Price Shopping Management

[Fred Sylvester]

Originally Posted by jbushart

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

After he's done with wiping his butt with that sand paper he's standing outside the box sanding it to a profitable shine -----cudos to him--hahahahah

[Brian C. Hoagland]

In Florida about 35 years ago we had adds from a used car salesman that people would always wait to see. Different car every week on the add. The weekly special would start out at one price and get reduced every time he smashed it with a bat. This how I modeled my buisiness plan for home inspections except I use a pencil. To paraphrase the pencil is mightier than the bat.

[John Cahill]

Get past the corny presentation and consider the basics of the marketing tips. He is branding his company AND helping the agent brand their company.

Take all he teaches and put your own toned down approach to it and it will work.

Home inspection is about 1) technical skill 2) presentation skill 3) marketing presence. I could never do it with his personality touch but could easily emulate the basics of the message.

Its not about kick backs; its about marketing return on investment. What will get you more visibility? 1) 20 dollar gift card to an agent (illegal in Texas) 2) Four of your company coffee cups in the office? Long term . . the coffee cups will get more exposure.

Gordon’s personal approach is interesting. It is gawd awful . . . . . and memorable. He is using two approaches. 1) repetitive visibility of his company 2) shock branding.

Everybody loves a clown.

[James A. Levy]

If you look at his website, it would be considered "Boring" by some standards. There is nothing "above the fold" to really hold a clients interest, no logos, not even a Nachi membership logo. He even used the dreaded "Your home is probably the largest investment" narrative that everyone uses. This is exactly opposite of the website advice usually given here. You would never know from his site that he is as big as he is.

Something must be working for him. Talking gift bags and banana suits, here I come!

[Billy Boerner]

Introducing...

"Our 30 Day Free Inspection Protection Guarantee!"

Available Only At the Time of Booking the First Inspection

This 30 Day FREE Inspection Protection Guarantee entiles the buyer the right to another inspection at NO COST on another comparable / similar size & foundation home within 30 days of the original inspection if the deal goes south for ANY reason.

In other words, if you end up NOT buying the home for ANY reason, we will inspect another home for you within 30 days at NO ADDITIONAL COST. After 30 days from the original inspection, our standard rates will apply.

This Inspection Protection Guarantee must be purchased, for only 10% of the price of the first inspection, at the time of booking the first inspection! If it is not purchased when booking the first inspection it is no longer available.

-- Not the smartest cookie in the jar. Why would you do this?

[Billy Boerner]

He also cites code in his reports in many areas.

[James A. Levy]

Originally Posted by bboerner

Introducing...

"Our 30 Day Free Inspection Protection Guarantee!"

Available Only At the Time of Booking the First Inspection

This 30 Day FREE Inspection Protection Guarantee entiles the buyer the right to another inspection at NO COST on another comparable / similar size & foundation home within 30 days of the original inspection if the deal goes south for ANY reason.

In other words, if you end up NOT buying the home for ANY reason, we will inspect another home for you within 30 days at NO ADDITIONAL COST. After 30 days from the original inspection, our standard rates will apply.

This Inspection Protection Guarantee must be purchased, for only 10% of the price of the first inspection, at the time of booking the first inspection! If it is not purchased when booking the first inspection it is no longer available.

-- Not the smartest cookie in the jar. Why would you do this?

I think he's very smart! How many people do you think will kill a deal JUST to get a free inspection? He's pulling in an extra 10% on each job for this. If there were a rash of deal cancellations, I'm sure he would remove it. Also, what percentage of clients can walk from a deal and have a house ready for another inspection in 30 days.

Great, outside the box thinking...it seems to work for him too.

[Russell J. Hensel]

Sounds to me like a numbers game and if it works for him, let it go. If it doesn't work for him even better he will be gone.

Sounds like someone is using a system that NO ONE else uses. Sounds kinda smart to me. Find something that makes you stick out and then market it.

[James A. Levy]

Originally Posted by rhensel

Sounds to me like a numbers game and if it works for him, let it go. If it doesn't work for him even better he will be gone.

Sounds like someone is using a system that NO ONE else uses. Sounds kinda smart to me. Find something that makes you stick out and then market it.

Maybe, just maybe he has found something that appeals to his clients and target market and is exploiting it. I know of a guy in Florida that is doing that and it work for him.

[Richard W. Washington]

Originally Posted by rhensel

Sounds to me like a numbers game and if it works for him, let it go. If it doesn't work for him even better he will be gone.

Sounds like someone is using a system that NO ONE else uses. Sounds kinda smart to me. Find something that makes you stick out and then market it.

I believe his mentor is Mike Crow. Mike has raved about him during his mktg. calls.

[Chuck Evans]

Originally Posted by bboerner

Introducing...

"Our 30 Day Free Inspection Protection Guarantee!"

Available Only At the Time of Booking the First Inspection

This 30 Day FREE Inspection Protection Guarantee entiles the buyer the right to another inspection at NO COST on another comparable / similar size & foundation home within 30 days of the original inspection if the deal goes south for ANY reason.

In other words, if you end up NOT buying the home for ANY reason, we will inspect another home for you within 30 days at NO ADDITIONAL COST. After 30 days from the original inspection, our standard rates will apply.

This Inspection Protection Guarantee must be purchased, for only 10% of the price of the first inspection, at the time of booking the first inspection! If it is not purchased when booking the first inspection it is no longer available.

-- Not the smartest cookie in the jar. Why would you do this?

He's smart like a Fox. I know exactly why he offers the 30 day free 2nd reinspection if the deal busts out and what it accomplishes for him. Just because it's not evident to you doesn't mean it wasn't carefully considered and purposeful.

[David A. Selman]

James, they are not just newbys. There are at least two inspectors in the Dallas area that offer free home inspections if not satisfied.

I like John's approach. Hire the other guy, get your money back, then hire me!

[John Cahill]

I studied the marketing approach with some marketing gurus I know. The offer appeals to 1st time home buyers or untrusting buyers. People, who generally view the inspection as a commodity rather than a professional consulting service.

Many consumers knows little about home inspection so they shop it like a commodity. Price and guarantees are all they can really make sense of.

Experienced consumers know its a baloney offer and seek experience and or strong referrals.

It is appears to be a very risk free offer or they would not be doing it. If I were to do it I would start a second company. I spent too many years branding a professional image for my company and these type offers seem somewhat carnival like to me.

Making inspection advertising a game is what unfortunately I see happening to home inspection. A true professional would never have to resort to such. I have to laugh however; as I type this I see a personal injury lawyer hawking his services on TV.

[John Cahill]

Originally Posted by cevans

He's smart like a Fox. I know exactly why he offers the 30 day free 2nd reinspection if the deal busts out and what it accomplishes for him. Just because it's not evident to you doesn't mean it wasn't carefully considered and purposeful.

Can you make t evident to me? Why does he do it? I am curious; not critical.

[jcardile]

The FOX! wow.