Companies are responding. Plus: Indiana joins the Association.

In my last blog post, I talked about insurance companies and how they don't really understand what we do. This translates to higher premiums and possibly the incorrect coverage. We are currently compiling names of insurance providers who do insure Home Watch. If you'd like to share the name of your company, we'd really appreciate it. I've been contacted in the past by some insurance brokers who were interested in being recognized by the NHWA. If you can help our members (and future members), give us a call. All information will be made available to our members.

BIG NEWS!  I want to congratulate Max Henig of Holiday Home Watch for becoming our first accredited member in the Great State of Indiana. Max has agreed to follow the Code of Ethics and Mission Statement of The NHWA. Holiday Home Watch serves the greater Indianapolis area. I will write more about his company when the site is up and running, which I am told will be very soon. But for now you can e-mail him at maxrago@att.net. 

Shhhh! I am keeping something kinda quiet right now, but word has it there's a company that's very close to having a working prototype for a completely interactive Home Watch software program. My source tells me that it will work on all "smartphones" as well as your desktop. My source also tells me that it will do everything but the inspection itself.  Well...maybe not quite everything.  I'll let you know more when I know more.

'Til then...stay cool.

Jack

Busy time for Coastal Carolina Home Watch

Greetings, Home Watchers.

As the owner of my own Home Watch company, I have been really busy. (This is a good thing.) That's why I haven't been blogging for a couple of weeks. I have been expanding some of my services and streamlining others. As you probably know, having a business is a juggling act. Especially in today's economy. In order to be successful, you need to constantly monitor and adapt your Home Watch business to your customer's current needs and your business model. If you are smart, you will also try to anticipate changes and trends, so you can stay ahead of the curve (and your competition...).  There are many different opportunities to increase your bottom line and your customer's dependence on your services. Interested in knowing more?

I am also working on a page dedicated to the Canadian Home Watch industry. Google tells me that the companies north of the border are visiting our site very frequently. There are people in Saskatchewan who have viewed the site 10 times in the last 20 days. Quebec, BC and Nova Scotia seem very curious also. Any suggestions for the Canadian info page will be greatly appreciated.

New member applications also continue to come in. Our "how-to" guide is helping start-up companies build their businesses intelligently and ethically. We at the NHWA are looking to build the membership while maintaining the very highest standards. This process is a marathon...not a sprint. Let's take our time and do it right. If you are serious about the Home Watch industry, become a member. Accreditation definitely means something, because prospective customers from Minnesota, Georgia, Missouri, Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and New Hampshire have contacted us looking for members to hire. And that was in the last 30 days. The NHWA is not going away; it is becoming more and more visible. Being a member is an exclusive selling tool that only members can use when signing new customers. So take a look at the NHWA again. If we can protect our industry, we protect our futures.

As always, I wish you

Much success.


Jack

Negative feedback is good. Chutzpah? That's very good!

I'd like to thank the gentleman from the Fort Myers area for the negative comments and accusations that he passed along to me via Email. Please understand that I am grateful for any input whatsoever. So when this gentleman, who was looking to start a Home Watch company, inquired as to why there were no prices listed on the NHWA Website, we emailed him back right away.  He wrote: "The fact that there is no information as to fees available on your website makes me skeptical as to the viability of your company and the benefits you profess to provide."  We didn't want to insult him, but the annual dues are listed very clearly on the Membership Application, which is easily accessed and downloadable by multiple links on our site.  We also thanked him for pointing out that the fees were hard for him to find, and that we would be working with our IT person to see what made sense. I responded with:  "We are working with our IT guy to make it more visible. I won’t, however, plaster the price all over the site. It has been my experience that until a person knows what they are getting for their money, it is very easy to dismiss something based on price."  

Let's face it: Regardless of the product or service, our human nature wants to get the price, before knowing too much else. The VALUE of the product or service becomes irrelevant to the consumer, because a decision is already being made without all of the pertinent information. How many times have we cursed ourselves, because we realized that we had made a decision to buy or belong--nor not to--based on price? I know that I sure have. I will never forgive myself for not getting the sunroof in my first new car. And, yes, I could have bought Google when it was relatively cheap.  Upset with my own short-sightedness, I would often wish that I had gotten all of the information before forming my opinion and ultimately making a decision. The old "Hindsight is 20/20" theory.  Now, the other side of the coin is where someone doesn't understand, or doesn't doesn't bother to look at all of the benefits, so they condemn or bad-mouth the product or service. I've done that myself, too. And so, when the gentleman from the Fort Myers area emailed back: "Found the fee. Can't see that you offer any benefit other than to tell people a home watch service is licensed and bonded, when in fact there are no licensing requirements in Florida other than a local city or county business  license that any 10 year old can get by paying a $50.00  fee. I call that deceptive advertising, but I congratulate you on your chutzpah,**" I smiled. Consider how easily he describes what it takes to form a new Home Watch business in the state of Florida. Do you think it is deceptive advertising to raise the standards of an industry that is so easy to become a part of? I think not. In all seriousness, folks, this is the mindset of a lot of our present and future competitors.

**Chutzpah (Hootz'-pah): a Yiddish word for guts, nerve, moxie, etc. (Think phlegm in your throat when you say it!)

You see, the reason that the NHWA was formed was to accredit businesses that don't look at the Home Watch industry in that manner. We check with consumer agencies for complaints against companies. Applying does not guarantee acceptance. With the amount of new businesses starting up, there are bound to be uninsured or under-insured businesses out there operating with a "local city or county business license that any 10 year old can get by paying a $50 fee." What do they say nowadays? OMG! 

As we build our Association, Members like Bob Myers of Home Watch Group of SWFL and other current Members are enjoying the benefits of membership. They get qualified client leads sent directly from our Website to theirs. Because of their foresight in joining, these Member companies have set themselves apart from the pack.

You know what, guy from the Fort Myers area? It does take CHUTZPAH to take a chance. It does take CHUTZPAH to undertake a project like starting the NHWA. It does take CHUTZPAH be among the first to become a part of something new.

To those of you considering membership, I urge you to consider the attitude of this gentleman who is about to join our ranks.

Thank you, gentleman from the Fort Myers area, for reinforcing exactly why the NHWA is necessary. Oh, and thank you for today's topic. 

Wishing you all lots of chutzpah,

Jack 

Cape Cod makes the map!

   

Waterfront Concierge Service of West Dennis, MA, is the only accredited member of the National Home Watch Association on Cape Cod. That is big news, folks!  Lisa D'Amato formed Waterfront Concierge with guidance from the NHWA, and has agreed to abide by our Code of Ethics and do business in accordance with our Mission Statement. Lisa felt that because of all of the companies on the Cape, she wanted to raise the bar for the Home Watch industry there and on the South Shore.  Lisa learned of Home Watch when her property in Florida needed care. Like so many people, she had friends and relatives that lived in the area, and any one of them would have been happy to watch her home. Not wanting to burden them, she found a Home Watch company to take care of her place. The Home Watch company did a great job, arranging for contractors and maintaining Lisa's home.
Lisa's background is in the family business of security and fire alarm installation and monitoring. Because she lives on the Cape, and her experiences with Home Watch and security, it was just a matter of time before she decided to form Waterfront Concierge. And we at the NHWA are thrilled that she is now an accredited member. Please visit her website at http://www.waterfrontconcierge.net/.

I received an excellent e-mail yesterday from a guy named NILS, who I believe is in Florida. Unfortunately, I inadvertently deleted his e-mail, and would love for him to re-send it. Nils from Florida...please resend your question.

Speaking of Florida, a new member will be revealed in my next blog. Enjoy the weekend.

Much success and peace of mind.

Jack

Home Watch = Your future!

Greetings and Salutations.

I have been in the business world for a long time. I have worked in NYC, right down 34th St. from the Empire State Building. I loved the electricity of the city, but it wears on you after a while. I changed gears and went into sales management in the auto industry. I worked for General Motors, Toyota and Nissan over a 25-year period. I made a good living, raised the kids, and lost my hair. So I decided to start a new chapter of life in the Low Country of South Carolina. The impetus for starting Coastal Carolina Home Watch was the fact that I needed a Home Watch type service for my vacation home, and I couldn't find anyone to work with. I had no peace of mind whatsoever, because there was no one looking out for me, and I felt helpless being 700 miles away. Yes, there was property management, but they were concerned only with the "common areas".  When I started  researching  Home Watch, there were maybe a handful of companies with websites. I spoke to one or two of them to try to get some advice. One owner in Arizona actually wanted to charge me $300 per hour for consultation. (She still does, by the way....) My point being that there was no help back then, and even today there are people looking to charge you heavily for information. As a businessman, I am certainly not against being paid. Nor do I disagree with being compensated for certain things. But, just starting out, I figured that I could just figure things out as I went along. (More later....)

Home Watch is a great business to be in. Go ahead and do an online search, and without trying very hard you will find way over a thousand companies--a ridiculous amount of growth since I started in 2005. Why is it so popular? Lots of reasons: it's relatively inexpensive to start; no special training is required; low overhead; income potential is limitless (based upon your effort and investment in marketing); and getting a lot of satisfaction from doing a job that is appreciated. And best of all, you set your schedule.

Let's get back to me learning the ropes as I went along. You know what I learned immediately? There were NO ropes!  This business is learned by trial and error. There were no books to study from, no courses to take. As savvy as I thought I was from all of my years in business...well, let me just say that I got seriously bruised up from all of my trials and errors. If I knew then what I know now. Hey, wait a minute. I do know now, what I know now! Am I an expert? Does my brain hold the key? As much as I would like to think so, the answer is, probably not. But just maybe, if you know what I know now, maybe it can save you from learning the hard way what I know now, and not having to not know what I didn't know then. Understand? Knowledge is power. And so is the ability to share ideas with colleagues.

The National Home Watch Association is comprised of companies from across the nation, and hopefully from Canada. Our number is growing stronger by the week. Because of the tremendous increase in the amount of Home Watch businesses, and because there are no "ropes" or standards to adhere to, our membership has decided to take their businesses to a higher level. They want to be ahead of the curve should there come a time when Home Watch is regulated by government. Members hold themselves to a higher code of ethics than non-members. They receive qualified leads directly from the NHWA website, bypassing competitors and distractions alike. They display the NHWA logo proudly. But as important as their marketing is, it does not compare with the knowledge they will gain, and the sense of accomplishment knowing that they are being proactive with their personal and company's future. If you look at the big picture, you'll see that our industry faces many challenges now and will in the future. We can do more as a single voice. We can negotiate and lobby national concerns more effectively as the NHWA than we could with a thousand different voices. And we can protect our futures by distancing ourselves from un- or under-insured businesses who don't share our passion and commitment to our customers that we do.

Home Watch is a great business, with endless opportunities. I highly recommend it for your future direction in life, if it makes sense to you. But, as with all things worthwhile, if it was easy...everyone would be doing it. My thanks to future member Troy W. of Wisconsin for inspiring me to write about this subject.

Have a great weekend. I wish you all

Much success,


Jack

A couple of things: Canada & the guide.

My web guy, Spike Cohen, has designed a logo that will also include the Canadian flag, which will debut very soon. Spike's wife Tasha is from Toronto, so he is very much interested (as am I) in bringing our neighbors to the north into the fold. I have been contacted by many Canadian "Snowbirds" looking for member companies not just in the US, but also in Canada. How about a little feedback from Canadian Home Watch companies? I have heard from Bill Van Vlack a couple of months back, and also companies in Vancouver, Nova Scotia and even Saskatchewan. Let's continue the conversation.

The amount of people inquiring about and getting our "Getting Started' guide is so encouraging. Since the PayPal option is now in place, sales of the guide have been terrific. But I want to be clear about this again: Our goal is to increase membership, not to sell guides. The cost of the guide will be applied to your membership dues. We are mentoring many new companies with this method. Many additional states and locations  will soon be represented in the NHWA.

Come be a part of the NHWA. We are here to help.

Have a terrific Memorial Day weekend.


Jack

The inevitable conversation

You are not alone.....

It happens all the time. You are in a conversation with a group of people, and you have the opportunity to tell them what you do, and you do. "I have a Home Watch business," you say, and immediately comes the comment: "Oh. You're a house sitter," or "You do security." Now it's time to explain what you actually do. Then, they tell you what a great idea it is. They invariably tell you: "I thought about doing something just like that!" I have had that conversation hundreds of times. You probably have, too, and if you haven't...you will.

Here is another one: You are speaking with someone, and you find out that they are part-time residents (absentee owners). You tell them what you do. "Ah, I don't need that. I have a neighbor/brother/uncle cousin/priest/rabbi..........".  Or, "I shut the water off / I have property management / I have never had a problem," or "I live in a gated community."

No matter what we call ourselves, we are all in the Home Watch business. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we are also salespeople who market our services. All salespeople should be well-versed in their product, demographics, community, and of course, their company. It is important to find the client's need, verify it and then show them how your company and its services will do just that.

Now as far as I am concerned, everyone that I speak to represents an opportunity. Think about that. How? Simple. Everybody knows someone else. Everyone is a potential referral source.  They may not need you, but they go away on trips quite often. They may own a business or work in a field that can recommend you, or do work for you. Or vice versa...how about a little "quid pro quo"?

Do you have talking points at the ready? Do you know the latest issues affecting homeowners? Do you know about things happening in other states that might affect you or your clients? Is insurance an issue?

Joining the NHWA is a good business decision. Who knows our business better than other Home Watch business owners? The first time that I met with Bob Myers of Home Watch Group of SWFL, I was amazed and comforted to know that I wasn't alone. He and I compared notes and issues. Funny, but they were the same in Florida as they were by me. When you can be open and share with someone who is not your competition, you will pick up good, honest information. I guarantee it.

Bob's website is averaging 45 - 50 click-throughs from the NHWA website per month. Most are qualified leads. Take a look at what you are spending to get qualified traffic onto your site or to ring your phone. Google "Home Watch" and see what page your business is listed on. Be honest...how many pages do you go through when you are searching for any kind of service? Most people never make it to page 2. The NHWA is right up there on top, bypassing most links. Visitors will be directed to NHWA Accredited Members, rather than having to navigate through page after page of listings. How could this kind of visibility and credibility help your business?

If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please contact me at the NHWA office. The number is (843) 357-6660. My Email is jack@nationalhomewatchassociation.org . You can even use the blog to post something.

More and more states are represented. North Carolina just hit the map. NJ, Maryland, and Ohio are right behind it. Set yourself apart from the pack. Join already. Wishing you

Much success,

Jack