Bob Sternberg has built an entire platform to basically keep track of or monitor a sturcture through its entire life cycle. Think of it as a medical record for the house or the building. You don’t just have one physical in your life and your done. You have many ongoing over time and this is kept in your medical records. This is similar to what Bob Sternberg has created with The Dome and Home Worthy. This is a way home inspectors can diversify their income. https://tallgrasshomeinspectors.com/g…
In 2007, Wade founded Axium Inspections, LLC, which operates as an inspection and radon services company. Axium Inspections’ team is made up of 26 Certified Inspectors. Axium has expanded its services and now offers complete environmental testing including mold and radon testing and radon mitigation installations. Axium’s team is certified through NACHI, ASHI, and the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) offering a 100% guarantee that his technicians will reduce the levels of radon to the EPA guidelines. This also ensures that the company will provide referral protection.
The team at Axium Inspections, LLC is experienced in helping home owners feel confident in their home purchases; they will work hard to keep clients safe from hidden and costly home issues.
For more than two years, Huntress worked nights and weekends to research and develop his business and product. After raising a small amount of funding through friends and family, Huntress was able to dig in full-time this year and formally launch HomeBinder, “a homeowner’s best friend.”
In the simplest terms, HomeBinder is an electronic records management system for all things relevant to your home. And it goes much deeper than one would think. From contractors (plumbers, electricians, roofers) to appliance purchase and warranty documents, to paint colors – anything relevant to your home, HomeBinder stores.
“Homebuyers today get the keys to the front door, but they simply don’t know how to drive the shiny new object they got.” Huntress said. “It’s almost strange that for the single largest asset for people there isn’t an established records management system to help them with the process.”
Before HomeBinder Huntress, a Massachusetts native and graduate of Boston College, spent the bulk of his career in environmental sciences. In 2001 he co-founded PARCEL, a property due diligence reporting company, which gave him great insight into real estate and property management. PARCEL was acquired by Environmental Data Resources in 2007 and Huntress remained with the new parent company in several roles, most recently EVP Business Development, before leaving to start HomeBinder.
As with many startups, an idea is born from a personal experience. No different here.
“When we moved into my current home, the previous owners left us a stack of information. It was so helpful and got me thinking, ‘this should be the norm.’”
The experience wouldn’t leave Huntress’ mind and couple that with his commercial real estate background, it was only a matter of time before his next venture was born.
Now, Huntress, who is actively fundraising in order to add to his team of 3 full-timers (8 total), increase marketing efforts and continue improving his product, has entered into a market that is seeing more competition. That market, Huntress tells me consists of 114 million housing units in the U.S. with 5 million transactions per year.
HomeBinder focuses on home transactions. It does work directly with homeowners, but its main business is partnering with brokers, who often use HomeBinder as a closing gift. Although a marketing product, it is strategically priced at a one-time $24 fee (for brokers). This puts it under the IRS-levied gift threshold and such that the agent can still leave a bottle of wine on the counter. A HOMEOWNERS BEST FRIEND
HomeBinder is a full service home management system that focuses on home sales. Sellers can convey the value of their home in HomeBinder reports and buyers can get valuable details to help them manage their new home. As Huntress puts it,
“HomeBinder creates continuity in home management and leads to better experiences in home ownership.”
The product helps homeowners store all their home, property, project, and contractor information in one place. HomeBinder will provide reminders for maintenance items, offer up information on appliance recalls and enhance the process of selling a home when the time comes.
“With information in electronic format we can perform automatic recall checks on appliances, allow for capital expenditure summarization at the point of sale, or perform home inventory in the case of fire or theft.”
Depending on the scenario, the broker or homeowner is responsible for initial information gathering. Some data is automatically pulled into the binder through public records and MLS type data, but agents and homeowners are responsible for more granular information such maintenance scheduling (chimney, septic tank, etc.), appliance details, contractor records, etc.
Of course, HomeBinder makes this process simple. The product is built such that users can easily select and input information. It leads the homeowner in the right direction, ensuring all pertinent details are logged. “It’s a nudge strategy,” Huntress explained.
To date, more than 200 agents have generated roughly 2,000 binders.
“We realized we could offer tremendous value to agents. HomeBinder provides regular reminders to the owner, which serves as a drip campaign of sorts for the agents. Agents struggle with staying in touch and top of mind with clients and Homebinder, on top of providing an amazing and valuable gift, also offers added value from a business perspective as they work in a referral based industry.”
With roughly 5 million home transactions each year here in the U.S. there’s certainly room to make money. More importantly, there is clearly a pain point being solved with HomeBinder. Admittedly, though, Huntress realizes the need for some market education before home management software becomes a ‘need-to-have’ rather the a ‘nice-to-have.’ “We’re tremendously excited about the opportunity to be one of the companies leading the charge to figure this out,” Huntress said.
Bill has extensive experience in Sales and Marketing for McDonalds, representing their kid and adult merchandising agency. He brings extensive experience to the home inspection Industry in all aspects of sales and support to home inspectors. He is responsible for all sales initiatives and marketing strategies in aligning the ANDalyze water testing system to the Home Inspector as a service offering for their homeowner clients. Bill Goldsmith is being interviewed by Preston Sandlin of Home Inspection Carolina and Ask the Charlotte Inspector
When I purchased my first home in 1984 I didn’t know anything about houses or how they worked. I was so excited I couldn’t believe it. My wife and I actually owned a home! And what a home it was. I began to realize over time that not all was well with our home. Every single time we started even the simplest of repairs, it turned into a major construction project costing more than we could have ever imagined. Not knowing what to look out for, or knowing the warning signs cost us plenty. After fixing that home up we were able to build our own home. This time I made sure that it was done right.
For 18 years working in the Civil Engineering and Surveying fields and12 years as a Licensed Builder, I have been able to help hundreds of home buyers, owners and developers with their needs.
My mission is to help homebuyers and sellers better understand their homes, plan for their future and enjoy their new homes.
I am the owner and you deal directly with me. If you have any questions regarding your inspection you have direct access to me, anytime. Knowing about the home you are buying is paramount when planning your future.
My job is to report what I find… Period…
I only work for you.The purchase of your new home is a serious and important decision. It can also be very emotional. The home inspection you are considering is the best way to have an impartial third party look at your new home.
Frank Lesh is currently the executive director of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). He is the founder of the Home Sweet Home Inspection Company, which was started in 1989. He has performed thousands of commercial and residential property inspections, and specialized in EIFS inspections. Frank has been a member of ASHI since 1990 and a member of the Great Lakes Chapter (GLC) of ASHI since 1991. He has held numerous volunteer positions in both organizations, including as president of the GLC from 1997-1998, Master Inspector by Review®, and the President of ASHI in 2007.
Frank won the John E. Cox Award for “Outstanding contributions to a Chapter” in 2004, and the 2012 Philip C. Monahon Award, ASHI’s highest award. Other professional affiliations include the Exterior Design Institute (EDI) since 1996. EDI is the premier organization involved in synthetic stucco (DRYVIT®). Frank was on the Board of Governors of EDI in 1999.
Personalized Answering & Scheduling Services, Inc (PASS) is a state of the art scheduling center and call center that provides services for busy companies all over the United States and Canada. We provide services to businesses small and large. Our scheduling and call center provides a diverse array of options to meet the needs of your company including receptionist services, selling and scheduling appointments, marketing and virtual office support.
At Personalized Answering & Scheduling Services, we focus on providing knowledgeable, professional and courteous service. We will work closely with you to understand the intricacies of your business so that we may service your client’s just as you would no matter where they are located in the United States or Canada. You can be certain that we will be dedicated to the success or your company. After all, our overall success depends on your company’s success.
It is important that your clients believe they have contacted your professionally staffed office. To achieve this, Personalized Answering & Scheduling Services, Inc. provides a quiet call center environment. Your clients will not hear “chatter” in the background when they contact your local office. They will be greeted by friendly, well trained customer representatives with over 30 years combined of customer service, sales, and scheduling experience.
Chris and Mary started A-Action in 2012. Chris is a Licensed Professional Real Estate Inspector and a Licensed Technician in Pest & Wood Destroying Insect Treatment and Inspections. He graduated from the Real Estate Training System (RETS) in 2012. Prior to that Chris spent 5 years in the United States Marine Corps. Mary holds an MBA in Management from the University of Houston-Victoria, an MA from the Johns Hopkins University, and a BA from the George Washington University. Prior to A-Action Mary spent 8 years in the non-profit world as a Museum Educator.
Simone Cartwright, has been experienced in the home services industry since the year 2000 and has personally performed over 2,100 home inspections. As a Public Insurance Adjuster, Simone aided families by identifying damages to their homes caused by unforeseen events, such as, storms, plumbing leaks and fires.
Simone’s knowledge and understanding of building structures, rebuilding, restoration and reconstruction costs gained as a Public Insurance Adjuster prompted her decision to expand into the home inspection business. Before becoming a Public Insurance Adjuster, Simone spent 20 years putting her degree in Business Administration to work in various management and supervisory roles in marketing, advertising and sales
Drew is the founder/Owner of AmPro Inspections, I started this company after seeing a void that existed in the Home Inspection industry. AmPro Inspections warranties all our inspections and services! Customer service and professionalism are the cornerstones in which we operate.
Before starting this company, I served in the United States Army for 12 years, 10 of those years as a Weapons Sergeant with 10th SFG(A) also known as a Green Beret. I am with the love of my life June and have a young daughter Akemi. Business and Client Service is a true passion of mine and I always strive to have that passion reflect in AmPro Inspections.
