TOPIC: Marketing Ideas

Inspection in a pot. Hmm, that might be hard to do.. or really easy. I'll have to think about that one.

I don't think you want the government mandating inspections any more than you want them telling you what to inspect.

As I see it, there are two big problems with the mandatory stuff (given some time, I get I could come up with many more) -

1.  Permanent government control of our industry.  That typically comes from bureaucrats who have no personal experience in the industry and rely on the commentary (read that rumors) from other people.  Sometimes those people are inspectors or former inspectors who have a particular personal interest.  It is a short step from there to mandatory things that must be inspected and "fair" pricing, also determined by a bureaucrat, who has no idea how to run a small business.  He would never, that is NEVER, spend the numbers of hours in his job as we do in ours.  I usually spend 80 or 85 hours/week.  You find me that bureaucrat and I will crawl to his office...

Look at where the government requires licensing.  Those places are full of participants.  How do you know which are the good ones?  Personal experience.  Ask my wife about hair styling salons...  you will get an earful.   How about the legal professions?  We have one lawyer for every 52 people in this country!  Where it does not require licensing, but allows the industry to manage itself -- like the medical professions -- standards are different.  Those controlling agencies, like the AMA, exist to preserve standards, restrict entry (keeping salaries high) and even managing medical school entrance requirements.  

The less politics, the more preserved the industry remains.

2.  Costs to the buyers.  People are better able to determine what they can afford or not afford.  If you mandate inspections, what will they look for?  The cheapest they can find.  Who will that be?  You want it to be you, continually lowering your price to compete with someone who's spouse makes $300K a year as a dentist and he is doing this for pin money?  Our marketing at that point would be, "Look at me!  I am the cheapest!"  Then what happens to the industry?  It sucks.  It will be full of jerks who have little experience, little interest in good service, and little ability to do what we are trying desperately to do better every day.  The cream will not rise to the top.  The inexperienced will, those trying to break in.  

How do they break in?  Price alone.

My opinion...  feel free to slam me, but I prefer not to serve the gubment...  Mr. Jefferson would agree with that.  So would the rest of those Founding Fatherly types.

Don't tread on me!  (Picture the snake cut into 13 pieces...)

I think the best way to "mandate" inspections, is to get the word out there how truly beneficial they are!  That requires changing our practices, in terms of services offered and tools and techniques used.  AND changing the mental paradigm among those who participate with us in the real estate industry.

Jay, thank you for your take on this and by the way I really do agree. I have in the last 1/2 hour refilled my prescription, taken my medicine, and talked to my therapist ( FOX news), and am seeing clearly now. I cannot get political here (or Dominic will strike me down with his trident) but I do row the boat from the starboard side only. The real message is "Just keep marketing" and you may become the mandatory guy for the inspections.  Very funny buy the way with the whole pot thing.  ;D

[move][glow=limegreen,2,300]For some reason I'm getting dizzy and falling left when I read this post!  lol  [/glow][/move]

Drew - my comment was not political really.  Just reality.

Remember, when you row your boat, row gently DOWN the stream...

Jay is right!  Every time you add more regulation to industry, it throws off the natural balance of the industry.  Most of the time the added regulation has some other negative side effects.  Given enough time, more regulations will be added to try and fix the previous negative side effects and add new ones!