A weekly home inspection podcast hosted by the founders of Inspector Toolbelt - the premier home inspection software. Get tips, insights, strategies, and more from our hosts and guests to help give your home inspection business a boost. Ian and Beon are property inspection and tech industry veterans with over 20 years of experience each. Sometimes they even stay on point :)
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Inspector Toolbelt Podcasts
Want more bookings when the market cools? Start by being everywhere your clients look. We close the season with a clear, tactical breakdown of why ubiquity beats hyper-targeting and how to layer small actions into big awareness. Instead of chasing a single channel or obsessing over last-click ROI, we map the buyer’s journey and show how the four-to…
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Continuing Education - The Ultimate Marketing Engine
45:25
45:25
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Forget cold calls and cookie trays—authority is the best marketing, and the fastest way to earn it is by teaching. We sit down with solo inspector Carrie Cheek of Rosie Home Inspections to unpack how building state‑approved continuing education turns a room full of agents into a trusted referral network. From her early, expensive experiments with l…
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Ready to stop coasting into December and start launching into January with real momentum? We sit down with Mark Hummel of Inspector Empire Builder to unpack how home inspectors can design a life-first vision and then build the business to match it. No secrets, no gimmicks—just the practical shift from technician thinking to CEO thinking and a syste…
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Quiet calendars don’t have to mean quiet growth. We break down the most common slow-season mistakes home inspectors make—and replace them with practical moves that compound into spring momentum. From why turning off your website or pausing SEO backfires to how steady AEO signals and consistent social content build authority, we show exactly where t…
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How Home Inspectors Add Lucrative Verticals
39:37
39:37
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Want a playbook for turning slow seasons into growth? We sit down with Tony from Villa Property Inspections to map out practical ways inspectors expand beyond a standard SOP without losing credibility or crossing ethical lines. From balcony inspection mandates in California to ADA accessibility assessments and commercial proposal tactics, Tony brea…
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Should You Do Home Inspections for Tenants?
15:01
15:01
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15:01
Tenants keep calling for inspections, but the reality behind those requests is far more complicated than a simple walk-through and a quick report. We pull back the curtain on what really happens when renters ask for a home inspection and why many professionals choose to pass—covering lease restrictions, limited access, local rental laws, and the ve…
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Rates are easing, inventory is finally stacking, and yet the real curveball isn’t interest—it’s insurance. We unpack why deals in Florida and California are getting derailed by carriers, how state programs like My Safe Florida Home are quietly creating repeatable inspection work, and what the latest investor moves signal for the home inspection ind…
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Ever wonder what separates a struggling inspector from a thriving business owner? Spoiler: it's rarely about technical knowledge. We've identified a consistent pattern—where most professionals fall short isn't in understanding building systems, but in mastering the crucial soft skills that drive business success. In this candid conversation, I reve…
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The Transition To Commercial Inspections - Harder Than it Looks
37:58
37:58
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Ever wondered why so many home inspectors struggle when they try to break into commercial inspections? James Hooper, owner of Bridgetown Inspections and Oregon Commercial Inspections, reveals the stark reality: it's not just a bigger version of what you're already doing—it's an entirely different business requiring a complete professional transform…
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Using Hand Signals Instead of Annotations
12:31
12:31
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We're tackling a productivity killer hiding in plain sight: excessive photo annotations. Through careful timing and analysis, we've discovered that adding just two annotations to a photo takes about 11 seconds. For inspectors who annotate all 150 photos in an average report, that's 27.5 minutes per inspection—or a staggering 91+ hours annually for …
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What keeps you going when home inspection gets tough? When you're rubbing your temples between appointments or crawling through another challenging crawlspace, what drives you forward? In this candid conversation, Jay returns to the podcast for another installment of "Drinking with Jay" to explore the concept of remembering your professional "why" …
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Are you abandoning proven digital marketing strategies in favor of AI optimization? You might be shooting yourself in the foot. In this revealing episode of Inspector Toolbelt Talk, we unpack the dangerous trend of home inspectors throwing away their Google visibility while chasing AI search results. We break down the crucial distinction between tr…
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Lance Coffman returns to Inspector Toolbelt Talk to deliver a masterclass on the current state of commercial property inspections and why it remains an exceptional opportunity for inspectors looking to diversify their business. While residential markets have struggled over the past two years, commercial inspections continue to thrive. Unlike reside…
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Why "Home Inspector Near Me" Are Not Good Keywords
15:29
15:29
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Are you a home inspector pouring precious marketing resources into ranking for "home inspector near me" searches? You might be chasing a mirage. In this eye-opening episode, we tackle one of the most persistent SEO myths in the home inspection industry. What many inspectors and marketing agencies treat as essential keywords is actually a location-b…
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Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries worldwide, and home inspection is squarely in its sights. In this thought-provoking conversation with returning guest Preston Kincaid, we explore the coming AI revolution that threatens to fundamentally alter how home inspections are conducted—and what separates the inspectors who will thri…
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AI Call Answering/Chat Services For Home Inspectors
31:32
31:32
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31:32
The debate over AI chatbots and phone answering services in the home inspection industry reveals a crucial truth: what seems like technological progress might actually be damaging your business. This eye-opening discussion exposes the hidden costs of automation when it comes to customer communication. Research paints a sobering picture – 77% of con…
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Should Your Clients Tag Along on the Home Inspection?
22:04
22:04
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Whether clients should attend home inspections is a question that plagues both new and seasoned professionals. After 20 years in the field and countless inspections, I've concluded that despite some challenges, having clients present during inspections creates the best outcomes for everyone involved. The most compelling reason for client attendance…
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The housing market has finally reached a pivotal turning point. After years of frenzied buying, skipped inspections, and astronomical prices, we're witnessing a much-needed stabilization that brings good news for both homebuyers and inspection professionals. Our latest market analysis reveals that 44% of current listings have sat for over 60 days—r…
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Utilizing Neutral Language in Home Inspection Reports
14:47
14:47
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Master the art of neutral language. Ever wondered how a simple observation can shield you from liability? Our latest episode of Inspector Toolbelt Talk is packed with insights on maintaining professionalism by focusing on factual observations. We delve into practical examples, like how to handle those notorious water stains on ceilings, ensuring yo…
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The secret to building a thriving home inspection business even in challenging markets comes down to a deceptively simple principle: "Raise your prices until the phone stops ringing." Tom Perenzino, owner of Modern Home Inspections in Connecticut, reveals how this philosophy helped him build a company charging over $1,000 per inspection on average—…
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Ever feel like you're doing all the right marketing things but still hitting a ceiling in your home inspection business? You're not alone. In this exploration of innovative marketing strategies, we dive deep into how Coco Chanel's revolutionary approach to fashion provides a perfect blueprint for home inspectors looking to stand out. What made Chan…
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For home inspectors (especially with construction backgrounds) 203k consulting might be the perfect way to expand your business while helping buyers transform fixer-uppers into dream homes. As a 203k consultant, you become the linchpin of successful renovation projects. The process begins with a comprehensive property inspection to identify minimum…
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Drawing from 20 years of experience refining inspection agreements with national and local attorneys, we explore the crucial legal clauses that have repeatedly saved home inspectors from unnecessary liability and litigation. • Third-party protection clause prevents contractors, attorneys, and others from misinterpreting your report and holding you …
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Don't Put All Your Eggs in the GLSA Basket
39:26
39:26
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Digital marketing strategies need diversity beyond Google Local Service Ads to create sustainable business growth for home inspectors. Marketing expert Jason Bowings shares practical advice for building multiple lead sources when the "golden goose" of Google Guaranteed starts producing fewer eggs. • Google Local Service Ads (GLSA) has changed from …
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Why Recessions Are Good for Home Inspectors
18:26
18:26
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Recessions aren't something to fear – they're opportunities to seize, especially if you're a home inspection business owner. While conventional wisdom suggests economic downturns are universally negative, historical data reveals a surprising truth: home inspection companies consistently thrive during these periods. During both the Great Recession (…
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Words matter in home inspection reports - especially when those reports might end up scrutinized in court. This eye-opening discussion with Mike Marlow of Veteran Home Inspections reveals why the seemingly innocuous phrase "further evaluation" could be the most dangerous term in your reporting vocabulary. Mike and Ian break down why saying "further…
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Effective inspection report writing requires finding the perfect balance between thoroughness and client accessibility, with strategic organization making all the difference in client satisfaction and efficiency. • Report summaries should be placed at the beginning, not the end, of inspection reports for maximum client usability • Common industry f…
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The difference between a successful home inspection business and an extraordinary one often comes down to something that can't be captured on a checklist: the customer experience you create. Mike Ortiz of Homefront Inspections returns to share the hard-earned wisdom that has transformed his business from agent-dependent to client-driven through the…
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The power of well-crafted disclaimers can save home inspectors from costly legal battles and unreasonable client expectations. • Disclaimers about differing professional opinions protect inspectors when specialists later suggest more extensive repairs • Clear language about inspections being limited and visual only sets appropriate client expectati…
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Tony shares his 26-year journey in the home inspection business and the creation of his new book "Beyond Inspecting: A Guide to Growing Your Home Inspection Business." His experience shows how diversification strategies can transform an inspection business when residential markets slow down. • Success is opportunity meeting preparation • Diversific…
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We explore the essential framework of narrative writing that every home inspector should master: observation, implication, and recommendation. The episode emphasizes the importance of clear communication to enhance client understanding and protect yourself legally. - Discusses the significance of structured narratives in inspection reports - Breaks…
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Dive into the evolving landscape of the home inspection market as we uncover the latest insights and predictions for Q2. In this episode, we analyze the surprising shift toward a buyer's market, particularly in regions like Southeast Florida. As inventory levels rise, home buyers are exhibiting more caution, prompting a shift in how inspections are…
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Unlock the secrets of impactful home inspection reporting with George Karampoulis. George takes us on a journey through the art of creating efficient and intuitive home inspection templates. With a focus on the end-user, he reveals how simplicity in design can enhance clarity and effectiveness, and even offers his own proven template to those eager…
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Learn how to elevate our home inspection reports with our latest episode, where we promise you'll learn how a well-structured rating system can transform your client communication. Join us as we explore the powerful clarity that rating systems bring, much like a doctor's report, helping clients grasp the severity of issues at a glance. With insight…
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Setting Boundaries in Your Home Inspection Business
43:33
43:33
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Imagine owning a thriving business but feeling like you're constantly on the verge of burnout. Sound familiar? If so, you are not alone. That's exactly what happened to Buck from Integrity Inspection Service in Knoxville, Tennessee. He shares his compelling story of transitioning from a stressed-out home inspector to a more balanced one. Buck opens…
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Using Past Tense In Home Inspection Reports
16:14
16:14
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16:14
Tune into this episode of Inspector Toolbelt Talk, where we unpack the power of past tense, a simple yet transformative approach that could redefine how you communicate with clients. With insights from seasoned inspectors, attorneys, and insurance agents, we delve into why switching to past tense can be a game-changer for legal protection and clari…
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How To Grow Your Home Inspection Business
41:27
41:27
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Discover the transformative journey of Tom White and Joe Worthy from Premier Inspector Group, two individuals whose paths crossed, leading to a thriving business partnership. Explore the essence of building robust business relationships as we delve into the impact of intentional networking and marketing strategies. Discover how targeting smaller, m…
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In Season 5, we dive into the shifting dynamics of the 2025 home inspection market, exploring trends in multi-generational buyers, urbanization, and the impact of interest rates. We provide valuable insights to help inspectors remain competitive and responsive to these changes. • Celebrating five years of Inspector Toolbelt Talk • Rhode Island’s ne…
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Join us on the season finale of Inspector Toolbelt Talk as we unpack the transformative journey of our podcast and explore the growing impact of AI, particularly ChatGPT, in reshaping how we access information. Our reflections on the evolution of this niche podcast underline the surprising success we've achieved, thanks to our dedicated listeners. …
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Discover how grouping issues together during home inspections can unearth hidden problems and provide a legal safety net for all involved. Learn from our personal stories and insights from a legal expert, revealing how this approach not only safeguards you but also enhances the overall quality of your inspections. We'll explore real-life examples w…
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Unlock the secrets to mastering the home inspection sales process with expert insights from Sean Garvey of DwellInspect. Ever wondered how the psychology of scarcity, or what we call the "McRib principle," can skyrocket your business demand? You'll discover why creating a perception of limited availability is as powerful as the allure of rare diamo…
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What if focusing on your weaknesses could be the key to unlocking your full potential? Join me on this intriguing episode of Inspector Toolbelt Talk, where I challenge the age-old advice of "play to your strengths" and make a case for embracing our weaknesses instead. Sharing my personal story of overcoming challenges with interpersonal skills and …
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2025 Home Inspection industry Predictions
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39:06
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Is the home inspection industry on the brink of a major transformation by 2025? Discover how potential interest rate reductions and increased home building could set the stage for a surge in demand for inspections, as we share our insights into the emerging trends and shifting market conditions. With inventory levels echoing those of 2019, we consi…
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We discuss why cutting essential expenses like professional memberships could be your biggest misstep, drawing lessons from a local restaurant that crumbled under similar decisions. Uncover how staying visible and trustworthy in the market through organizations like Internashi can keep your conversion rates healthy and your business competitive all…
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Learn how to craft reports that strike the perfect balance between detail and clarity, minimizing stress for both inspectors and homebuyers. David brings a unique consumer perspective, helping us explore why reports often end up too detailed or too sparse, and how digital tools can sometimes complicate rather than clarify. Our conversation highligh…
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Discover the powerful communication techniques that can transform your home inspection client interactions. With personal insights and actionable tips, this episode offers valuable strategies for both solo inspectors and larger firms aiming to elevate their sales approach. Join us as we uncover the art of steering clients away from price-focused di…
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Join us for a compelling conversation with industry expert Randy Lima as we confront the challenge of return fees head-on. Learn why it's crucial for inspectors to charge for return visits, especially when utilities are off or access is restricted, and how to effectively communicate these policies to clients and agents. We share practical strategie…
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Ever wonder why a small group of home inspectors seems to dominate the market while others struggle? Join us in this eye-opening episode of Inspector Toolbelt Talk as Jay and Ian uncover the secrets behind the Pareto distribution and its impact on the home inspection industry. With Jay sipping on his cherished Irish whiskey, The Quiet Man, and Ian …
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Welcome back for the Q4 Market outlook for 2024! We’ll explore what is coming up this 4th quarter of 2024, and what 2025 may look like. We will share our predictions for the upcoming months, leveraging our track record of accurate forecasts and understanding of market cycles in the inspection industry. Curious about the real estate market’s latest …
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Can raising your prices actually lead to more sales? Join me on this solo journey as we explore the fascinating and counterintuitive strategy that suggests just that. Inspired by a memorable TED Talk and personal anecdotes, we dive into how higher prices can signal quality to consumers. From a KFC consultant's surprising advice to a personal story …
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