the price of the job and a non-compete clause in the details

Cheers

[Allen Cavdek]

Maybe Wal-Mart can also get into home inspecting LOL

[glittle]

If Sears Canada operates this like Home Depot Canada operates the In Home Services the Home Inspector will be paid very little and have 100% liability. I have been involved with H.D. for the past 14 years and the Home Services program is a pyramid pay system which end results is a qualified or not qualified contractor being paid at most 25% of the selling price to the client.(Sears will likely want NO LIABILITY)These big outfits are outstanding with customer service (most of the time)but are a nightmare for a contractor.You will have unqualified ASSociates promising the world just to make a sales quota,my advise is to stay away from them and let them burn the candle from both ends and fizzle out.Once Sears starts the fire every other Big Box will want a pce of the pie, keep away !!

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Great post thanks Gene...

[Doug Edwards]

It may go the way of Sears Pest Control. I know someone who used to work for Sears Pest Control and got fed up with the way the treated the customers, the quality of services and left to open his own operation. He is going like gang busters and his business is bursting at the seams. The most respected bug smasher in the area.

[Claude Lawrenson]

The announcement of the C&D - Sears plan is really nothing new. Alan Carson predicted this over 5 years ago, as a featured speaker at the CAHPI Conference. It just is simply a new business opportunity that will potentially impact many home inspectors.

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

The upside to this, is Sears/Kmart will spend a ton of cash on advertising/promoting the home inspection industry. It will only help all of us in the long run.