Need Input! I would like to try a new technique I learned my my lawyer friend - use a digital recorder. You can walk through the room, verbally identifying each object, colour, size and serial number and any other notes you make want to record with your inventory item. Leave the home to enter all the information into the database with the pictures, print draft report and ask the client to spend 15-30 minutes, jotting down their $ value and place of purchase. Once I have this information, I can then finalize the report for presentation. This way I don't keep bothering the client throughout a four hour period. I really like this idea and it's quick. Anyone else tried this idea? Any thoughts or concerns?
Kristina Nielsen TakeStock Home Inventory Services
If we are to do the inventory as quickly as possible and not have to have the client with us, then how are we to know the value of the property. I think it is very important to have them there for that reason. When I did the practice run at my mother's house, she wasn't home. Let me tell you, it was difficult in that she wasn't able to provide me with any value what-so-ever and that was a negative for me. I will make sure that doesn't happen when I have a real inventory to do.
That is just my observation from my personal experience.
I do almost all the work at the house!! We input the info to the computer! Tony takes photos and I will download the photos at the home to make sure they look good and we did not forget something!! I also do alot of work at home!!
It may take a little longer in the house but we do not have to keep calling or go back if we over looked something!
We charge 100 an hr but the last couple that were large we did for $5o an hour! So it was working out for the customer.
Do any of you charge for time at home??
Darin if you are in and out quickly you are doing ALOT of work at home!! Do you charge for that?? I am just trying to decide what works best for us as well as the customer!
I am going to post a question on this if you want to respond there!!
What I'm starting to think is that the best thing for us to do is to be as quick & efficient as possible in the client's home. That will let us get in and get out so the client can get back to their normal routine as quickly as possible & they don't have to spend time with us that is not necessary to the process. Because we want them to feel like WE are doing the majority of the work (that's why they hired us anyway) and that feeling may be tested if we are walking around with them hour after hour.
This leads me to heavily favor the team approach vs. the solo approach.
As Fred stated above most people start out on their own and then maybe get someone to help them. I also think that doing several "practice" inventories for family and/or friends will be an invaluable way to gain confidence, see what works or doesn't work for you, and make mistakes before they really count against you.
The way I see it the faster we can be in and out of there (while still doing a great job) the better off we all are. We will look more professional (there's that word again) and we can do more inventories over the course of time. Even if working with an assistant can shave off one hour of time in the client's home that could add up to some serious time over the course of a couple months; time that could be spent working on other inventories and networking.
There really is a lot more to this business than meets the eye upon the initial inspection. I'm not trying to scare off new people taking a look at this opportunity, but at least for me, there is more too it than I originally thought there was. That doesn't mean it is a bad opportunity it just means that we must really do our homework on the pre-business opening day side of this to make sure that we are prepared.
Hi Kelley, Based on the feedback I have received, most people start out on their own initially but some find it helpful to seek help from a friend or family member to move through the inventory faster.
I think the 4 hour estimate for a 1500 sq. ft home is high but that definitely depends on how much stuff exists in the home and if collections are involved.
We have a mix of people, some prefer to enter the data as they go along and others use hand written sheets and do data entry back at their home office.
I would suggest having enough camera memory so you don't need to download while at the client. You can set your camera settings to a lower resolution so you don't use up as much space.
The best way to work things out is by performing a few practive inventories for friends or relatives.
I'm starting to get the feeling that there is a big difference between doing the inventory myself, with my client, and having additional help. I don't want to be exposed to liability by bringing someone else into the picture. And I am certainly not ready to hire anyone to help me.
So I will be doing this alone. My understanding after reading the forums is that a 1500 sf space should take me 4 hours to inventory. Do I enter data into the database as I go along? Am I going to need to download photos off my camera at intervals throughout the inventory? I have a big memory card.
