ASHIFirstThing

November2017

InThisIssue:The3-LeggedStoolRiskManagementWebinarReflectionsofLTCSprint'sExclusiveOfferChapterChallengeStandingOut6CommonMisconceptionsSocialMediaEtiquette

Quicklinks:

ASHI.orgTheASHISchoolOnlineEducationInspectionWorld2018InspectPACInspective:ASHIBlog

TheThree-Legged

StoolMarketingPhilosophyAsabusinessdevelopmentprofessional,Imakeitapracticetolistento

podcastsfrequently.IlovedthismarketingphilosophysharedbyacollisionrepaircompanyandIthinkitcanbeappliedtothehomeinspectionindustry.It’sthethreeleggedstoolphilosophy–alllegsareequallyimportant.Onewithouttheothermakesitwobblyandunlikelytowithstandthetestoftime.Themoresturdythelegs–themoresuccessful–anddependable-itbecomes.

1.GREATSERVICE–Youhavetodeliverimpeccableservice–notmediocreservice–notjustgoodenoughservice.But,great,impeccableservice.Youcanbetheonewhostandsoutinthecrowdbysimplyimprovingtheservice,goingtheextramileforclients.

TheASHI

School'sUpcomingClasses

60-HourOnlineClass

120-HourClassCumming,GA11/27-12/8Lakewood,CO11/27-12/8Leesburg,VA11/27-12/8Tampa,FL11/27-12/8

MoldClassDesPlaines,IL11/18-11/20

4-PointInspection&WindMitigationTampa,FL12/2

Whodoesn’tliketoreceivegreatservice?Whenyoudo,doyoutalkaboutit?Refertoothers?Ofcourse.It’smemorableandintoday’sworld,unfortunately,it’sunexpected.

2.COMMUNICATION–Youneedtocommunicate–withyourclients,youragents,yourco-workers.Wehavetospendthetimeandtakethetimetocommunicate–inyourbusiness,it’svitalthatyourfindingsarecommunicatedeffectively.Anyonecanimprovetheircommunicationsskillsandstyle.Bewhoyouare–thenbeteachable,tweakandimprovealongtheway.(Listeningtopodcaststoandfrominspectionscansharpenyourcommunicationskills.)

3.APPRECIATION–youcan’tthankpeopleenoughforspendingtheirhardearnedmoneyforyourgreatserviceandforreferringyoutotheirclients,friendsandfamily.Thankthem–verballyandinwriting.

Obviously,there’smorethatgoesintobuildingahomeinspectionbusiness;however,havingthesethreesturdylegsinpositionandmasteredisakeytosuccess.

FaithGreenwellInspectorTraining&DevelopmentManagerBuyer'sProtectionGroupDirectLine:800-285-3001,ext8010Faith.Greenwell@bpgwi.com

HomeInspectorRiskManagementWebinar

InspectPACraisesmoneytohelpelect

hostedbyBNKInsuranceTuesday,November7at8PM-11PMEST

TheHartfordandBNKInsuranceServicesarepleasedtooffer"RiskReduction&ReportWriting,"awebinarforhomeinspectorsfeaturingMichaelCasey,PrincipalofMichaelCasey&AssociatesandDirectorofEducationforHomeInspectionUniversity.

MichaelCasey&AssociationsisanationalA.M.BestrecommendedconsultingfirmbasedinSanDiego,CA.

Thiswebinarwill:•debunkmythsaboutpreventingclaimsandavoidingliability,•touchonwhatotherinspectorsaredoingtolimitprofessionalliabilityexposures,and•coverriskreductionissuesforhomeinspectors,includingtipsonbestpracticeinspectionproceduresandreportwriting.

REGISTERNOW

byJoelSinger,CEO,

Applica/HomeWizardWhenDaveKoganandIwerediscussing

Applica/HomeWizardattendingtheASHILeadershipTrainingConferencethatwasheldafewweeksago,hementionedthatthiswouldbeagreatopportunitytotalkwithASHI'schapterleadersandfutureleaders.HesaidtheseweretheleadersofASHIwhowerefocusedongrowingtheirchapters,andhelpingtheirmemberstogrowtheirbusinesses,andassuch,theLTCwouldbeafantasticopportunitytoexplorenewideas.

Thisabsolutelyturnedouttobetrue.

Itwasagreatopportunitytomeetexisting

andre-electcandidatestoCongresswhohaveanunderstandingofthehomeinspectionprofession,andwhoaresupportiveoftheprofession.AtInspectionWorld2018,we'replanningsomethingnew.Afteralongdayofclasses,expohallandnetworking,comerelaxandunwindwithuswithmusic,horsd'oeuvres,andsignaturedrinks.It'sjust$50togetin(moneytosupportInspectPAC).Whilerelaxingandenjoyingtherelaxingvibes,helpusraisedonationsforthePoliticalActionCommitteeonMondaynight,January22from7:00-8:30PM.

Thisisa"signature"eventyouwon'twanttomissouton.PurchaseticketswhenyouregisterforInspectionWorldorpayatthedoor.

Ifyouwon'tbeatInspectionWorld,orwanttodonatenowbeforeIWrollsaround.Download

clientsinperson,likeHankSanderoftheGreatLakesChapter,andRogerGerhardtoftheOhiochapter.AnditwasfascinatingtoheartheinnovativewaysthattheywereusingApplica/HomeWizard'stools,whichwerewaysthatwehadnevereventhoughtof.Plusthereweregreatdiscussionswithinspectorswhotalkedabouttheirneeds,andwhattheywerelookingfortohelpthemgrowtheirbusinesses.

AsImentionedattheluncheonontheseconddayoftheLTC,thesediscussionsincludedtalkingwithRobertStockmannofthenewSouthernColoradoChapter.Asafollow-uptoourdiscussionsearlierintheday,heasked"whataboutdoingatwo-for-onedealfortheirchapter...twoyearsforthepriceofone?"AtfirstIthoughthewasjustkidding,butaftertalkingwithourteamandothersattheconference,ifwedidtheorientationsaswebinars,itactuallycouldbeawin-win.SoweannouncedattheLTCthatwewouldbeofferingthistoalloftheChapters.Therewereothergreatdiscussions,andI'mabsolutelygladtohavebeenabletoparticipate.ItwasgreatseeingeveryoneattheLTC,andI'mlookingforwardtobeingatInspectionWorld,wherewe'llbedoinga"Grab&Go"session.

Applica/HomeWizard(www.applica-solutions.com/ASHI)isaGoldAffiliateMemberofASHIwhohelpsinspectorstogrowyourbusinesswithmarketingtoolsthatkeepyoutop-of-mindwithrealtorsandhomeowners:interactiveeNewsletterwithpersonalizedhomecarereminders&tips;mobileapp;socialmediapost-ables;webSEOenhancers;andmore.

REGISTERFORINSPECTIONWORLD

thisformtocontribute.Personalchecksandcreditcardshighlypreferredasbusinesscheckers/creditcardscannotgodirectlytolobbyist.

DONATENOW

Mr.Fix-It'sQuickTip#58

WhyistheToiletFlushingItself?OK,soyoujustheardthetoiletflushinthemiddleofthenight.Nooneelseisinthehouse,andyoudon’tthinkyourhomehasaghost.Laterthatnight,youhearitagain.Ughhh.Howwillyouexplainthistotheplumber?

Don’tworry.

Sprint’sexclusiveofferstosaveASHImembersmoney:ReceiveA$100servicecreditforbothnewandexistingSprintbusinesscustomerswhoactivateanewline.Sprintwillalsopayyourswitchingfeesupto$650andwaiveaccountactivationfees.UseyourSocialSecuritynumberinsteadofabusinesstaxidtosetupyourbusinessaccountandtakeadvantageofalloftheBusinessPerks!ClickfordetailsQuestions:ContactusatASHI@sprint.com

Whatyou’reprobablyhearingisthetoiletrefillingasifithadbeenflushed.Buthowisthatpossible?Waterinthetankisslowlyleakingpasttheflushvalveandintothebowl.Asthebowlfills,thewatersilentlyflowsdownthedrainline.Whenthewaterinthetankgetslow,theautomaticfillvalveopensandyouhearthetankfilling–justasifthetoilethadbeenflushed.Thefixissimple:cleanorrepairtheflushballorflapvalve.Attimes,theproblemcanbefixedjustbywipingdepositsoffthematingsurfaces.Othertimesyou’llneedtoreplacethevalvebecauseofacrackorsurfaceimperfection.Ifyouwanttotestforthistypeofsilentleak,placeafewdropsoffoodcoloringinthetank.Withinashorttime,you’llnoticethecolorinthebowl–asuresignofaleakingflushvalve.

PlatinumProvider:

MastermindInspector

Community

ASHIMembersandHomeEnergy

ScoreCandidatesandAssessors!

TheASHIandHomeEnergyScoreChapterChallengeissteamingfullahead!ASHIChaptersareinaheatedrace.Herearethecurrentstandings:

CHAPTERLEVELMOSTASSESSORS:OhioSouthernMOSTSCORES:GreatLakes

INDIVIDUAL/BUSINESSMOSTSCORES:GordonGliddenof

InlandLakesInspectionServicesLLC

Here’saquickreminderofjusthowgoodtheprizesare:

$400worthoftools/hardwareforeachcategorywinnerfromIDEnergy/InspectionDepotFreeadmissiontoInspectionWorld2017

inOrlandoforeachcategorywinnerfromASHIAmarketing“overhaul”packagefrom

ASHIandtheDOEfortheIndividualWinner

Andwhileourleadersaredoinggreatwork,they’renotsofaraheadthatyourchaptercan’tstillmakearunforthebigWIN!

GoldAffiliates:

Applica/HomeWizard

BusinessRiskPartners

HomeInspectorPro

HomeGauge

HowToOperateYourHome

InspectionCertification

Associates

InspectorProInsurance

KaplanHome

InspectionEducation

LiftMaster

McKissock

OREP

Palm-Tech

Pro-Lab

Radalink,Inc.

SilverAffiliates

UnitedInfrared

CarsonDunlop

EMSLAnalytical

GeneralTools

HolmesApprovedHomes

InspectITReporting

Software

ZAITrust

BronzeAffiliates

3DInspectionSystems

AllenInsurance

America'sCallCenter

BNKInsurance

BostonEnvironmental

BuyersProtectionGroup

CompleteAppliance

Protection

EBPHI

EliteMGA

HomeInspectionReport

HomeBinder.com

HomeTeam

InspectionSupportNetwork

InspectorServicesGroup

Kritter-Caps

MonroeInfrared

RAdata,Inc.

ReportHost

Gotowww.EnergyScoreUSA.comtomakeithappen

I.D.Energy-ASHIMembersOnlyDEALS!UNLIMITEDQAfor12MonthsOnly$399OnlyAvailableUntilDecember31st!NotAvailableforthePortlandHomeEnergyScoreProgram.DoesnotincludeDOERequired“Initial5QAScores”.ASHI

MembersOnly.

UseI.D.Energy’sNewHomeEnergyAndroidApp,DownloadontheGoogle

PlayStoreToday!https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inspection.Home_Energy&hl=en

AsanexhibitoratInspectionWorld(orany

conferenceforthatmatter)yourgoalistowalkawaywithasmanyleadsandnewbusinessaspossible.Todothat,youneedtostandoutfromtherestofthecrowd,Standourfromyourcompetitors,otherexhibitorsandeventheattendees.It'suptoyoutomakeyourtimeworthwhile.WhichiswhyyoushouldseriouslyconsidersponsoringInspectionWorldOrlando.Therearenumerousopportunitiestochoosefrom,including:-ToteBag-Umbrellaw/specialcase-ConferencePens-T-Shirt-ToteInserts

RTCA

SunNuclear

S.W.A.T.Environmental

USInspect

VanguardEmergency

Management

EndorsedMembers:ASHIStore(GEMMarketing)

ASHI@Home

BuildFax

GuardianFinancial

HomeOwnersNetwork

InspectionContracts.com

JoeFerry,LLC

LegalShield&IDShield

LibertyMutual

MoverThankYou

OneSourceSolutions

Porch.com

Quill.com

TargetProfessionalPrograms

UpcomingChapterEvents:11/11

EastTennesseeChapter

11/18-11/19

OhioSouthernFallSeminar

12/2LouisianaChapterEvent12/9-12/10FABIWinterConference

We'restartingtohear

fromexhibitors(andacoupleofuswere

-SpecialEvents

VIEWSPONSORSHIPS

The6Most

CommonMisconceptionsAboutHomeBinderInthelastseveralmonthswe’vebeenfieldinganumberofrecurringquestions

aboutHomeBinder.

Despiteeffortsotherwise,manyinspectorshavecometothinkthatourbusinessmodelisbasedonsolicitingclients.Wheninfact,ourtruenorthisthehomeownerandourjobistomakesurethattheyhaveagreatapptomanagetheirlargestasset.

ThesearethemostcommonmisconceptionsthathomeinspectorshaveaboutHomeBinder:

1.HomeBinderbusinessissellingallourhomeownerdatatothirdparties.Thisisnotourbusiness.Wedon’tdothis.

2.HomeBindermakesoutboundcallstosolicitmyclientsandupsellservices.Wedon’tdothiseitherdirectlyORindirectly(throughapartner).Thisisnotthebusinessweareinasweheardfrominspectorsthattheydidn’twanttoworkwithfirmsthatdidthisasitleadstotoomanyproblems.

3.HomeBinderworkswithOneSource,thereforeHBissellingcustomerdata.WedoworkwithOneSource.Thatis

calledatHQaswell)abouthowtheyhavereceivedcallsfromTravelBusinessPartnersandothercompaniesstatingthattheyareworkingwithASHItobookhotelroomsattheCaribeRoyaleforInspectionWorld2018.

ASHIhasnever,norever,workedwithindependenttravelsbrokerstobookhotelrooms.Weworkdirectlywiththehotel.Ifyou'reattendingIW,followthislink:BookaRoomNow

absolutelytrue.ButthemisconceptioncomesfromHOWweworkwiththem.WeONLYworkwiththemifahomeownerasksforhelpwithsomethingthattheycanhelpthemwith.Whatthismeanspracticallyisthatlastmonth(September2017)1.4%ofnewhomeownersaskedforhelpinsidetheHomeBinderapplicationandONLYthosehomeownerswereconnectedwithOneSource.Nooneelse.Wewillhelpthosethatask,notthosethatdon’t,aswebelievethistobethebestapproach.

4.TobeacustomerofHomeBinderyouhavetobeawarrantycustomer.Absolutelynottrue.92%ofourcustomersdon’tuseCompleteProtection.

5.HomeBinderofferswarrantiessotheyaresellingcustomerdata.Nottrue.EarlierthisyearwebegantoofferawarrantyintegrationwithCompleteProtectionbecauseaportionofourcustomerbaseaskedforustooffera90daywarrantyprogramthatmettheirneeds.WesawthatCompleteProtectionwasaleaderanddidn’tfallintoissuesthattypicallybefalltheindustry(andweencourageanyfirmsthatareinterestedtotakealookatthemthroughourintegrationorindependently).Whatthismeansisthatabout8%ofourinspectorcustomerswantto,andchooseto,usetheirwarranty.ONLYthoseclientsaresetupwitha90daywarranty,noannualwarrantiesarepushedonclients,andtheinspectorcanevenpickandchoosewhichoftheirclientstheywanttoset-upwithawarranty.NOOTHERHomeBinderusersaresharedwithCompleteProtection.

6.Homeownersdon’tusethebinderssetupforthem.Thisoneregularlycomesupbutisfarfromthetruth.Whatistrueisthatthereisawiderangeofengagementbyhomeownersdependingontheinspectionfirmtheareworkingwith.Somehavenearlyall(90%)of

theirclientsacceptandusetheirHomeBinderaccount.OurtopperformerswithhomeownerengagementdoseveralthingssuchasbringingupHomeBinderatthetimeoftheschedulingandattheinspection.Ifyou’dliketolearnmorewe’dencourageyoutowatchthisvideo.https://support.homebinder.com/using-your-account/increase-client-login-rates

Asyoucanseeabovethemajorityofquestionsarearoundcustomerdataasthisisaconcernacrosstheentireindustry.

WeMUSThandleyourcustomers,whichbecomeourusers,withtheutmostcare.Why?Thereasonistwo-fold:Inspectorshavetoldusthattheywantareasonablypricedservicethatdoesnotsellclientdataordooutboundcallstothehomeownertopushproductorservices.Thisisaparamountconcernwe’veheardfromDay1andwe’veorientedeverythingwedoaroundthis.OurvisionistobeTHEplatformthatpeopleusetomanageandeventuallyselltheirhome.Wecannotbeshortsightedaboutannoyingthembytryingtosellthemservicesoutofthegateintherelationship.We’donlybehurtingourbrandandourvision.Weneedarelationshipwiththathomeowneruntiltheydecidetosell(andthenagainintheirnexthome).

Ifyouarelookingforacompanywithabigvisionandthatthinksdifferent,you’vecometotherightplace.Ifyouthoughtdifferentofuswehopethatyouunderstandwhoweare,andthedirectionwearegoing.Wehopeyou’llgiveHomeBinderatryandfindoutforyourself.AnyonethathastoldyoudifferentaboutHomeBinder,wehopeyouaskyourselfwhy?

Nocontracts,nohiddenfees,nosetup,nopenaltyforleaving.We’llevenpro-rateyourcurrentmonthifyouwanttoleave.That’sjustanotherexampleofhowwe“think

different.”

Wehopethishelpssettherecordstraight.

SocialMediaEtiquette:What'sSafetoShareonSocialNetworksSocialnetworks-self-containedonlineforumswhereuserscansharetheirlivesandcareersandengageinongoingdialoguewithothersintheformoftext,photos,videos,commentsandotherformsofhigh-techcommunication-havegrownbyleapsandboundsoverthepastdecade.Billionsofpeopleworldwidenowregularlyturntosocialnetworkstoprovidefriendsandstrangersalikewithsnapshotsandupdatesoftheirdailylifeand,inturn,seewhatfriends,family,andacquaintancesaredoingatanygivenmoment.Infact,it’sfairtosaythattodaywe’rejugglingtwolives:Realandvirtual.Butwhatdobasicrulesofonlineetiquettelooklike,andwhichinformationandviewpointsareOKtoshareonthesemostpublicofforums?AswenoteinthenewbookNetiquetteEssentials:NewRulesforMindingYourMannersinaDigitalWorld,answersareoftenhardtocomeby.Below,you’llfindessentialhints,tips,andguidelinesformaintainingasafeandpositivepresenceonpopularsocialmediasitesfromFacebooktoInstagram,Snapchat,andbeyond.MaintainingaPositiveOnlinePresenceSharingextremely-opinionatedviewpoints

(e.g.politicalleaningsorthoughtsoncontroversialtopics)canbealightningrodonline.Thinktwicebeforelikingsupportingstatusupdatesorpostingsuchopinions,whichcaninciteandaggravateothers(andliveoninperpetuity).Ifyoufeeltheneedtoexpresstheseopinions,considerconfiningsuchcommunicationstoexchangeswithindividualfriends,orspecificFacebookorGoogle+groups.Ultimatelythough,it’simportanttoremember:Ifyoudon’thaveanythingnicetosay,perhapsit’sbestleft

unsaid.Postingembarrassing,revealingor

negativephotosofyourselfshouldbeavoidedatallcosts.Remember:Imagesyousharemaybetakenatfacevalue,and/orviewedasrepresentativeofyourcharacter-nottomentionliveonforeverontheInternet.Whatseemscuteinhighschoolorcollegemaynotseemquitesoendearingtopotentialemployers.Neverpostphotosofotherswithouttheir

expresspermission.Relationshiporpersonaldramaisbest

keptprivate.Ifyoucannotresisttheurgetoshare,dososparingly-andinthemostvague,unspecifictermspossible-forthesakeofinvolvedparties,orfriendsuninterestedorunwillingtoparticipateinthesituation.Nocommunicationsshouldbesharedaboutotherindividualsandthoseinvolvedinreal-lifesituationswithouttheiradvancepermission.Avoidpostingonsocialnetworksunless

youhaveatightgraspoveryourprivacysettings,andarecompletelycomfortablewiththegroupofonlinefriendsthatyourupdateswillbesharedwith.

ToneofVoiceandAttitudeProfessionalismisimperative-ifyou

wouldn’tsayitinasocialorworksetting,don’tsayitonline,inthemostpublicofforums.Politenessandrespectarevital:Alwaysbe

considerateofothers,andtreatthemthewaythatyou’dwishtobetreated.Avoidbad-mouthingotherusersasitwill

negativelyimpactyourimageandcasualbystandersmayjudgeyoubasedontheseactions.Maintainapositivetoneandattitude:

Negativity,complaintsandcondescendingmessagesoftenreflectpoorlyontheposter.Braggingandself-aggrandizing

statementsshouldbeavoided,andmakingthemmaycauseyoutolosefriendsandfollowers.Sincesocialnetworksaresharedvenues

enjoyedinmixedcompany,alwaysavoidusingvulgarlanguageandmakingderogatoryremarks.Demandingthatothersshareyourstatus

updates,projects,thoughtsorideasisinappropriate.Reserveconfidentialdiscussionsfor

privatemessagethreadsor,betteryet,phonecalls,emailsorothervenueswhereinteractionsaren’trecordedinperpetuityonline.Beadvisedthatconversationalnuances

andsubtleshiftsintoneorpersonalitymaybelostintranslation,andthatindividualusersmayinterpretmessagesdifferently:Considerhowpostswillbereadandinterpretedbeforesending.Poorspelling,punctuation,grammarand

choiceofwordscanreflectequallypoorlyupontheindividual-proofreadallcommunicationsbeforesending.Shorthand,abbreviationsandonlineslangshouldbeavoidedifpossible,andusedonlyinthemostinformalofconversations...READMORE

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