TOPIC: Inspections for the wealthy

Hey everyone I wanted to start this topic to gather ideas, tips and so forth for doing inspections for upper income homes.  I am about to do my second inspection and it happens to be a 6000 SQFT home.  (Yes I'm nervous lol)  The person buying the house is my fiance's boss, which is how I got the job.  The potential here is that he is hooking me up with a high end realtor for future inspections.  What in-site and experience do any of you have for the rest of us inspectors?

Being that its only your second inspection, you might think of posting your report here before submitting it. That way others might have some insight to sure from your pictures.

Take your time with the report, take lots of pictures (even if you don't use them all) and take good notes.

That's a good idea!  I tend to take more pics than I use so I don't think that's going to be a problem.  I've already talked to the realtor and prepared her that I was going to take my time with it, and I didn't have a clue how long it would take me, due to the size of the house. 

I also did a mock inspection yesterday on a friends house for InterNACHI review. That gave me an idea of what I missed and an idea of where I need to really focus my attention at.

Large homes are not much different than smaller homes.  They have all the usual stuff - which may be bigger or fancier, and have more rooms, windows, doors, and so forth - but the inspection principles are the same.  There may be apparatus that smaller, less expensive homes do not have.  Pay particular attention to any of that.  If you run into anything you are not familiar with, you might just take pictures and say that you will research it and get back later with inspection information.

Wealthier people are not much different than the less wealthy.  But, as you know, we all have quirks.  When we deal with people we have to cater to those.  Each person, while we might treat them with the same politeness or explanations, has needs for specific information or none at all.  Some people are used to directing others and like to create hoops for others to jump through.  Some people are comfortable plopping into a chair and waiting for your wrap up.  Others are quite involved with the minutia of the process.  We need to read people, respond accordingly, and call 'em as we see 'em.

And as to the realtor who caters to more expensive clients, remember who and what you are selling - your service!  You have a varied product, a unique product, a valuable product he/she cannot find anywhere else.  As you are inspecting, of course, you are marketing.  Any marketing products you can drop on the agent doesn't hurt - brochures, cards, fliers, etc.  I ALWAYS send a thank-you card after every inspection, with a little pre-printed blurb, my name and contact information.

Remember, it's the big stuff that you do that impresses.  But it is ALSO the little stuff.

I call that the "Slight Edge Principle."

Check my marketing thread - under "Inspection Discussion," "Marketing Your Business," post #1.

Oh I've read it, its good!  Your hitting of what I've been thinking to myself, houses are going to have the same items to inspect for the most part, just more SQFT'ag to do in.  My main concern right now is attire.  As its going to be approx. 100ºF around here I really want to wear shorts.  But the business side of me is telling me that I should wear something a little nicer (I should dress for the area).

As far as the cards are concerned, that's something I was planning to do.  I thought it was a very good idea.  I've use that for getting jobs in the past and it works great.

Another point I've been setting up for the realtor, is our links.  I've created a realtor section that I'm going to use as a marketing point for them and me.  I can market the fact that when people come to my site they can link directly to hers for more potential business. In return they (hopefully) remember me that little extra bit, and use me as their main inspector.

Do the inspection like any other inspection, start from the outside and work your way in. Do not try to impress them with cloths thast you are not comfortable in, this will show as your uncomfortable and possibly the cliennt as inexperienced.
our there to do a job, bring the Tyvek suit for the attic, shorts and a couple polo
s for outside so when you have completed the inspection you can changer the shirt to a fresh one and then do your review, re,member pit juice...

If you want to impress them with your attire meet them ahead of time or after the inspection