Your Fees for Services

[dlechler]

I charge $165.00, But I don't do very many.
I don't think I should waste my time to help any insurence company.

[John Shishilla]

Originally Posted by dlechler

I charge $165.00, But I don't do very many.
I don't think I should waste my time to help any insurence company.

I sure "wasted" a whole lot of time helping my clients, get "insurance" and lowering their rates.

[Joe M. Baudendistel]

Is this somewhere along with price fixing? I charge clients of my insurance company $75 to help out my broker. I'd gladly list $250 for inspections to other brokers' clients and $150 for my broker's clients, but some guy would come in and undercut me. At least this way we'd have territories, though not geographic. If my agent took on another HI business to write policies, could we split the jobs, legally?

[wsiegel]

How are you helping out your broker? He is not paying for the inspection. That is the same thing as charging $150-$200 for a home inspection to help out your real estate agent.

[Zoe Fackler]

Originally Posted by jbaudendistel

Is this somewhere along with price fixing? I charge clients of my insurance company $75 to help out my broker. I'd gladly list $250 for inspections to other brokers' clients and $150 for my broker's clients, but some guy would come in and undercut me. At least this way we'd have territories, though not geographic. If my agent took on another HI business to write policies, could we split the jobs, legally?

No it is not -
We as fellow inspectors of this one specific association have the right to discuss any topic we choose to.
We are not establishing a pricing index as policy nor do we control the market.
Different areas and markets will bare different pricing (just like food prices)
There will always be those inspectors who must function on lower pricing to generate volume to generate busness for themselves - even though they end up loosing money by offering lower than realistic pricing.
The client will always have the option to shop around - InterNACHI and Florida InterNACHI by NO MEANS have the ability to set any across the board price to be charged.
But we can darn well discuss it any time we choose to.

If you function on volume - lower pricing works because you perform so many in one day - that at the end of the day - you make your living.
Tires R Us - Toys R us - Sam’s club - 4 Point Inspections R-Us.........

If you " fill in" your day - in between Full Home Inspections - with Four Point Inspections - you have to charge more.

We charge between $80 and $150 depending on where you are located, is it a normal house or a mansion - and WHICH 4 point you need. And YES there are more than ONE.

As far as price fixing - when you choose a dentist to pull a tooth - do you go for the $125.00 knee on your chest - Pull R Out Dentist or do you go to the $325.00 - painless dentist?
Our clients have that same choice.

[dquigley]

Put that in ur pipe and smoke it sonny

[Zoe Fackler]

Originally Posted by dquigley

Put that in ur pipe and smoke it sonny

I'm sorry - I didn't mean to be pert.

I just feel that we should be able to discuss what our time and services are really worth.
It seems like we're going backwards - back in 1998, we charged $50.00 for a Four Point that literally had about 1/3 the information and photos on it. But there were only about 5 or 6 of us in our 5 county area willing to risk the liability.

Now, 15 yrs later - we are expected to perform " Mini-Home Inspections" at near the same price - simply because there are so many of us performing them and that there are those who are willing to under price their worth and service.
I DO believe gas costs more now than 15 years ago - so does paper, don't even want to talk about the electric bill -

[Bruce M. Graham]

I love the calls from clients or agents that call from out of town wanting an inspection. (me)That will be $150 and I can get that done for you tomorrow. (them)But the guy here only charges $75. (me) So you already have someone to do the inspection, good. If you have any questions in the future feel free to call me anytime.
Most of the time they won't let me hang up but most of the ones that do call back

WM $150
4p $150
RCA $125
combo pricing can be had, generally $225 for any 2

[Alfred L. Pelletier]

I had a call yesterday "will you please inspect my home that I want to buy?" Yes Sir. How much do you charge for a 2500 square foot home? Sir that will be $325.00 + $125.00 WM, $150.00 Four-Point. Oh I don't know other companies are telling me $75.00 for WM and $50,00 for Four-Point and they will do the inspection for free.
This was the kicker they are nachi members!

WAKE UP PEOPLE YOU WILL BE OUT OF BUSINESS BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are leading people to think you are not important and inspections are weak.

Stop and start acting like professionals we earned this title it takes years to become a good inspector and provide a professional service.

[Richard Hyland]

In my years as a consumer, I have found that price = quality.

I think most consumers also have found this to be true. And they are the ones I want to inspect for.

[Doug Edwards]

One of the biggest hurdles I encounter with doing a 4 point with the home inspection is these two are often at odds with each other, not to mention that clients often get the two confused and try to use the 4 point in their negotiations with the sellers and I end up having to explain the differences because the agent does not know the purpose of the 4 points. Like wind mit inspections, they assume that it is a merely a formality; you get the inspection and "automatically" you are suppose to get a reduction in the premiums.

I often find myself explaining that the vast majority of homes are not ready for a "clean" wind mit inspection and many will fail or show no or inferior upgrades on a 4 point. Two cats of a different color and often get mixed together in the buying process causing finalization problems. I have had customers tell me the lenders want them to make ALL necessary upgrades for the 4 point before they will finalize the loan so there appears to be a lot of confusion on the lenders end as well. Who in their right mind would upgrade a home they do not yet own?