Home Inspectors Can Save Money With Email Money Transfer!

A great way to offer convenience and save the small business owner money at the same time.

Are you looking for another way to take payment from your Home Inspection clients but are hoping to avoid the high costs associated with accepting credit cards?  Email money transfer may be the solution you are looking for.   If you and your client are both set up for online banking, you can transfer money via email.  It's safe and neither party needs to share any of their banking information.  

It's super convenient!  May inspectors and their clients carry smartphones now which means you have instant access to log in to your online banking right at the inspection.   Client forget their cheque?  No problem.  If you both have smart phones, the client just logs into their online banking service, selects the option "send money by email"  and then enters the email address they wish to send the money to (this would be the inspectors email address) and the amount they wish to transfer.   They select the account they wish the money to be transferred out of and enter a security question that you (the receiver) will need to answer to receive the money.  This could be as simple as the contract number or the street the inspection was done on.   Then hit send.  

Within minutes, you will receive an email notifying you that someone has sent you money.   In the email, there will be a link that will open up a window allowing you to select the bank you bank with.  From there, you will be able to log into your own online banking account.   You will then be asked what the answer is to the the sender's security question.  If you correctly answer this question, you will be asked which account you would like the money deposited to.   Then, bam! - the money is now in your account.

If you know the client or you don't carry a smart phone with Internet access you could even have the client pre-pay so this transfer is complete ahead of your arrival at the home inspection.

So easy!  So convenient!  The cost of the service varies and is based on the sender's bank's rate for the service, but at most major banks, the cost ranges between $1.00-$1.50 per transfer.   This is paid by the sender.  

So, save hundreds on credit card merchant fees and, instead of accepting credit cards, suggest all your clients pay you by email money transfer!

I hope this article was helpful.    I wish you continued success in the home inspection business.

Happy Inspecting,

Sharon Purtill
Canspec Home Publishing

Realtors have used this idea for years....

Let's talk about putting a twist on a marketing idea that Realtors have used for years.   I'm sure at one time or another you've recieved a "Just Sold" or "Just Listed" postcard at your door.  Well, here's a way to put a twist on this old idea and make it very effective for your home inspection business!

First, you'll want to pick postcards that say "Just Inspected", include your logo and other important information about your company and the specialized services or extra value you offer.  The cards should be generic.   What I mean by this is there will be no actual street address of the home "Just Inspected".  Instead, the cards will say something like "We've just inspected a home in your neighbourhood".

Keep your "Just Inspected" postcards in your vehicle at all times.   Now, every time you are leaving an inspection and pass a home for sale on your way out of the immediate area - stop, pull into the driveway of the home for sale and go up to the door and leave your "Just Inspected" postcard there for the vendor to find.  

The great thing about "Just Inspected" postcards is it is absolutely targeted marketing.  I think you'll agree most people that have their house for sale will be in need of another home.   This means your postcard is targeting those that are most likely going to be in the market for your services.   Realtors don't get this kind of target results with their postcards.  This is because they usually blanket an area in the hopes that a percentage of the homes receiving their cards may be thinking of buying or selling.    When you only drop your cards to homes already listed for sale, you should expect to see far greater results for your very targeted marketing efforts!   No postage required, only a few minutes of your time to stop and deliver as you drive through neigbourhoods where you do, or perhaps would like to do, business.

Now, here's a link to one marketing/printing company that is already doing these cards for inspectors.  This will give you an idea of the design ideas for your cards.    You can disregard the cost because this is based on mailing your cards for you.   While this is an option, mailing your "Just Inspected" postcards wont get you the targeted results you will get if you hand deliver them only to homes already listed for sale.  

Here's the link http://www.colourtech.com/generalstore/postcards-homeinspect.php

Something else to consider is a door hanger with your "Just Inspected" message instead of a postcard.  This option allows for a perforated business card at the bottom which the home owner can easily remove.   This product is also available from the company at the link above.

I hope you find this idea interesting and I wish you much success in your home inspection business!

Sharon Purtill,
Canspec Home Publishing

Marketing Your Inspection Company Through Email

While we're big believers in marketing through direct mail, at least a few times a year, we know marketing by email can also be very effective for home inspectors, if done correctly.  

First things first, every time you market your services to your target audience, the information you send MUST have value.   It's not enough to say "hi, here I am, you should hire us for your inspection needs".  You need to give them something that they find valuable.   Choose a topic that you are knowledgeable in, write a piece about it and send it to your target audience.  Some good examples of topics home inspectors may choose would be:  Pro and Cons of Energy Efficiency, Dating a Home, Insurance Issues, Basement Dampness, Protecting Your Investment, New Home Warranty, Termites, Radon, Thermography, Electrical, Plumbing, Older homes etc. etc. etc.   You get the idea.

You should also include a link to your website and contact information in your marketing piece.

It's helpful to design the piece you write in such a way that your target audience can easily share it with others they feel would benefit.  For example, if you are emailing your piece to Realtors, you should let them know it is ok to share the information with their clients.   This leverages the value of the information you send out and can result in increased referrals.

You'll want the overall look and feel of your piece to be consistent, polished and professional looking with minimal effort on your part.   One of the ways to accomplish this is to use a service that can offer you design templates, help you track your results and easily communicate with as many people as you need to and do it all efficiently.

Here's a link to a company that can help you do this.   The best part is you can try the service for the first month for only $1.00.   This removes the risk and gives you the opportunity to see the features and benefits of the service.       www.marketingforsuccess.aweber.com

Hope you have found this to be useful information you can benefit from.

Your friends at Canspec Home Publishing