Looking for suggestions on building my agent referral network...

[Derek Littlejohn]

How do you guys meet agents you have no prior relationship with, then convince them to refer your services? I am curious what you have had success with.

You can email me if you want to keep it private...click on the email icon under my profile.

Thanks in advance.

[David Macy]

I meet new agents all the time, but I do not go to there office begging for business.

For instance I met the sellers agent by handling setting up the times for a radon test and general inspection as the buyers agent seemed to busy or had other engagements.

The sellers agent liked my communication skills and asked that I bring marketing material so he can add me to his list. He also visited my website and liked my report sample and my qualifications.

Most agents around here have a list of inspectors they hand out. Ask if you can be on there list.

If I may ask what makes you better then your competition?

[George Fransway]

In the Sunday paper and the local MLS system I find a few open houses in my city to go to and meet new agents at their open houses. I take a few business cards and a few tri-fold flyers to give away. I always ask them to tell me a little about themselves, never had an agent pass up a chance to talk about themselves. I have met many, converted a few. All a numbers game, shake their hand and look them in the eye. GOOD LUCK  George

[Doug Diller]

I've done some open houses.  Also joined a small business group.  Another thing to try is see if any inspectors in the area a retiring, they might sell you some names.  I also picked some offices in a specific zip code, sent several things in the mail, then called each of them.  Haven't gotten much out of any of these things yet but I know it will come.  Agents that I talk with really appreciate me coming by...so I'm hoping it is laying a good foundation.  Building a referal based business is slower then one likes.

[John Graham]

I operate in South Africa where the home inspection market is largely buyer driven and real estate agents regard home inspections as a "grudge purchase" which they only recommend if the buyer asks for an inspecion at offer stage.  I am looking for suggestions on how to deal positively with the tension a home inspection report creates in the agent's mind - when all he wants is a quick sale with no "deal breakers".   I believe that in some areas of the US, estate agents drive a large part of the demand for home inspections.   I am looking for suggestions on how to encourage agents to recommend pre-listing inspections to their sellers - this would include balanced report content, report availability etc. My feeling is that there are positives for the real estate agent who embraces the need for transparency up-front and who by recommending the inspection at listing stage "takes control of the process".  Look forward to your ideas.

[Casey Patten]

John, it's about educating agents, in my opinion.  Many are still stuck thinking "backwards", that inspections are deal breaking things...when in reality, your job is to help their client (and your's) make the best financial decision for themselves. 

I've found that phrasing it that way helps.  Get them to realize that you are both working in the best interest of the client, helping them with the process, and that the client will be happy with the agent that referred you because they did (or didn't) buy a certain home. 

[Gordy Haynes]

Hey guys, I want share my prospective with you. My background is braod and diverse in construction indstry. I've built, bought and sold 1,000's of square feet of properties. David, I too am a good communicator. But I'm just about to give up a relationship with "Sellers" side of the deal. I have long friensdhips in the local Ortlando Market but two of best associations, say outright, I've got too much horsepower or the existing relationships are just too strong to unset. The "Deal Braker" thing again. I don't do sugar coats on anything and I work ONLY for my client. You konw, that's a problem for the Brokers and Agent's in this enviorment when it's so hard to find someone that can actually qualify. So, I don't cater to the Selling Side of the business...BUT
But I want to share something that is looking pretty promising. I'm also a Florida Certified General Contractor AND a Florida All Lines Adjuster. I'm profecient with an estimating software called Xactimate. It's a national standad costing data base for the insurance industry. When I do a home inspection, if I see there's a lot of issues, I recommed they buy my Cost Analysis. I seel it for #370.00 or .01-1/2% whichever is greater. The report is extreamly detailed and includes dimensions, photo's and all issues are priced out by individual line item numbers. I gaurantee to save them hundreds, maybe thousands off the the listing price or there Home Inspection is free. This gives the buyer and their agent a profound negoiating advantage for the lowest possible purchase price. I'm still trying to put all the peices together but I'm hopeful that creating a Buyers Team, will open up the agents and brokers a little bit. I need help with the SEO and my sites and I appreciate all the information here and from everyone. Take a look at one of my sample Cost Analysis if you're interested.  http://issuu.com/orlandosbesthomeinspector/docs/sample_cost_analysis_01

Again, I thank you guys for all the helpful information and open descussions Dominic has created.

www.OrlandosBestHomeInspection.com
www.GordyHaynes.com

GordyHaynes@aol.com

[John Graham]

Hi Gordy We are doing something a little similar here in South Africa.  For our buyers inspections we have always provided cost estimates for repairing the defects we have identified in our reports.  This provides the buyer with a handle (information) to use when negotiating with the seller.
Sellers inspections are harder to come by - the seller is often cash strapped (that's why he is selling) and is reluctant to come up with the fee.  For those that do we  offer, in addition, to our cost estimates, to facilitate a free independent quoting service.   This is done by sending a copy of our report to a call centre operation which manages accredited panels of contractors.   Two or three independents in each discipline are sent to the seller to quote on each item of the job.  The seller has no obligation to accept any of these quotes but he now has actual market related quotes which he can accept and fix up the place pre-listing, or he can pass these on to potential buyers with our report in order to provide the buyer with factual data on the scope of the damage.
Sellers agents are somehwhat interested in recommending our services on this basis to their client, but iit certainly has not yet taken off.   One problem in South Africa is that the same real estate agent who is acting for the seller, also acts for the buyer.  This generates a real conflict of interest - which iis compounded if the agent is selfish and commission driven and therefore views an objective home inspection as a potential deall breaker.

[Gordy Haynes]

Good morning John,

Thank you for your reply. I think that's a great idea. Here, in America, our economny has been strained bad for the last three years as it never has before. Almost everyone is effected by it. So all across the spectrumn of the housing markets including the construction industry is hurting. I think your idea of creating a Vendor base is great because it serves as base of potitential work for qualified contrators and tradesmen and it's clear who needs a service and for what.
Thanks for sharing that.

I have hunted and fished most of my life. I paint a little but I have a hunting and fishing network all across America including British Columbia and Coata Rica. If you're interested it that I have a link to show you of some of my network and art. it's

http://www.gordyhaynes.com/huntfish.htm

Have a good day. I'd like to trade links with you. Let me know,

Gordy

[Bruce Bowden]

Regarding resistive agents, what they may not realize is that the HI often assumes much of the liability the agent would have for recommending a home & not recommending an inspection.  I know this is dicey to plant that seed.  On the other hand, 80% of homes here are inspected, and the buyer has to sign that it was suggested and he waived the possibility.  The realtors are savvy, they have gotton themselves off one big liability hook (in certain ways), but have not lowered their commissions one iota.

[Bruce Bowden]

I will offer targeted/preferred realtors to do a pre-certification inspection AT NO COST.  This comes with certain home and client type conditions (like the seller will need to buy a new home in area)& I typically will only do it in the slow season.  I'm having very good success with this, it proves my skills/deliverables, allows them to get to know me, increases my awareness for buyers who see the report, and also drives traffic to my site...it has also led to opening up whole offices of agents to me.  Its a powerful approach...I try to have 1 or 2 active at any given time, but with business already increasing, I may wind the program down soon.

[Bruce Bowden]

Other things I do: Participate actively with the realtor associations, the builder association, the chamber of commerce, and now a professional networking group.  I also build relationships with other affiliates to realtors; insurance agents, mortgage people, etc.  Often, I'm the one with leads for them, and then there is a natural sense of "indebtedness", altho that is not how I approach it.