Any professional in the commercial building inspection field understands just how competitive this industry has become over time. As clients get more choices and expectations continue to rise, many commercial property owners aren’t just looking for one-time service providers. Instead, you have to present yourself as an inspection partner to deliver outstanding value.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to grow your value so clients will see you as the obvious choice, even before they compare prices. Here are some tips:
1. Sell Business Decisions Instead of Just Inspections
So many inspection companies focus on marketing the inspection that they forget what property owners and other stakeholders in this field are looking for. Such stakeholders usually aren’t just after paying for an inspection. Instead, they are paying for the confidence you give them to make critical, expensive decisions.
So, take a top-rated commercial building inspector course from a top provider like RocketCert, but don’t market your knowledge and skills. What your clients are looking for is results, not how much you know about your field.
When marketing your services, therefore, focus on elements like how you help clients avoid unexpected capital expenses, negotiate better purchase prices, plan long-term property improvements, and so on. Don’t forget to showcase your business wins.
2. Be Curious Enough to Try Overlooked Property Types
The majority of commercial building inspectors want to chase office buildings and retail space as they seem like the obvious opportunities. But did you know that there is a lot of untapped potential in the often overlooked property types? These include self-storage facilities, religious facilities, cold storage buildings, entertainment venues, and so on.
The reality is that while almost any highly qualified commercial building inspector can handle such types of property, there simply aren’t enough experts in such fields. Yet, each property type has unique building systems and operational challenges. This leaves a lot of unexploited potential that only those who are willing to specialise in these property types can benefit from.
3. Create Inspection Reports That Guide Clients on Spending
It’s not uncommon for commercial inspection reports to overwhelm clients with jargon and hundreds of observations. Not to say that this is wrong, but your clients are usually interested in some more actionable information. So, don’t just list your findings. Do it in a way that makes the information easier to understand, but most importantly, organise your recommendations into a practical spending guide.
You can, for instance, break down your report into categories like ‘Immediate Safety Concerns’, ‘Repairs Needed Within a Year’, ‘Items to Monitor’, etc., so your clients will have an easier time deciding what to spend on. Keep in mind you are dealing with busy investors who will appreciate knowing which issues deserve immediate attention and which can wait.
4. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Visual Documentation
It’s quite obvious that most building inspections will include photos. The surprising bit is that not all companies present them effectively. But most people, including your clients, process visually rich information more easily. That’s why you must enhance your reports with elements such as wide-angle context images, roof overview images, annotated photos showing exact problem locations, and so on.
You can even incorporate technologies such as thermal imaging or drones where regulations and project scope permit, to give your clients a more reliable view of inaccessible or complex building areas.
5. Strengthen Your Relationship With Facility Managers
From what we know, many inspectors have a tendency to focus heavily on brokers. Don’t get us wrong. Brokers are definitely valuable referral sources, but you must not forget that facility managers are the ones who control inspection work throughout a building’s entire life, not just during property transactions.
As a result, working with facility managers means you can leverage their need for inspections. In most cases, these inspections are required for things like capital planning, lease renewals, safety assessments, tenant improvements, and much more. So, one good relationship with a large property management company can bring recurring work for years.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Act
You now have a better idea of what it takes to grow a commercial business. As other inspectors freak out and rush to increase their advertising budget, you shouldn’t be falling into the same trap. Instead, you should do more of what it takes to become a trusted adviser who can help clients make better business decisions.
The best way to start this is to invest in a course that equips you with unique knowledge and skills. So, head over to rocketcert.com today to take your commercial building inspector course, and then apply the tips we have mentioned in this post, and you will be sure to see positive results.
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