Being a home inspector is usually pretty straightforward. Someone calls us, we do their home inspection, and get paid. One, two, three; nothing much unusual in that process. But, sometimes, we’re asked to do things that are outside our normal routine. It’s in situations like these, when we’re asked to step outside our comfort zone, where we’ve got to be …
Never (Having to) Say You’re Sorry
As I recently celebrated my 54th birthday, I was surprised to receive a gift that I had not been expecting. Responding to a knock at the front door, my daughter was shocked to find a sheriff’s deputy standing there, waiting to serve me with a lawsuit. While it wasn’t on my wish-list, that was one birthday surprise that will be …
The Value of Providing Value
While I’m certainly not an attorney, it’s fairly easy for the average person to learn almost everything they need to know about the law from a small amount of quality internet research. While doing a bit of investigation to see if there were any ways that I could improve my current home inspection contract, I came across a site where …
One (3) of Your Most Important Documents
Without a doubt, one of the most important documents in the home inspection process (or any business deal, for that matter) is the contract. Contracts help set the terms of the business relationship, ensure that the parties know exactly what’s expected of them and provide a legal framework against which any future disputes should be judged. This is the last …
One of Your Most Important Documents
Running a small business as a home inspector can be a wonderfully rewarding experience. It’s a unique job that has a lot of perks. We get to be in a different place every day, and not stuck in the same cubicle next to “Gum-smacking Sally.” We get to interact with different people every day, not forced to attend yet another …
Giving Away Your Hard Work for Free
Every real estate agent loves a good business opportunity. It’s even better when it seems like a great deal falls from the sky without warning. Wow, it’s gonna be a great day! Think about getting a really good listing. You get a message from a potential client, who heard about you from one of their friends you’ve worked with in …
Defendability
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone you dealt with in your businesses (and your life) saw things from your point of view? Whenever there was a problem, you would talk it out, they would quickly see things your way and the issue would miraculously disappear! Unfortunately, that’s not the way that things work in the real world. You are certain …
Easy Steps to Make Your (Business) Life Less Stressful
Recently, I was writing some information for a website, creating some FAQ’s about the home inspection process. The article was intended to explain to potential home buyers the importance of getting a copy of the Standards that their home inspector adheres to during their inspection process. I explained that this document outlines exactly what the home inspector was and was not going …
This Post is Open to Interpretation. An Ounce of Prevention is the Cure
Interpret. The word is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary (https://dictionary.cambridge.org) as “(deciding) what the intended meaning of something is.” And interpreting what you mean by the language in your business materials and inspection reports is what opposing attorneys do for a living. So, what’s a small business owner to do? Can you match wits with an experienced plaintiff’s attorney, in their natural …
What Are They Paying You For? Why More Information Is Better for Everyone.
Recently, I was doing some writing for a website, creating some FAQ’s about the home inspection process. This particular FAQ was intended to explain to potential home buyers the importance of getting a copy of the Standards of Practice that their home inspector adheres to during their inspection process; that this document explains to them exactly what the home inspector …