Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Bonzey.
Charlene, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After 25+ years in corporate America I set out to control my own financial destiny. Years of global travel and long commutes into Boston had taken its toll and it was time to build something on my own. I researched many franchise opportunities until I found one that not only engaged my interest but was something I could build with my 3 sons. After my years of product development in home decor and my passion for real estate, HomeTeam Inspection Services won me over. I loved real estate but didn’t want to compete with the thousands of other realtors in the marketplace. I originally wanted to flip homes and create amazing designs with my decor background but cash flow and investors were limited. That’s when I fell in love with the idea of home inspection and that’s how HomeTeam Inspection Services of Massachusetts was born.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Purchasing a franchise was a well thought out proposition for us. I chose HomeTeam because of their family based operation and dedication to helping every franchise succeed. The support and knowledge there is outstanding and we utilize all aspects of what they have to offer us. I wanted to go into a business without having to reinvent the wheel so why not join an organization that has all the experience and knowledge to share. It is worth every penny! Sure we share our business success with the company but what we get back in return is far more beneficial.
HomeTeam Inspection Service – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My background includes Master’s degree in Business (MBA) and Psychology. Putting the knowledge together I have created a business that separates me from the rest of the pack. We have turned a very stressful time for home buyers into an exciting and really fun adventure. We have taken the negativity out of inspections by infusing a comfortable friendly demeanor with a lot of education and tips. We LOVE the first time home buyers who want to learn as much as they can about owning a home. That is where we shine!
When we arrive on a job, we introduce the team (always 2 or more inspectors on a job) and advise the process of how we do our inspections. We tell them to go PLAY! Go decorate in your head, put up color swatches if you want, arrange your furniture in your head and enjoy planning your life in your new home and when we are done as a team inspecting the home we will walk you through the home and go over everything. At that point we go over all the things we find and also how things work, we explain tips on how to maintain systems to extend the life of them. We don’t tell you “The boiler is shot” – we tell you something like “It’s 27 years old and its life expectancy is 30-35 years, therefore you might want to start budgeting for future replacement”. We document everything and send over a full detailed report usually same day but specify within 24 hours. Our reports are all automated, full color pictures, and details. Our reports point out benefits as well as inefficiencies. Our reports start with a summary of topics to pay close attention to as you read through the report.
We also offer our clients the ability to call us anytime now or in the future. If we have answers we will gladly assist and if we don’t, we will find someone who can help. We are a lifetime resource for the home owners. Once a client, always a client. Let’s not forget our real estate agents, they love that we complete our inspections in 1-1/2 hours because of the multiple inspectors on the job. We don’t waste their day and precious time.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Our proudest moment or rather moments is when a client or real estate agent tells us they have never worked with a better company. They can’t wait to work with us again or they can’t wait to refer us to their friends and families. That is what our business is being built on – reputation. Building a business is hard, but like I have always told my children, you give your best and do right by people and it will come back to you tenfold. Always do the next right thing!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HomeTeam.com
- Phone: 508-834-7455, 508-869-7426 or 844-HomeTeam
- Email: Worcester@HomeTeam.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeTeamInspectionWorcester/
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