Personal Touch Matters

From East to West, home inspectors examine all types of homes. From the painted ladies of San Francisco to prairie homes to New York brownstones every home offers challenges to our ability to spot the calls that make residents secure. Our clients feel secure knowing their home is safe and sound. 

Our experience and expertise knows where to look and what to mark as concerns. But, to build our brand, the human connection is the factor that brings people back. Sons and daughters call because you did a great job on their parents’ retirement home. Real estate agents send you work because of your professionalism and personal rapport with their clients. 

Good will is a business value. If you ever decide to sell your business and get a business valuation, you’ll discover that good will has a monetary value. 

When we share information with clients, we show them we care about their home. Their safety, their family’s safety, and the soundness and longevity of their home. 

The Home Care Personal Touch

Educating your clients about the ways they can take care of their home goes a long way to building trust and good will. 

You know that regular home care is the best preventive measure a homeowner can take to preserve their home and its value.

Quick Fall Checklist for Clients 

Winter is just around the corner. Clients can help preserve their home with a fall home check. Talk to your clients about what they can do right now to prevent future damage and protect their home. 

1. Disconnect garden hoses. Explain how backed up water in winter can freeze inside the house cracking pipes. Drain hoses and store in a protected shed or garage.
2. Turn off valves to exterior faucets to prevent water leakage. 
3. Seal cracks around windows and doors. Seal cracks between trim and siding and where pipes and water enter the house. 
4. Trim tree branches that have grown close to the house in summer. Prevent roof debris and damage to roofing and flashing.
5. Clean roof gutters. Prevent water seeping into walls during winter storms.
6. Direct drainage away from home. Make sure drainage channels are free from debris and blocks. Keep the foundation sound.
7. Check furnace to make sure the system is sound. Schedule a check with an HVAC professional for a pre-winter check.
8. Replace smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries. 
9. Check the fireplace and chimney. Make sure the damper opens and closes correctly, Check the chimney flue for debris and bird nests. Check the firebox for loose bricks and cracked mortar. Get a chimney sweep to clear  creosote buildup. 

Good Will Last for Years 

Sharing homeowner tips with clients during autumn empowers homeowners to take care of their living space. Your client will feel you care about them, not just the house. You build good will. It’s the difference that gets you referrals and repeat business. 

Regular preventative maintenance checkups are the best medicine to keep problems from developing in between inspections. Your clients can find a year-long checklist for preventive maintenance. It’s called Love Your Home. Encourage them to download and use the checklist to keep their home secure. You never know, you might even find a useful nugget in there for your use.

Published in the American Society of Home Inspectors ASHI Reporter, November 2020 issue.