I have yet to launch my business but the topic of the finished product is very important to me. I want it to look fantastic!
I am experimenting with a leather backed, zippered binder with the clients name etched on a pewter plate on the cover. Full color photos on semi gloss paper in protective sleeves. All reports and client information will be tabbed and properly labled.
The inside cover will have slots for the disks, my business cards, brochures, pen and pen light.
Plus an area where they are free to put any other important documents such as birth certificates etc.
This is going to cost me some loot! But I believe that it is appropriate for the market I am in (most of the homes are $1M+) and the cost of my final presentation is reflected in my price structure. I believe when I pull this finished binder out during my presentation, it will make a strong statement about me and my company. I am hoping to convey that this service is important and valuable and is to be taken very seriously.
But more importantly, it is imperative that the insurance agent/adjuster believe in the integrity and validity of our third party inventory service. Maybe loose cd's, dvd's and flash drives can convey the same professionalism, I just have my doubts about that.
Plus, your client is more likely to pull this binder out to show a friend or neighbor than they would a cd or flash drive. (Word of mouth advertising!)
I believe that having this really nice, thick, leather binder with their families name emblazoned on the cover makes a strong statement about the importance of the life and possessions of that family as opposed to a few disks or flash drives. Even though disks and flash drives can hold enough information for 100's of inventories.
It is completely psychological! I can see my TV comercial now:
A home devistate by fire. A mother with two kids comforting each other in front of what used to be their home. The camera cuts to dad sifting through the ashes to get to the family safe. He opens the safe, pulls out the leather binder. Wipes the dust off of the APS logo (Asset Protection Services). Dad rushes back to his waiting family as the insurance adjuster arrives. He hands the binder over to the adjuster. The adjuster cracks a knowing smile, gently pats the ASP binder and says "Everything is going to be fine!" The family embraces and the mom looks into the camera and says "Thanks ASP!"
Ok.. the commercial is a bit of a joke, but I belive that pulling this sturdy binder out at a time of disaster may have a slight comforting effect on the client.
I've just never been emotionally moved by a flash drive!
I do have a tendency to over analzye stuff!
Terry
-- Edited by TBoneous on Saturday 23rd of May 2009 05:56:48 PM
-- Edited by TBoneous on Saturday 23rd of May 2009 05:59:04 PM
Hi, My feedback is to provide the reports with the small index images and then do an 'Export' of the data from the Home Journal Business software to put all the Data on a CD.
The printed report images are more of an index and those full resolution/full size images can easily be referenced on the data CD since the image files are named with a format tha lets you recognize the item along with its category and location. You can also optionally provide the Protection Plus software which lets the client import their data and then click the images in the software to see the full size. You have a number of options based on your personal preferences. Your reports could be quite large if you printed all images at 4x6 size so I would suggest the options above and making the printing of images at 4x6 an optional service.
What would you recommend as a work around for the small image size? I did a rough draft final product and the main complaint I got was the image size, If I were to do 4x6 prints how could I incoporate them into the final product?
I have not used the three ring binder simply because it doesn't give the "finish" I'm looking for. I have had my local Office Depot spiral bind my reports. My typical report is around 100 pages, one sided, and it costs around $4.00 to get the report bound with a clear front and a textured, black back. I include some blank inventory pages in my final product, but I don't want the client to add or remove pages to what I give them.
I agree with the feedback of George and Ron and suggest supplying both a printed report and on CD. It makes the finished product more substantial in my opinion.
George, I agree with you totally. I think most people appreciate both paper and CD's if given the option. I too, use both 1" & 2" binders depending on size of inventory. I see the value in CD's only, but after I have completed the inventory for someone, I like to present them with a professional looking binder which adds to the whole quality of the report. I also take the time to sit down with my clients and review the printed version when I deliver the final report package to them. Another added thing I do is give my clients a CD with just the jpegs on it. Provided the customer has some digital photo software on their computer, even with windows they now can zoom in on jpeg's, this was especially helpful when I was doing some collection inventory work where serial numbers were involved. Of course many people here in the the Rochester area have Kodak digital cameras as I do and if I know this, I will burn the CD with Kodak Easyshare software.
It is hard enough to gain traction in this business and in my opinion the more quality you can throw at your final product, the better as this is worth the sacrifice of a little profit which could yield more meaningful referrals.
I continue to provide both the printed document and the CD to my customers. The recommendation is that the CD should be kept in a safe place off-site (i.e. in a safe deposit box). The printed copy can then be used for reference in case of emergency or for making notations for the future update.
If the customer's home is invaded by a thief, the printed document can be used for reference when reporting to the police over a weekend or the time when the bank is closed and the safe deposit box is not accessible.
I, too, have found that the 1" to 2" binder is best for the finished product. The material is divided into sections for the customer's conventience. (See my notes on the Share page of this web site titled "Scope of Work")
You can provide a provide a nice title page with a photo of the subject house that can be inserted into the cover of the binder.
George
__________________
George A. Childs Owner
Quality Home Inventory Service, Inc. 24 Stockton Dr. New Castle, De. 19702
In as much as I understand the purpose of trying to be green and have less paper, also keep in mind what your customer is paying for. Regarding memory stick & flash drives, be cautious of quality. Some that are substandard can degrade over time and thus data can be lost. Same thing for CD's when you buy these generic CD's they may not have gone through all the quality processes that name brand products do.
One more point to make, paper versus media. If a customer happens to store their report in a home safe, guess which method will last longer if subjected to a fire? The paper report will survive high heat plus time better than CD's or memory sticks. Sentry Safe now offers safes for media but these were just announced by them at CES this past January. Therefore not everybody has these safes yet.
Robert - go to any type of site that sells promotion items such as pens with your name and logo. They should have flash drives available. I saw one at the Big E in Boston.
I sure will Fred! I know that I used the message board for a ton of ideas and support so far and I will be sure to share anything that works in hopes that it can help someone else too! It is hard to hold back and not rush things but I want things to be ready so there is no question that I know what I am doing when I open the doors.
Kelly, could you pass along the info on where you found the flash drives in bulk, I like that idea too! I know most computers have USB on the front now, but I'll just have to make sure the client's does before using that method but it is a good idea! Thanks.......
Great well thought out plan Robert! I think a methodical approach is best to ensure you are ready to open the doors and have a professional product and image to present. The partnerships are key and as you said this can be accomplished for a relatively low cost.
Alas, no paying customers yet. But my freebies loved the paper-saving idea.
By the way, I don't give a CD for data and report - I give a flash drive because it fits in any safety deposit box. Also, they are available in bulk with your printed information on them.
So after much debate we have decided to make it standard for the final report to be on disk and provided with the client protection plus software. If a client wants us to print a report, put it in the binder ect, we will be charging an extra fee for that. My insurance agent likes the idea as have many other people in my "brain trust" which have helped me with ideas along the way. Has a great # of advantages including a cost and time saving for me. As far as customer feedback, well we will have to wait and see but I know you won't always please everyone. As far as the final package, I have taken George's "scope of work" from the file share area and modified to fit my service, which includes a home safety overview and home protection recommendations. So the customer will still recieve a small packet, which I will put together with a comb binding machine, that will contain the recommendation and overview pages as well as the homeowner information packet provided by Fred (with some of my modifications) along with the CDs in seperate cases.
In regards to the other questions, I have not yet officially opened for business as we are still finalizing our insurance and a few other things, but the feedback has been very supportive and we have a very aggressive yet inexpensive marketing plan ready to go. Of course I will feel better when the first paying client arrives but I'm keeping myself positive knowing that they will come but also knowing I will have to work my tail off to get them this first year. Basically our initial plan is this: over 100 postcards to every insurance agent in the four major cities around us that we are targeting. Then a follow up with the 50 closest to us including a personal letter, brochure and cards. We are joining our insurance agent's BNI group, which has an estate planning attorney and the largest real estate producers in our county. We also joined the chamber of commerce and are planning on attending a small business expo they put on in late February ($50 for a table), which usually draws around 1000 people. We also put our business card on magnets through Vista Print and have printed enought to be placed in the "new resident welcome pack" that goes to every new resident in our city. We are setting up a table at city sponsered 2 day home improvement expo, which with a full page ad in the booklet provided to everyone that walks through the door cost us $200. Not bad considering over 7000 people showed up last year. There are a few other things but I'll add them another time in the advertising section. Hope this helps, our projection is to be completing one or two inventories a week by the summer.
Here is some feedback from Ari that is posted in the 'Business Structure' sub-form which you may find helpful. I believe he works full-time in another job and helps his wife with the business on the side:
My wife and I have been working this business for a year now. We do about 4 inventories a week and spend our off time networking and meeting with others. So in that regard it is a full time job.
My wife and I have set aside 2 hours Mon-Fri for networking and advertising our business. It can be anything from cold calls, to handing out flyers around town, to make "cold visits" to insurance agents and real estate agents to lave our brochures. __________________ Ari Dorfman
Yes, I am also interested in the quantity of business you have per week, # of clients? I think we all need to know how other vendors preferably successful,are performing to attract more new vendors and also exchange new ideas when someone is successful. Agree? I think that makes a whole lot of sense.
Fred -- Maybe this should be moved to a password area??? Kelly, Have you had any push back? Meaning people wanting the Report printed? I have been on the fence about this. I think it is a very good idea for ease, green, cost etc. So if you dont have a printed report with a binder etc. What does your Delivered package look like? Do you just hand the client a couple CDs and thats the end? Or do you package them some way in some sort of case or something? I would love to see a pic of your final package or a description. Whats included in it? Any info you can provide about your final product would be very helpful and appreciated... How is your business doing? How many clients? How many inventories per week? I would love to hear how you are doing also. Thanks, Erik
This is a very good and interesting point... one that is so obvious I didn't think about it either. I will be very interested in opinions and responses on this topic. Erik
Hank, that is an interesting question that I did not think about until today when I was meeting with my insurance agent so it is funny you should mention it now. She asked if it was possible to offer the report just on CD if the customer did not want a printed report. The printed report looks nice and provides an easy point of reference but she felt the younger generation may like to just have the protection plus software and the inventory on CD to load on their own computer and print their own reports. I thought it was a good idea. I don't see any difference in revenue other then the fact that if a client wants a written inventory report, I only include a CD with the pictures from the inventory and the protection plus software and inventory on a disk will cost them extra. If they only want the inventory on CD there would be no extra charge and they can print the report themselves if they like. There are still a few things I will give them on paper such as recommendations about home safety and security as this is part of our overall service given our background in law enforcement and security work and obviously I would stronly recommend that they use our safe storage back up service in case their computer was damaged. It think when everyone gets started it has just been assumed that the written report is part of the package.
do y'all charge extra for the binder? Maybe I have missed something, but if you are saving everything to disc, why would you need to present printed matter...I do not envision a client needing printed information when they can just pull it up on the computer. If this is to generate more income, that makes sense, but is it worth the cost vs your time?.....I am just a newby so I am just trying to learn, not throw stones at process/procedure...thnx in advance
Hi, I believe most people who are using The Complete Home Journal Business software just print reports which contain the inventory info along with smaller images. You can then create a data CD using the Export feature which will include the original image files.
Hi, everyone. I am new to this, but i am making my way through the posts. Does the presentation include photos, or is it just the inventory and the photos are on CD? Or does it depend and do you charge extra?
Thank you Fred and I love your forum. But I would like to know what others are using if they don't mind sharing. Kim has told me what she uses when we talked and that has helped, but I also like other peoples inputs. I think it is very important to have a variety of choices.
I am excited to get started but I know that I won't be ready for another maybe 2-3 months.
Hey Lucia, I know how it is when you first start and you have a million ?'s! Even after you do a few you may forget something. But after you do a few practice runs you will feel more confident!! Doing a good job will get you referrals which is extremely important to you!! I do not do toliets and sinks and such unless they were custom made or improvements! blinds I definatly do!! Unless the fixtures again are special orders I do not include them!!!
Click on your name(top right ) and scroll down!! i left you a message!!!
I just found out that in my original post that I didn't specify that my mother's house was a practice inventory. So now I see why Darin would have thought that I was already doing real inventories. And I'm going to be doing 2 more practice runs in July.
Thanks for the support and where are you with your business? I've already found the insurance, but I was told by other insurance agencies that I didn't need to be bonded because I didn't have any employees. I am seeing though that some people are bonded due to not wanting to be sued for theft. So I just might look into that possibility with the insurance agent I've found for my business insurance.
Lucia I use a 1 or 1-1/2 inch binder. You may want to see the old message board I had posted the "Binder" question a got great feedback from a lot people! When all my reports for an average 3000 sq. ft. home is all printed I actually end up having 60- 75 pages, so I really have to use binders. The Client Information Packet is the one that is on your Resource Cd from the kit. Marshiel
Thanks for the input. I do have a question. If you use sheet protectors and say there are 30 sheets, What type of folder do you use. I was planning on just putting the inventory in a nice presentation folder and then burn the inventory, pics onto a CD and the video on a DVD. Then put the CD and DVD with the inventory. But I wanted to know, and this might be an odd question, what a Client Information Package consists of.
I'm learning so much and getting so much help from all of you and I really apreciate it alot. I think it is so great that we are like a family and if we need to find support or answers, someone is always there.
Have a great weekend. And I wish you alot of success in your business. Lucia
I wanted to know what the best paper would be for my presentation. I had done my mothers house last weekend ( and I found out that I missed alot of things like the toilet, sinks, blinds, etc) and came home and printed her inventory on recycled laser paper, 24lbs, and 113 brightness. I was wondering if that would be ok or if I should be using something with better quality.
I think a methodical approach is best to ensure you are ready to open the doors and have a professional product and image to present. The partnerships are key and as you said this can be accomplished for a relatively low cost.
