Price Shopping Management

[John Cahill]

I had a buyer call and shop me a bit. He asked if I had a 200% guarantee like some of my competitors. I asked him to explain.

My competitors advertise "If you are unhappy with your inspection we will refund your money and pay for your next inspector".

Hmmmm. I told him I had a better deal. TWO inspections by two good companies for FREE!

Yepper. Hire my competitor then ask for a refund. Free inspection 1. Then hire me and they will pay me. Free inspection 2.

[Jim Hime]

Originally Posted by jcahill

I had a buyer call and shop me a bit. He asked if I had a 200% guarantee like some of my competitors. I asked him to explain.

My competitors advertise "If you are unhappy with your inspection we will refund your money and pay for your next inspector".

Hmmmm. I told him I had a better deal. TWO inspections by two good companies for FREE!

Yepper. Hire my competitor then ask for a refund. Free inspection 1. Then hire me and they will pay me. Free inspection 2.

In Texas all this would have to happen during the option period for it to be used and available on the same property. It's not uncommon for some buyers to only have 1-2 days left in the option period when they call you. The fine print for these guarantees are not limited to the same property.

I could hire you, not buy the home because it is a pig with lipstick, ask for a refund claiming as I am unhappy with your inspection when in reality the seller didn't knock off enough money. You go out and buy a different home and I get you to pay for that inspection. (Or I use you again and decide I want my money back)

I could keep getting free inspections on different homes from different inspectors until I decide on a home I liked. That's a great deal if I'm a buyer.

As some of the the public and agents appear to read these forums/posts they now have knowledge on how to get free home inspections.

I offer a personal guarantee that if during or at the end of the inspection if you are unhappy you don't have to pay and we all go home. That's fair. Why would one write a report for free and then have that report sent to the seller, you bust out, the seller is mad because his pig with lipstick didn't close and now you're faced with unfairly being "Foxinized". You might as well just offer free inspections to buyers and sellers (and then let the next inspector come along and add his 2 cents for free). IMO a smart seller would never accept a copy of any inspection report (they don't have to accept a copy). If the deal doesn't go through then the seller doesn't have a report they have to disclose.

On the other hand why only 200%. Why not 500%? What kind of inspection are you going to get for $200?

[James H. Bushart]

Gimmicks are for the desperate newby who has yet to establish enough confidence in himself to inspire it in others, IMO. They may as well hold up a sign that says "Hire me. It won't hurt....much." I suppose that such gimmicks are better, however, than those whose consciences will not allow them to charge a potential client the full fee for an inspection. Either way, they are unwittingly blowing their cover.

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Gimmicks are for the desperate newby who has yet to establish enough confidence in himself to inspire it in others, IMO.

Not necessarily Hahahahah

[James H. Bushart]

OMG....How did you find that? While that video may go viral, that SOB would never get anywhere near my house. He would be quite a draw of curiosity seekers at someone's chapter meeting, though. LOL

[John Onofrey]

Originally Posted by jbushart

OMG....How did you find that?

You don't have to look far in Houston to find "The Fox".

[Scott Gilligan, CMI]

OMFG!!! I am speachless.

[Bruce Thompson]

No comment on the Fox.

Has anyone else noticed a rash of price shoppers? I've had several calls for price, but they're not booking with me. Never had this ratio before.

[Chuck Evans]

Originally Posted by jonofrey

You don't have to look far in Houston to find "The Fox".

Yep. Kind of a stretch to call him a newby.

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Oh my if I had a gimmick like that theres no telling how far I could go in the home inspection industry.

[Nick Gromicko]

He is an InterNACHI member, grosses over 2 million a year, and employs 18 inspectors/staffers: http://foxinspectiongroup.com/housto...nspectors.html

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

He is an InterNACHI member, grosses over 2 million a year, and employs 18 inspectors/staffers: http://foxinspectiongroup.com/housto...nspectors.html

You are pulling my leg.

[Nick Gromicko]

It just goes to show ya... marketing works, even marketing that is rough around the edges.

[James H. Bushart]

Rough around the edges? That boy is wiping his but with sandpaper.

[Chuck Evans]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Rough around the edges? That boy is wiping his but with sandpaper.

You should see him in the banana suit.

He is comfortable playing corny, over-the-top characters, live or on video, to comedic effect - it works for him. He is also an astute businessperson, marketer, a very knowledgeable inspector and he has in incredibly loyal referral and client base.