TOPIC: Marketing Ideas

30) Free Inspections, have your clients pay for the report

Wrong board, sorry

Right post Tim, there's just been a bit of discussion going on over the past 6 pages in it!

I have been a realtor for 16 years. Most of us are starving right now. I have wanted to get out for years and just havn't made the break. Anyway pick an office each week and take 3 agents out to lunch. Take your camera show it off some and give them a sample report. Cheaper and I bet more effective then any other type of adds. I am starting this program this week.

people who don't go to settlement often try to sell the report to the next buyer of that home. Why not? Your client is more likely to use you on the next house they try to buy if you let them sell it. You probably won't hear from them or get any other business from any of the Realtors involved by preventing it. In my contract I make no mention about selling it but limit all liability for use by third parties. That way I'm protected and they can do what they want with it. If they have the money back in their pocket they can spend it for the next report. 

Here in California a copy of the report is given to the seller by the buyer and or buyers agent.  It's part of the standard purchase agreement.  Once the seller and listing agent has the report it becomes part of their disclosure for subsequent transactions.  It's important for the inspector to NOT give the report to the sellers side of the transaction directly, doing so makes you liable to the seller and any subsequent buyers of the property weather or not you've ever met them and or been compensated by them.

I provide my reports to the client and clients agent, NO ONE ELSE, period!  If an agent calls and asks me to email the report to another agent or the seller, I instruct them in the proper use of the "Forward" email feature...