A Quick Recap

As I travel about my local market and perform home inspections I find myself repeatedly visiting the same neighborhoods each month. I recognized that each neighborhood has two identifying characteristics, a name and an address. Also, I noticed that the Facebook Mobile Device App has a feature that allows the user to record both types of data, the subdivision name and its GEO location. For the purpose of my CM, I use the neighborhood’s entrance location as the address. As I’m entering the neighborhood, I stop and take a photo of the entrance, name the Check-In point the same name as the neighborhood and I photo the entrance sign. In the event that the name of the subdivision is not already a Check-In point, I have the option to create the name. I make a short comment, take a photo, and record the facts of my activities.

Take it to Another Level

Once the App records the Check-In point, in my case the front of the neighborhood, a Place Page is created and my photo and information is saved to that page. The Check-In also is recorded, by default, to my Facebook personal wall. That gives me two potential areas of branding/advertising, one on my own wall and the other on the place page, where the neighborhood resides. My personal friends and my “Facebook Network” now can view my Check-In [and the photos] from my personal wall and whoever is within the Facebook App’s Geo “circle” will find the neighborhood place page I created, again, exposing my brand to a much broader audience.

A few months ago I shared the idea of Check-In Marketing with Hollis Brown, a business associate and fellow home inspector. Hollis and I recognized that we could expand the Facebook Marketing approach by reaching an even wider audience.

City-County-State-US

I mentioned that the Check-In had two IDs, a location and a name. With respect to the location, the subdivision is located in a community/town/city and the city is located within a county, the county is located within state and the states are located in the United States.

I started with my home town, Ridgeland, MS and created a Facebook Fan page called Ridgeland Mississippi Real Estate. I cover 18 cities in my local market. I’ve created one Facebook Fan Page for each of the 18 cities. Those 18 cities are located in 3 MS counties, Madison County, Hinds County and Rankin County. I also created a Mississippi Real Estate Page. Hollis Brown has created a United States Real Estate page and has organized other state pages under the US page.

This layered effect of pages doubles or triples the opportunity to brand my local market and to expose my business beyond my 18 cites. And…because search engine crawlers like Google, Bing and Yahoo find Facebook Fan pages, the data [my pictures, news and my name] is being shared beyond my city limits and my name and website page ranking is improving.

Join Check-In Marketing

Now, when I visit a neighborhood I Check-In at the neighborhood level and either find the name or I create the name of the subdivision. After I’ve checked in I “share” the check-in photo on the city page where the neighborhood is located and I also share the story on the county page. I then share the county page Check-In on the state page.

I encourage my fellow real estate professionals to use the free pages and share their activity. The more Check-Ins the page registers the higher the search engine ranking and the higher the place page ranks on Facebook’s domain the more often the page is seen when someone searches via the GEO Mobile Device.

Contact me or Hollis Brown for questions about Check-In Marketing. We’re setting up pages for real estate related businesses all over the US and selling licenses to Real Estate Agents.

Example of how I’ve integrated Check-In Marketing to one of my local websites.

Check-In Marketing Page on Facebook

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Summer Time

Last summer I found myself in the same new sub-division over and over, [and believe me, the place was one of only a few in this crazy real estate market] I was inspecting slabs before the builder called the concrete trucks for the foundation pour.

I’m currently inspecting for Bonded Builders Warranty Group where I’m confirming the size of the steel, depth of ditches and other design criteria. I take a couple pictures, report my findings and move to the next job on my calendar.

As I drove away I began to think, I wish everyone could see all this new construction activity, but how could I “get the word out”? And, I thought, if I’m successful at helping drive traffic to the neighborhood and possibly help my real estate agent friends make a sale, look at all the people one sale would employ! Plumbers, roofers, drywall hangers, clean up crews and literally dozens of other industry professionals. But how could I reach thousands of people without paying thousands of dollars?

Facebook

Suddenly I realized that the neighborhood I visited each day is a point on a map. A point exactly like the point in the restaurant that I had lunch that day. And…that I could use the Check-In feature on Facebook to locate and pin-point the neighborhood that I visit each week. I began to see the neighborhood as a single point on a map. One with an identity all it’s own. A place. On Facebook, it’s called a Place Page. As a matter of fact you can “Like” Facebook Places the same way you can Like Facebook Fan Pages. While Places is mostly meant for smartphone users, it doesn’t depend on a GPS device to find your location–you can check in from a laptop or iPod Touch, too. Just go to touch.facebook.com in your browser [you'll need Internet access, of course], and you can check in from your desk or favorite café.

On my next slab inspection I paused at the front the neighborhood, opened my Facebook app and clicked the +Check-In button. The app quickly started searching for and showing me all the places [names of stores, service stations, groceries, etc] that had been created by others on Facebook. But no subdivision name. So I created the name of the subdivision where I inspect. I took a photo of the signage at the neighborhood gate, described my job, mentioned the builder’s name and photoed the foundation. I shared the new place and the photos on Facebook.

I’m not sure how many friends and family members saw my first Check-In, but since that day last summer I’ve been checking-in and sharing my activity. I’ve realized that when you use the Facebook Check-In option, the photo and information you share is later retrievable by anyone and everyone in the neighborhood and also “near” the place. That means that someone checking in at one of the near-by restaurants has the opportunity to view and review all the information you shared days weeks or even months before. Sort-a like a history book of the actions in the neighborhood and the best part [aside from sharing this information to potential buyers] I was advertising my business to everyone, both logged into Facebook and those who were near the Check-in point for free! Thousands now have the potential to see my name and the news of others who use this method of free marketing. Download the iPhone Facebook app here and get the Android app here.

I’m expanding the idea and have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but that’s for another post. I’m headed out for another slab inspection and another Check-In.

Stay tuned  for Facebook Check-In Marketing – Step 2

See Official Facebook Check-In Q and A

]]> http://garynsmith.net/2012/01/facebook-check-in-marketing-step-1/feed/ 4 http://garynsmith.net/2012/01/how-to-become-a-home-energy-professional/ http://garynsmith.net/2012/01/how-to-become-a-home-energy-professional/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:40:22 +0000 Gary Smith http://garynsmith.net/?p=1161 I like the 9 Steps to Becoming a Successful Home Energy Pro by Allison Bailes.

• Be passionate. Why do you want to be a home energy pro? My longstanding passion for the environment is what drives me. I also love seeing things done right, hate waste, and fear collapse. A passion for money may work for some people, but long-term success, I believe, comes from more meaningful passions.
• Keep educating yourself. Everyone I know in this field is constantly striving to learn more. Taking a one-week HERS Rater or BPI Building Analyst class is just the beginning of your education if you want to stay in this field. You need to keep taking more classes, reading books, going to conferences, subscribing to blogs (box at top right)…
• Build a network of other home energy pros. Going to conferences is the traditional way to do this, but with all that’s going on in social media these days, anyone who has access to the Interwebs can build a network. Being able to discuss home performance or marketing issues with pros in other markets can lead to new ideas and a stronger business.
• Remain flexible. Some people take a Home Energy Rater or Building Analyst class and think they’re going to go out and easily make a living doing energy audits. That’s not so easy unless you live in an area with a well-funded program that keeps you busy. Most new energy auditors will probably have to find other sources of revenue. Be aware of how your skills may match up with what potential clients are asking for. Look for opportunities to add new skills to your company.
• Find mentors. They may be nearby or they may be far away, but having more experienced, knowledgeable people who are willing to help you learn makes your path to success a lot easier. I was able to get valuable mentoring during my short stint at the Southface Energy Institute, especially from having the opportunity to teach about 20 HERS rater classes there with Mike Barcik.
• Develop strategic alliances. You can do it the hard way and try to bring in every client yourself. Or you can develop strategic alliances with other companies where the relationship is mutually beneficial. If you’re a home energy pro, you need to ally yourself with HVAC companies, insulation contractors, home builders, remodelers, building inspectors…
• Learn all about programs. Research all the green building, energy efficiency, and home energy retrofit programs in your area. Get involved with them where it makes sense to do so.
• Do good work. If you get known for doing things the right way and leaving happy clients behind, your path to success will be a lot easier. Getting referrals from satisfied clients is much easier than having to go out and find new business every day.
• Care about people. If your clients feel that you really care about them and their needs, your business will benefit. This is really what we’re all about anyway. It’s not about houses. It’s about people.

Have you ever thought, “Am I in compliance with HUD requirements if I do not inspect the subject’s attic?”  This FREE webinar training is geared towards the FHA Single Family Roster Appraiser and will cover property inspection requirements to include neighborhood influences, site analysis, and improvements.  Appraisers new to the FHA Roster, as well as seasoned professionals wishing to refresh their knowledge, will benefit from this in-depth look at property inspection requirements and HUD/FHA expectations.

Register at: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=84153.

This Webinar will be archived and the link included in this announcement can be used to view the archived version if you are unable to view the webinar on January 17th. Questions?

E-mail us at denverhoc-pudtraining@hud.gov.

1. Recommended
2. Mandatory
3. Desired

Let’s look at how they differ and see that, under HUD’s Guidelines, some repair items aren’t allowed at all.

Recommended 

Repairs listed as recommended are those suggested by professionals who have either inspected your project by choice [usually a Professional Home Inspector] or as a result of a recommendation by your 203(k) Consultant or Professional Home Inspector. A few examples are:

• an engineer’s inspection of the structure
• a home inspector’s evaluation of the property
• a 203(k) consultant’s findings
• an architect’s view of the building and it’s layout/floor plan

Mandatory

Mandatory repairs are just as they sound, those which are required under HUD 203(k) Guidelines for the rehab loan. An example might be a 203(k) Consultant’s inspection of the attic that reveals inadaquate levels of insulation or a safety hazard such as the absence of smoke and fire detection devices/alarms. HUD’s 203(k) Guidelines includes an inspection of the FHA Minimum Housing Standards and a host of health and safety, energy usage and site specific design characteristics.

Desired

Desired repairs or additions usually include the borrower’s ideas and needs. This “wish list” usually includes color choices, textures and product brands. For instance, the owner’s choice to demo kitchen counter tops and install Granite would be considered a desired repair item. But, keep in mind, not all desired items fall under the “approved items” list. The 203(k) Loan does not allow the purchase or construction of luxury items such as custom make barbecue pits, swimming pools or painted murals.

Contact a 203(k) Consultant for more information and guidance through the rehab. Find a national map for FHA Approved 203(k) Consultants here.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the General Electric Company (GE) have announced a recall of 174,000 GE Profile™ and Monogram® Dishwashers, manufactured from July 2003 until December 2006. These dishwashers are operated by an electronic control mounted inside the top of the door. Submit the information below or call the GE Recall Hotline to determine if your dishwasher is included in the recall.

More GE Recall Information Here

Knowing the what, when, where and how of appliance recalls can be a daunting task. We can help!

Every SafeHome Inspections client is protected from potentially unsafe conditions posed by faulty manufactured products. Call us today to have your home evaluated and we’ll include this life saving service during our whole house evaluation. You may also visit this website and enter the model and serial number of your heating and cooling system, water heater and all other appliances in your home. For less than $30.00 we’ll help you keep your family safe.

“Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership.” – WSJ 9/16/2010

Listen to the Survey Podcast

Fannie Mae just released their National Housing Survey. The survey reported:

• 82% of respondents consider homeownership important to the economy, up two points from January.
• 70% of respondents think it is a good time to buy a house (of which 36% think it is a very good time to buy), up six points from January. This is also four points higher than the 2003 survey – well before home prices peaked – when 66 % said it was a good time.

She also had what turned into a virtual laundry list of “other” issues that included:

• No attic insulation
• Poorly installed and improperly installed A/C system
• Torn finished floor covering
• Loose plumbing fixtures.
• and more…

The flooring video you see above was the result of no footing concrete under the floor supports. The columns that held the home were sitting directly onto the ground. No Concrete. No Steel. No Support.

Contact me here.

As an energy auditor and home energy retrofit contractor we want to empower you! Power to the people…RIGHT ON!

Watch our blog in the coming weeks for an introduction to a device to help you not only take control of your power usage but the knowledge to save money and add value to your home. We’ll show you how easy it is to put those hard earned dollars back in your pocket, create a healthier home with better air quality and teach your children, friends and family how they can do the same. Watch this video for a sneak peek.