Check out our first newsletter of the new year!
Libertyinspectiongroup.com 610.717.3082 JANUARY 2018
“ A LOT
TO LOOK FORWARD TO
T he new year is the perfect time to step back for a minute, take stock of everything we’ve accomplished in 2017, and decide what we’d like to make happen in the coming year. Personally, I set up an annual vision board, a practice I’ve managed to spread throughout my entire family.
ACL a couple years back, I’ve struggled to restore my old health habits. And while I’m far from obese or suffering with pain, I’m determined to put my feet to the pavement and get back in shape. If the business lets me, I’m going to be running five days a week all through 2018. But perhaps the most important event that’ll be happening this month is the mission trip I’m embarking on with my 13-year-old daughter to the Dominican Republic. Organized through our church, it’ll be a week or so of painting playgrounds, installing water lines, and making ourselves useful. I hope it’ll be a powerful experience for her and will start a tradition I’ll be able to keep with my two younger kids. Overall, I see plenty to look forward to in 2018. Between expanding the business, a little self-improvement, and some meaningful trips with my family, I think this could shape up to be one of the best years yet. –Chris Earley If you force yourself to think about a goal even a little bit more, you’re that much closer to taking the steps you need to achieve it."
Starting the day after Christmas, my wife, kids, and I start to decide what exactly we hope for in the following 365 days. Then, we print out a few pictures that represent those goals and desires and pin them on our respective boards. The key to the process is the visual element. When you have these tangible reminders of the things you hoped to acquire or achieve, it keeps you focused and driven towards realizing that endpoint. It just makes sense. If you force yourself to think about a goal even a little bit more, you’re that much closer to taking the steps you need to achieve it. Of course, my 7-year-old probably lacks the foresight to really understand setting and meeting goals, but it’s cool to see her and my other daughters start to connect the dots. One year ago, they were just cutting out a picture and pinning it on a board. But when we take a moment to reflect on what we actually did during that year, they often realize they did turn at least a few of those visions into reality. My board last year was mostly tangible stuff — replacing our old ratty kitchen appliances, finally finishing our basement, and other nagging concerns. But when I took a closer look at the board a couple weeks ago, I was happy to see pretty much all my goals had been checked off. It’s amazing how real a goal becomes when you actually put it into a physical medium, whether that’s a pinned-up picture or a sentence written in a journal.
As for 2018, my main goal is the same as everybody else’s — to get healthy. For most of my life, I’ve been a runner by nature. Ever since I had surgery on my
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Sharen Murnaghan’s LinkedIn page features the line, “Always be helping.” When you look at Hubspot’s “About Us” page, you’ll notice their vision is to build a company where business is “empathetic, human, and personable.” Do these philosophies sound like they’re in alignment? She and Hubspot both believe that helping others is essential to business success, so it should come as no surprise that Murnaghan is Hubspot’s No. 1 salesperson. When two MIT graduates, Dharmesh Shah and Brian Halligan, realized that customers weren’t responding to tried-and-true marketing tactics — and that Shah’s unassuming blog was driving way more web traffic than sites with huge marketing budgets — they created Hubspot, a marketing and sales software company. Most companies were forgetting about the human element of sales. Instead of helping people, these businesses treated customers like numbers, all in the pursuit of their bottom line. So, Shah and Halligan started a company that would do the opposite. They decided to help other businesses forge human relationships with their customers and create an “inbound world.” Before joining their company, Murnaghan had a successful sales career in the publishing world, but she was ready for something new. She had an impressive amount of sales experience, but almost no knowledge of digital marketing, an industry she knew was clearly on the rise. So, “armed with nothing but a desire to learn and a willingness to work hard,” she enrolled in a digital marketing HELPING PEOPLE ISN’T JUST FOR NONPROFITS
course, got a certification, and eventually found her way to Hubspot. She started in an entry-level sales position, and, after putting in 12-hour days and many more hours on continued education, she became their No. 1 salesperson. She’s held the spot ever since. But what got her there? She found success by using the same philosophy that Hubspot was built on. “People don’t want to be interrupted by marketers or harassed by salespeople,” Shah and Halligan say of their empathetic approach. “They want to be helped.” Murnaghan’s interactions with customers hinged on her desire to help others, and she was determined to carry out that mission. Once, she connected a client’s daughter with friends in Canada after learning the girl was starting university there. What lessons can we glean from Murnaghan’s and Hubspot’s success? Perhaps it’s this: Don’t forget about the simple act of helping people. Make this a priority above selling a good or service. As you shape and define your company's values, hire people who exemplify them. Like Murnaghan, if they live your values, they’ll wow your clients, help grow your brand, and bring you both to the top.
TESTIMONIALS
“I give Liberty Inspection Group five stars. Chris was our inspection guru, and he did a great job. He answered a million questions, took his time, was VERY thorough, and gave us suggestions on different ways we could fix some of the issues at different price points. And lastly, he double-checked dates on when our big-ticket equipment was manufactured. Did you know a water heater could last 17 years? Chris told us it was a grandma in water-heater years, so we are going to request that the owners pay for a new one. We also had a question about a vent running through the middle of our kitchen that we are going to remove, and he let us know about how much it would cost to get rid of it. I know that wasn't part of the inspection, but he looked into it for me anyway. Who goes over and beyond the call of duty these days? Chris does, that's who. I highly recommend.” –Gabrielle W. “Tyler made the home inspection experience enjoyable and informative. His work was thorough. He was patient with questions and enthusiastic about features of the home. I felt really confident in his reporting and like that I have a much firmer handle on how to manage my new 92-year-old home! Tyler was even nice enough to follow up on and answer additional questions that came up for me the next day. I would recommend Tyler and the Liberty team without hesitation. Also, being able to schedule my inspection online (with availability as soon as the next day!) was super convenient.” –Jessica G.
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THE HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST
WHAT TO LOOK FOR FIRST
A home inspection checklist is one of the most valuable resources a home seller can have. Even if you’re not selling your home, you can use this checklist to determine possible repairs before committing to a renovation or restoration. This checklist is an outline and not intended to be a substitute for a comprehensive home inspection by a certified Liberty Inspection Group professional. Exterior When it rains, will water run toward the foundation? Yes____ No____ What type of siding is on the home? __________________ Stucco? If so, is it hard coat or synthetic? __________________ Fiberboard? If so, is it swollen/deteriorating? Yes____ No____ How old is the roof? ________ Are there missing shingles? Yes____ No____ If there is a crawl space, is there water on the floor of the crawl space? Yes____ No____ Interior Are there moisture stains present on the ceilings or walls? Yes____ No____ Is there mold, mildew, or a musty smell inside the home? Yes____ No____ Is there any indication of uneven floors? Yes____ No____
Are there any significant cracks in the walls? Yes____ No____ Do the doors open/close properly? Yes____ No____ Are the windows cloudy and difficult to see through? Yes____ No____ Heating, Cooling, and Water Heater What is the age of the heating system? _______ (The average life expectancy of a heating unit is 20 years.) What is the age of the outside cooling system? _______ (The average life expectancy of a cooling unit is 15 years.) What is the age of the water heater? _______ (The average life expectancy of a water heater is 10 years.) General Is there documentation for any major changes? Yes____ No____
Receipts/Warranties/Permits Is the seller’s disclosure available? Yes____ No____
If you have concerns about your home, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Whether you’re moving or want to fix an issue with your home, we’re here to help provide you with a quality home inspection.
HAVE A LAUGH ON US!
LEFTOVER TURKEY RAMEN
Recipe inspired by TheWoksOfLife.com
INGREDIENTS
• • • • •
1 leftover turkey carcass
• • •
4 eggs
6 scallions, divided
4 ounces bacon
8 slices ginger
4 portions fresh, not instant, ramen noodles 2 cups leftover turkey, shredded
6 dried shiitake mushrooms
Ingredients:
16 cups water
•
DIRECTIONS
1.
Remove most of the meat from the turkey carcass, shred, and set aside. Put carcass in a large stockpot, along with 3 scallions, ginger, mushrooms, and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 3 hours. Place eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then immediately remove pot from heat and let sit for 4 minutes. Transfer eggs to an ice bath to cool.
3.
Cook bacon until crisp. Drain, chop, and set aside. Chop remaining scallions. Once the broth is done simmering, prepare the fresh noodles according to package directions. Divide noodles among 4 bowls and cover with broth. Add shredded
4.
2.
turkey, chopped scallions, chopped bacon, and an egg to each bowl.
Directions:
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: PAGE 1 The Earleys Make New Vision Boards for 2018 PAGE 2 The Secret Behind Hubspot’s No. 1 Salesperson
PAGE 2 Hear From Our Clients
PAGE 3 The Home Inspection Checklist PAGE 4 Get Out and About This January
NEW YEAR
NEW THINGS TO DO!
It’s a new year, and if you’re itching to get out of the house to try new things, here are a couple of ideas to get you started! 15TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE TOY TRAIN SHOW Where: The Museum of American History in Deptford, NJ When: Now through Jan. 28
of American History is open Thursday through Sunday, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Then, head down to Adelphia Restaurant & Lounge for the perfect lunch or dinner. FLAVORS OF PHILLY Where: All over Philadelphia When: Ongoing Admission: Price varies Website: phillysfoodtour.com It’s no secret that Philly is a town of many delicious foods. If you’re looking for a way to explore the cuisines of the city, give the Flavors of Philly food tour a try. Choose between different tours, including the Prohibition Cocktail Tour, the Philly Pizza Tour, Ethnic Eats, and Hot & Spicy Philly. No matter your taste, you can find a tour to satisfy your culinary curiosities with this fun and easy way to explore the city. See the Philly Food Tour website for a calendar and booking.
Admission: $4 (adult), $3 (child) Website: southjerseymuseum.org
If you love model trains, then come all aboard for the 15th Annual Antique Toy Train Show in Deptford, New Jersey. Check out toy trains from the 1930s through the 1950s. There is no shortage of vintage trains and toys on display. The show is a slice of Americana that’s fun for all ages. The Museum
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