At first glance, the home inspection industry may seem like one that a given consumer may engage with just once every decade or more. When viewing the industry through a transactional lens, this may be true, but in reality, home inspectors have far more range. In addition to the inspection that takes place when someone purchases a home, there are countless other opportunities throughout the life of the home for other valuable inspections to be completed.
HomeTeam Inspection Service, the over-200-unit home inspection franchise, is able to cater to these ongoing needs, largely thanks to its “One Call Does It All” approach. By offering a robust suite of ancillary services, ranging from radon and mold testing to sewer scope inspections, HomeTeam owners are able to build rapport with homeowners and unlock multiple revenue opportunities over the course of the relationship.
“We take an educational approach to inspections,” said Matt Cook, Director of Operations. “We aim to empower our clients with knowledge, and we discuss the idea that any issue is fixable with the right resources. That non-alarmist approach is what lays the foundation for trust with our clients, and it ultimately opens the door for a longer-term relationship and the opportunity to provide ancillary services. This means that our owners can turn a single inspection into a comprehensive revenue stream that covers everything from home health check-ups to air quality testing.”
The Rise of the Home Health Check-Up
Today’s homeowners are increasingly interested in protecting their existing investments. This has given rise to the home health check-up, a proactive approach to maintenance that helps owners identify issues before they become larger, more costly issues.
“Life is expensive,” Cook said. “Getting the home checked and making sure there are no surprises is a great tactic for budgeting when times are tight.”
Cook gave the example of an HVAC system. There are some maintenance tasks that just must be done, and with proper inspection, homeowners can predict when the service will be necessary. Rather than having the air conditioner shut down unexpectedly on a hot summer day, which is often a very expensive surprise, homeowners can be alerted that the unit will soon need a certain part replaced and pencil the service in where it makes sense.
“Even when real estate transactions are slow, homeowners should still be getting the major systems of their home checked by a professional. The best way to take care of this is to get a 4-point inspection with HomeTeam,” Cook said. “This need allows franchise owners to generate business year-round rather than relying solely on the busy buying seasons.”
Expanding Service Offerings
While standard inspections covering the structural and functional aspects of the home are key, HomeTeam franchise owners have a real opportunity to grow revenue with ancillary services that detect invisible or otherwise hard-to-find risks.
According to Cook, sewer scope inspections are one of the fastest-growing ancillary services nationwide. As infrastructure ages and trees develop even more mature roots, which can grow into pipes, regular sewer scope inspections are crucial to avoid larger-scale plumbing failures.
Many consumers are also becoming more aware of other environmental risks, like air quality and radon concerns.
Radon, for example, is a colorless, odorless gas, and it’s the leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. But it’s not something every homeowner is aware of.
“Making these extra services known and educating our clients on the necessity has been key to our success,” Cook said. “The average person may not know these facts about radon, so they don’t consider that they might need radon testing. Then we educate them about it, and they think, ‘Oh, yeah, I definitely want to check for that to make sure there are no environmental risks to my family.’”
Building a Future-Proof Business
For HomeTeam franchise owners, ancillary services are more than just value-adds for clients. They’re a key driver of a recession-resistant business model. By implementing tiered package pricing, the system has already captured an estimated $1 million in additional revenue.
The ability to offer diverse, efficient inspection services insulates HomeTeam franchise owners from market volatility. By turning a single point of contact into a comprehensive evaluation of the home’s health, either during the initial inspection process or over the lifetime of the home, HomeTeam owners build trust and position themselves for steady revenue that allows them to thrive in any economic environment.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice.