One of the keys to our success as home inventory professionals is education. Since this is a relatively new business it is virtually unknown to many people. If we are to succeed we must get the word out there about home inventory. This will require 3 components to be successful.
First, we must educate ourselves on every aspect of the home inventory business. Even though this is a fairly easy business to start it should not be taken lightly. In fact I can see the fact that it is not difficult to open a home inventory business being one of our major downfalls (I will elaborate on this below). We should take it upon ourselves to learn as much as possible about homeowner's insurance, crime statistics, estate planning, financial planning, collectables, appraisal techniques, etc.
Second, we have to get out there and tell people about home inventory. Once we know what we are talking about we must share the news with everyone who will listen. A good idea is to build yourself up as a local authority on home inventory and look for opportunities to speak at meetings or seminars. The disaster preparedness movement is a great vehicle for our business. Join your local Chamber of Commerce and network with other professionals. Volunteer to speak at homeowner's meetings or shows. Get creative!
Third, the final crucial element to making the home inventory business work is being completely in command of your equipment. We should be good with a digital camera, know about using lighting, learn how to handle a video camera properly, and use equipment to our advantage. The better we present ourselves to the clients we serve, and the higher the quality of work that we present, the more likely they will brag about us to their friends and family getting us more business and more exposure.
If we walk into a client's home and we're not really sure what we are doing, we are sunk. If we don't know how to use a video camera and the footage comes out looking terrible, we are sunk. If we can't put together an attractive final package to present to the client, we are sunk. If we don't know how to take good pictures or use our digital camera very well, we are sunk. Let us not be sunk!
I think that one of the key things that we need to deliver as professionals is the idea that the client simply cannot do as good a job as we are doing with their inventory and hiring us was a necessary decision. We can do it faster and better than they can do it so that they don't have to figure out how to do it. They can spend their time doing what they want to do instead of hours & hours sorting through their things and learning about inventory software, insurance, and digital photography. If at any time the client gets that nagging thought that "I could do this!", I believe that we may not be doing our job as well as we should be doing it.
