Maybe it was her former career as a vice-president for Spartan Race, the formidable endurance race that even many top athletes fear, but HomeTeam Inspection Service franchisee Charlene Bonzey really knows how to go the distance.

Recently, Bonzey joined the elite ranks of HomeTeam’s 1,000 Inspections Club, meaning her teams have performed that many inspections in one year. No easy feat.

Still, it’s not entirely surprising. Bonzey has been growing her Worcester, Massachusetts location every year since she signed on with the franchise in 2016. The mother of three grown sons, including one who is currently part of her inspection teams, Bonzey has kept her nose to the grindstone. By sticking to the HomeTeam playbook, she has managed to grow her business into a budding empire.

“Charlene is batting 1,000, that’s for sure,” HomeTeam President Adam Long said. “She’s smart, has incredible drive and is a true team player who really understands why sticking with a proven business model pays big dividends. She’s just a superb example of the type of HomeTeam franchisee we want in our system.”

We spoke to Bonzey to learn more about her journey with the fast-growing home inspection brand and to see if she has advice for other HomeTime franchisees.

1851 Franchise: What were you doing before you joined HomeTeam? 

Charlene Bonzey: I'd been in corporate America for a long time and was doing a long commute every single day. My son was also interested in franchising and we knew we had a great passion for real estate, but we didn't really want to start selling homes. We investigated a couple of franchise opportunities, like property management, but I fell in love with HomeTeam. They're a bigger company, but still family-oriented and have that small, homegrown feel.

1851: Why is that family atmosphere important to you?

Bonzey: The franchisee has a strong voice here. I didn’t want to get lost in the crowd. 

1851: Tell us a little bit about the 1,000 Inspections Club.

Bonzey: At HomeTeam, the corporate team assigns you a coach who helps you with business development, and that is fantastic. They help you set goals, but also set a plan to achieve them. The first goal was 250 inspections in one year and I was just shy of hitting that mark within my first year of business, but hit it my second. The third year, the goal was 500 inspections, and I hit that. So this year, which is my fourth year, my goal was 750 inspections, and I hit 1,000. I was pretty happy about that. It’s all about achieving growth, helping small franchises set their goals and having a plan to achieve them.

1851: What’s your goal for 2021?

Bonzey: My goal is 1,500 inspections. I've been pretty successful with growth and have doubled my inspection numbers year after year. I'll eventually get to a point where that's not going to be possible, but as long as it is, that's my goal.

1851: What accounts for your success? The booming market or marketing strategies?

Bonzey: A little of both. Our housing market is very tight here. Typically, there’s about 30 to 50 buyers for every single home that's on the market. That means a lot of buyers will inadvisably consider skipping the inspection to sweeten their offer, so I had to look at new opportunities to keep my business growing. 

1851: How did you adapt?

Bonzey: Before COVID-19 hit, I had been going to real estate offices to give presentations, meet new agents and attend networking groups. That was my strategy, but it had to change because of the pandemic. But, I wasn't going to let the marketing drop off, so I had to learn how to adapt. I started to host networking events once a week via Zoom, available to any real estate agent who wanted to take it. 

1851: What has the reaction been?

Bonzey: The brokers in our area are so excited about it because it gives them the opportunity to help their new agents become better home sellers. It's one hour a week, covering everything from Home Inspection 101 to foundations and leaks. I also ask the agents — particularly new agents — that if they come across something in a home they don’t understand, to take a picture and send it to me. I help them troubleshoot the problem and give tips on how to explain it to their client in a way that doesn't scare them away. 

1851: Has the HomeTeam corporate office helped you with this Zoom program?

Bonzey: Yes, it was suggested by the corporate office. They also came up with great presentations, which I've altered to make relevant to New England. Right now, I’m helping other franchisees figure out how to get it started in their territory. 

1851: What would you say to inspire another franchisee to hit your level of success.

Bonzey: Number one, follow the plan. You can adjust it to benefit your demographic. If your area is slow, don't use that as an excuse. Go after the agents. If you only work with 1,000 agents, you need to introduce yourself to 2,000 more. You can always find a way to overcome and adapt.

1851: What has been your greatest source of satisfaction in this career?

Bonzey: Here in Massachusetts, there are only about five women in this industry right now, and three of them work for me. We get a lot of kudos for that, and that's gratifying, but it’s not just a woman-power thing. We're different in the marketplace. A good percentage of agents are women, and women like working with women. We also have a way explaining things in a way that’s not alarmist. So I always tell HomeTeam franchises, if you're looking to expand, put a woman in your team. Just try it. You will be surprised to find how many people will be requesting that woman.