Featured InspectorFeatured home inspector
HomeGauge recognizes inspectors for special achievements and market niches and feature them here for special recognition and for other inspectors to benefit.
| Inspector(s) par excellence: | Al and Billie Delong |
| Inspection Company: | DoubleCheck Home Inspection Group L.L.C. |
| Service Range: | Greenville/Spartanburg, SC Upstate |
| Number of inspections: | 3,000 plus |
| Uses HomeGauge Services: | Yes! |
| Phone number: | 864-576-3447 |
| Website: | www.DoubleCheckhome.com |
For Al and Billie DeLong, DOUBLECHECK is more than just a name — it’s how they do their inspections as a team. Somewhat unique to the industry, they started their business 7 years ago with the idea of providing “Two inspectors on every call”. As one of HomeGauge’s earliest clients, we have worked with them on a personal basis for that entire time and watched as they quickly became one of Spartanburg’s top inspection companies, performing up to 550 inspections per year. Their unique service and marketing efforts has allowed them to provide well over 450 inspections, even in this most recent slow year.
Early on, they decided to provide a “Premier” one-stop type service and immediately became certified for various environmental testing, joined multiple professional organizations, provide on-site printing, and numerous other services, all with no additional clerical or outside administration. Their marketing plan was to look as professional and friendly as possible. Someone you could trust. But the secret weapon, was the husband/wife team!
For this article, I asked them to describe why their husband/wife team concept and their business is so successful: “Simple”, they say. A team of inspectors speeds up the inspection, with each person doing a specific part of the job, while simultaneously entering data into the computer. One person can always be entering data or pictures while the other is, say, inspecting the crawlspace. It really speeds things up, yet keeps you flexible enough that one can answer the phone if needed, while the other is still working, without making the client feel second. We can easily handle 3 inspections in a day and get most of the admin work done within normal work hours. Let’s face it, a husband/wife team looks friendlier and makes people feel safer. You can explain problems without being intimidating and everyone feels better about the process. While one of us is reviewing the report with the client, or driving to the next inspection, the other can catch up on phone calls, book inspections and answer questions. Our truck is set up like a mobile office. We upload the inspection report and send out the email notification link shortly thereafter. And the best part is that when we are done for the day, we are done for the day! There isn’t 4 hours of homework awaiting us. But honestly, I can’t imagine doing all this without HomeGauge software and Services (internet tools). Our clients and agents love it. We appreciate the ease and flexibility. The website development package was a no-brainer and we appreciate the on-line capabilities and products like Radon test integration. When we first started we tried something else for a brief period, and it was a nightmare. From the day we met and switched, it’s been a wonderful relationship and HomeGauge just keeps getting better. Sorry if this sounds like an advertisement, but I am one of your strongest supporters because of the success you have helped us achieve.
All of us at HomeGauge are proud to have Billie and Al Delong using our software and HG Services, and their success as a husband wife team shows that unique possibilities are always out there if we care to look. There professionalism is easy to recognize and we recommend DoubleCheck!
Great job. You guys are really inspiring. Keep up the good work. Mar 19, 2012 1:33 PM
greece (Inspector)
Phenomenal and inspiring! My wife and I run our engineering and inspection business together but not like the Delong's!! I bet you guys could do a marriage counseling session as well! Superb. Gerald Reece, PE EDP Engineers and Inspectors, LLC Houston, TX Jul 13, 2011 11:47 PM
foundationshomeinspection (Inspector)
I've read this article twice now and wholeheartedly agree with what Billie is saying. My husband and I do inspections together as well, although I take care of the data and photo side of things. My secondary job is a medical transcriptionist, so dictation is a part of our teamwork when completing inspection reports as well. It's definately not something that all couples are compatible for, but there are so many rewards that come with doing the business together. The most enjoyable part for us is the time that we have with our children. We were blessed to have made it through our first year in business with ease, and I believe HomeGauge's software and online services were the biggest contributors to that. ~Michelle Verbeck~ May 11, 2011 7:54 AM
haganhome (Inspector)
Cool! Make me perhaps want to have a partner (maybe not my wife who I love dearly!) but perhaps my son when he is old enough and if he has interest. Or another home inspector to team up with. I recently met a brother team who did home inspections separately but same company, and it still afforded flexibility in scheduling phone calls, booking appts. etc They had it down to a good system. Thanks for sharing! Mar 6, 2011 10:42 AM
Bayinsp (Inspector)
Great Story and encouraging! Walt Fish Bay Area Home Inspection, LLC Oct 13, 2010 12:04 PM
maywood (Inspector)
I must comment on the advise and support that I recieved from Al and Billie when I was getting started. Thru a business contact I was introduced to Al. He gave me solid advise and took the time to allow me to go with him on a couple of inspections. Thanks to Al, Billie, and Home Gauge, I believe that my decision was the best that I could possibly have made. Hats Off to all of you. Randy Heintzman-inspector May 3, 2010 7:07 AM
sphi09 (Inspector)
Wow! Sounds great! I am not far from you two (Blue Ridge, GA) I have love this software too. I am a new home inspector in the North Georgia area, and feel like I have a great service to offer. I am marketing my butt off, mass emails, handshakes, brochures, business cards, sample reports, 90 home warranty, etc. The main guy I am competing with has been around here in this small town type of area for 13 years. I have seen his reports and I can't understand how he can justify charging the money he does. Do you have any suggestions to break through the barrier of his Realtors? Any info from anyone would be awesome! Thanks, Keith(Inspector) May 28, 2009 7:56 PM
InspectorDrew (Inspector)
Great Job out there!...but I gotta tell ya, I love my wife but she is the last person I want to work with all day long! Feb 16, 2009 6:26 AM
redmon (Inspector)
This works for us - another husband and wife team in Reno, NV. Home Gauge is the best! We are swamped. Our clients love a team approach. We have to turn away inspections. The key: Great software and constant marketing. Pat & Phil Redmon, Reno Feb 11, 2009 9:40 PM
InspectorC (Inspector)
Kudos! Great idea guys! Feb 11, 2009 8:48 PM
charlesadams (Inspector)
ONCE AGAIN HOMGGAUGE SOFTWARE LETS YOU BE AN INSPECTOR AND HAVE A LIFE. CHASRLES ADAMS. AADAMS INSPECTION SERVICES,LLC. ST. LOUIS, MO Feb 9, 2009 8:29 PM
inspectionstexas (Inspector)
Very Inspiring, makes you re-think your business model. Awesome! Jan 28, 2009 5:53 PM
Perfection (Inspector)
Pretty neat system. Way to go guys. Jan 1, 2009 5:29 PM