Introduction
Inspect A-bode is a residential home inspection service serving Eugene, OR and the surrounding community. Inspect Abode provides home inspections that are complete. They also offer additional services like radon testing, electromagnetic field testing, and asbestos testing. The service will be available to both buyers and sellers. Most of the sales will be made by real estate agents that have formed strategic relationships with inspect A-bode.
In order to reach projected profitability, the company’s two major goals are the utilization/reference of Inspect A-bode in at least five of the top 15 real estate brokers in the area, and to increase the number of clients sold by 20% per year.
The Company
The company will operate as a sole proprietorship, owned and managed by Mr. Chek. Domisile, who has 12 years’ industry experience, will be the sole-proprietor of the company. This will allow Mr. Domisile to leverage his 12 years of industry experience and provide a competitive edge.
Selle Domisile, Chek’s wife will be a paid consultant. Selle has worked as a residential agent for the past 10 years. Selle will leverage her existing connections to generate referrals for Inspect A-bode. The company does not plan to hire any additional employees and will have all accounting and bookkeeping subcontracted.
Services
The company offers many different inspection services. These services include foundation analysis for cracks and settlement, as well as moisture influx. These inspections check for water pressure and look for any signs of deterioration or leaks. The company’s electrical inspection looks for loose wires, shorts, shock/fire hazards, and proper functioning of Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) receptacles. A house’s interior inspection will determine whether it has adequate heating and insulation, ventilation as well as vapor barriers, dry-rot, pest infestations, and other carbon dioxide hazards. Asbestos testing, radon and electromagnetic field testing are all options.
The cost of the full service is $200-$400, depending on size of home, layout, and any areas such as a swimming pool requiring special attention.
The Market
The home inspection industry in Eugene is decent sized, about 20 different companies. Most companies are small outfits and offer a fairly standardized service. The items that are inspected are the same as their price.
Inspect Abode will be focusing its efforts on two broad groups of customers. The first is real estate agents. A financial incentive will be offered to the agents for referring Inspect Abode customers through their strategic relationships.
Individual sellers and buyers can also be targeted by inspect A-bode. Each group has something to gain from having an inspection performed on the property they wish to buy/sell. Inspect A-bode will target these groups through focused advertisements providing visibility of Inspect A-bode.
The company will launch an advertising campaign in magazines that home buyers read, as well the Yellow Pages.
1.1 Objectives
Inspect A-bode’s objectives for the first three years of operation include:
- To create a service-oriented business that surpasses customer expectations.
- The utilization/reference of Inspect A-bode in at least five of the top 15 real estate brokers as listed in the Eugene Chamber of Commerce book of lists.
- Superior performance is required to increase the number and sale of clients by 20% annually
- To develop a sustainable home business.
1.2 Mission
Inspect Abode’s mission, is to provide quality home residential inspections. When we adhere to this maxim, everything else will fall into place. Our services will exceed the expectations of our customers.