We’ve recently returned from InspectionWorld 2007 in Anaheim. It was an exciting and rewarding conference. We met with many new and experienced inspectors, and it was great to be able to put a face to a name with many of you!

Next, we’re off to the NAHI Conference! We look forward to seeing some of you in Las Vegas from Feb.18-21. We have a presentation booth, along with having a special Horizon Seminar for new prospects - but Horizon veterans are welcome to attend as well! See us at the booth for more information.

We hope that the New Year is off to a good start for you and your business. Thanks again for your support of Horizon – we value your relationship with us.

Happy Inspecting!

John Kwasnik
Senior Horizon Consultant
1 800 268 7070
info@discoverhorizon.com

Quote:
"Real men don't use backups, they post their stuff on a public ftp server and let the rest of the world make copies."
- Linus Torvalds

Horizon Tip

Photos and drawings are always a hot topic when it comes to inspection reports or even playing around with your own designs. For those inspectors who want to be able to draw their own 3D models of floor plans and buildings, Goggle has an easy-to-learn graphic tool at http://sketchup.google.com that lets you add a little pizzazz to your reports or remodeling projects.

Important Reminder!

Email is a fast and reliable way to deliver information, and it has also changed the way in which we communicate.

I didn’t get my email! Where is it? When will it come? Did you send it?

These are all questions frequently heard when it comes to working on the Internet. Using anti-Spam programs is comparable to having a Rotweiller sit in front of your mailbox – your mail won’t get delivered. So when you hear these questions, remember to tell your customers when to expect your email, along with reminding them check their ‘Junk Email’ folders. They can also lower their settings to allow your email to get through.

Technical Articles

Technical Article #1 - Identifying Commercial Heating Systems – A Primer
by CDW Engineering

When describing the heating systems in a building, there are a number of variables to consider, including:

• The type of fuel used.
• The medium used for heating (air, water, steam).
• Open vs. closed flame.
• Direct vs. indirect fired.
• Convection vs. radiant.
• Fuel Type

Read more... 

Technical Article #2 - Whirlpool Baths

Whirlpool baths are also called jetted bathtubs, hydromassage bathtubs and hydromassage therapeutic bathtubs. We think of a whirlpool bath as an ordinary bathtub with some fancy accessories. Incidentally, most makers of whirlpool baths also make their tubs without the whirlpool features. They call these ordinary tubs soakers. Read more...

Building Your Business

Yellow Page Advertising – A necessary evil!

This month we will discuss the relative merits of advertising your home inspection company in the yellow pages. While our experience suggests that this advertising medium will not result in a meaningful increase in business, we have some suggestions that will allow you to take advantage of this consumer focused advertising channel without having a major impact on your marketing budget.

Click here to view article.

To learn more on other advertising strategies and methods, please refer to “Building Your Home Inspection Business – A guide to marketing, sales, advertising, and public relations.”

To order this book, call us at 1-800-268-7070 ext 251 or email us at education@carsondunlop.com.

On-Line Tutorials - Would you like to work smarter and faster?

Receive 2 FREE credits while you’re at it!

Horizon offers convenient and informative Webinar tutorials on a variety of topics, in order for you to enrich your Horizon experience with new skills that you can use right away, focusing on your business. These online tutorials are designed to help you get more out of Horizon, all from the comfort of your own home or office! Read More...

No Website? - No Worries!

Introducing InspectorsEdge.com – Our fantastic Home Inspection marketing resource program!

We are really excited to launch yet another value added service for all Horizon users – InspectorsEdge.com! InspectorsEdge.com is our new and dynamic do-it-yourself website program! Always wanted a great looking website for an affordable price – one that you can customize to suit your own needs? InspectorsEdge.com will certainly impress you – in fact, recent field-testing with Home Inspectors across North America has resulted in a ringing endorsement for the program!

InspectorsEdge.com goes far beyond just being a website design and build program – it provides you with a complete marketing tool kit for your business! We offer everything from customized business cards to promotional flyers and much more!

HORIZON Special Offer for February 20007 - We ’re giving away 4 Maglite Flash lights!

Every 10 credits purchased gets you one more chance to win one of four Maglite flash lights. Winners will be announced in the March 2007 Network Newsletter.

Prize Winners

Congratulations to those who participated and won in HORIZON special contests over the last two months!

Keep your eye out for more contest announcements in our monthly Network Newsletter and various Horizon emails on ways to earn Horizon credits and prizes. (All winners will be contacted and informed how to receive your prize. )

Congratulations!

December draw for a Leatherman utility tool
Winner - Mike Masney of Castleview Home Inspection

December draw for Home Depot gift certificates - NAHI Special Offer
Winners
John Cundiff - Homewise
Rob Fischer - Insight Home Inspection
Joe Mifsud - Oak Ridge Engineering

January Network News word scramble for 10 free Horizon Credits
Winner - Stephan Thompson - Tri County Realty Services

Calvin McCafferty from Caltech Consulting Limited, says,

“This was found under a crawl space. The disclosure said stone crib. I guess someone figured that if the Romans can support floors with stones, so can I!”

Please send us your most unusual or humorous inspection photo for this month, along with a brief description. Submissions will be posted in the next edition of the Network News. A prize will be awarded for the most original submission!

Thank you for your participation. All photos can be emailed to graham@carsondunlop.com.