TOPIC: Backyard/Home town Inspections

It seems my inspection keep taking me farther and farther away.

So I ask if I have an inspection say within 10 miles of my home I have anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours drive time saved and less gas expense.

So to advertise/market price this service what would you suggest.

It seems I am not pricing correct. For an inspection 1 hour from home should not be the same for one that is less than 15 minutes.

Now for radon testing I do reflect the price with the distance from my home.

Thanks for the time.

Dave, a couple of thoughts come to mind. Do tour clients ever bicker about the costs involved with a Radon test? There are two visits required with those.

I personally am all for ratcheting up the cost of a Home Inspection, but to do so has so many cans of worms to be opened up: licensing, qualifications, % of control in YOUR market area, ect. There is always someone who will do it cheaper. I look at Plumbers and Electricians in my area, they are all licensed and write all but their own ticket.

Not to drift of the topic, I don't think there is a clear cut answer for your question. Your work volume, reputation, how you generate leads, ect. all come into play. There are guys that will say I add in all expenses, but their market influences may be totally different than yours.

I always live by my first thought or impression about whether I should or should not do something. The more I analyze and labor on something I often talk myself into a bad decision. I made several of those mistakes with a General Contracting business I had. I analyzed my way right into a corporate bankruptcy.

Good luck with whatever decision you make,
Drew

I don't charge extra for anything within a 30 mile radius from where I live.  Any inspection outside this boundary, I charge a fuel surcharge of $0.50 per mile for the total trip.  And that goes for every trip that I have to make to that property.

So if its 31 mile they get charged $31.  If I go back for any reason, they get charged $31 again.

You need to set you a company rule and stick with it.  Don't let people try to talk you out of it.  Once you start giving in to them, then you might as well do them for free.

Not to drift of the topic, I don't think there is a clear cut answer for your question.

What he said...