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INSPECTOR 610.717.3082 Libertyinspectiongroup.com
FALL 2020
I think it’s safe to say that the 2019–2020 school year was not what any of us expected. Even as classes moved to an at-home setting last spring to slow the spread of COVID-19, we all — perhaps naively — thought our students and teachers would return to the classroom come September. As we’ve all learned this year, life doesn’t always work out the way we expect or plan it to. This past spring, my wife gracefully stepped into the role of at-home teacher. We were essentially home-schooling our girls through a haphazardly created virtual curriculum, and my wife did a great job of stepping up. Regardless, it was a strange adjustment. The girls couldn’t just raise their hands when they had a question for their teachers. Instead, they had to schedule a time to meet virtually over Zoom. It just wasn’t and hasn’t been the same. It wasn’t an ideal situation for anyone, and to be honest, all of our girls hated the experience. They all enjoy going to school, seeing their friends, and having fun outside of the house. Plus, they all have different approaches to their work. One of my daughters is very motivated and works hard to get all her work done. Another daughter needs someone reminding her what she needs to do. That dynamic made home-schooling more difficult. While school is still virtual at the time I'm writing this, the silver lining in the timing of this pandemic is that school administrators and teachers had all summer to prepare for a virtual classroom. This means that while the school setting isn’t what our girls hoped for, it’s much better than it was last spring. As Lindsay becomes a sophomore, Paige enters eighth grade, and Natalie begins fourth grade, we’re all adjusting to this new normal.
Thankfully, because our girls are also involved in sports and activities, this means they get a respite from being home. Lindsay will play on the varsity soccer team this year, and while she won’t be able to play outside of the conference and there are unique circumstances (anyone remember getting a disease test before you can play a game?), she’s looking forward to playing with her teammates again. Likewise, Natalie’s gymnastics gym has been a welcome and safe escape from everything. She can practice her routines, and we don’t worry about her safety with all the protocols put in place. As we prepared for this unique school year, we all experienced a strange summer. We made it a point to go camping and hiking a lot more than we have in the past. (We tent camp — with an air mattress, of course.) We’ve also been really into geocaching. For those who have never done it, geocaching is an outdoor scavenger hunt where the participants are given a unique set of GPS coordinates and have to find a special container hidden near the coordinates. There’s usually a logbook that we can sign once we find it, too. It’s been the perfect way to get outdoors and stay safe. We’ve even seen parts of this region that we didn’t know existed because of geocaching! As we navigate this unique school year — and Lindsay learning how to drive! — all we can do is take each school day as it comes and hope for a better tomorrow. Stay safe, and good luck to all the students and teachers this new school year!
–Chris Earley
Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082 | Page 1
O ur homes have never been more important than they have been in 2020. Finding a hom that can serve as an office, a classroom, and escape is now a priority for many homebuye With this increased importance placed on our homes, real estate agents need to be more accessible to every type of homebuye Thankfully, as the world has been transported into the digital sphere, estate agents have more tech tools at their fingertips than ever befor Here are three of the must-haves.
Stay Relevant
3 Tech Platforms Agents Need in 2020
Paperless Signing Technology
Digital signing platforms, like DocuSign and DigiSigner, offer real est agents and their clients an opportunity to safely (and securely) sign th necessary transaction documents. While you may have been actively using these platforms since the pandemic began, you need to consid the long-term feasibility of the platform you have chosen. Could it be adjusted to better serve your marketing? (DigiSigner offers branding options.) Can it link to cloud platforms for ease of access, like DocuS does? Consider what you need most from your signing platform and the tool that best suits your needs.
LAUGH INSPECTION!
"Liberty was really great. They were very communicative over the phone and made sure I was able to get an appointment quickly. I had my inspection done by Adam, and he was awesome, very personable, and knowledgeable. He walked me through every little thing that could potentially be wrong so I would just be aware of it. It was my first ever inspection, and I left feeling like I could explain everything. He answered all my questions and even followed up with a phone call over the weekend. He was super awesome. I highly recommend him and Liberty." –Christina K. "Jeremy was a thorough inspector and took the time to explain what he would be doing each step of the way. He answered questions and was a wealth of knowledge on homes in general. Very professional! Reports were received within hours and easy to read with lots of detail. Great job! As a realtor, I have seen my fair share of inspectors, and I would highly recommend Jeremy!" –Jessica M.
Page 2| Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082
Help Your Buyers Navigate a Bad Inspection Report And What We Can Do!
Brand and Social Management
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Today’s buyers are scrolling through Zillow and Trulia to find homes in their region, and with the exception of referrals, potential homebuyers will likely also find a realtor online. So, if you’re silent on social media or have a subpar website, then you’re missing a critical piece of marketing. Platforms like Canva and WordPress can help you create a professional online presence, while Hootsuite or Trello can become your go-to for social media management.
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, real re.
CRM for Real Estate
Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a powerful tool, but with an oversaturated market of CRM tools, it can be difficult to find the right software for your real estate needs, like Wise Agent and Chime. Agents need a software program that swiftly organizes their clients and potential leads while accurately tracking timelines, important dates, and various client attributes in one location. Maintaining a relationship with your clients after the sale is vital to landing those powerful referrals, and as your database of clients and leads grow, you need to access those lists easily.
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It’s a special moment for homebuyers when they find a house that’s “the one.” Real estate agents often know when their clients are falling in love with many of the features of a home for sale.
Sign
find
But what happens when the inspection report comes in and it’s not great?
Whether it’s large structural damage or the looming threat of repairs homebuyers weren’t expecting, it can be crushing to receive bad news on an inspection report. Some homebuyers may want to back out of the deal, while others are unsure of how they can salvage a place they love. As a real estate agent, it’s your job to help talk your clients off the ledge and find a solution that’s going to work best for them. We can help you with that daunting task. As inspectors, we have the unique opportunity to offer your clients an unbiased opinion. We have no stake in the sale, nor are we trying to sell your clients something. We simply want to offer context and perspective about their dream home. Our job is to look for every little thing that could possibly be wrong in the home, note its severity, and offer solutions to these problems. As such, we can offer context to our findings and make recommendations for your clients. Encourage homebuyers to ask many questions and to ask for clarity in our findings. We can offer a unique position as experts in many facets of home construction. Homebuyers should utilize our wealth of knowledge to guide them to the best decision for their needs. We’re more than happy to do this during the inspection or afterward with a phone call or meeting. In addition, this report shouldn’t be a pass or fail; it should be used to offer leverage and safety for the homebuyers. We work for the homebuyers, and our goal is to give them as much information as they need to negotiate a fair deal. Our hope is that our report — whether it’s good or bad — can be used to better position the buyer and offer peace of mind as the sale goes forward. We can help your clients decide if this home is still perfect for them or if they need to keep looking. Recommend your clients to us, and we’ll help them feel safe in the home of their dreams.
CLASSIC PUMPKIN SOUP Pumpkins aren’t just for pie — they make delicious soup, too! This fall, try your hand at this healthy soup recipe and warm up with a bowl.
INGREDIENTS
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2 tbsp honey
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1/4 tsp sea salt
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2 shallots, diced
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1/4 tsp pepper
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1/4 tsp cinnamon
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2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned)
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1/4 tsp nutmeg
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2 cups vegetable broth
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1 cup canned light coconut milk
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!
Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com
Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082 | Page 3
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A Unique School Year Begins
3 Must-Have Tech Tools for Agents
Hear From Our Happy Clients!
3
Classic Pumpkin Soup
Bad News on the Inspection Report? Here’s What You Do!
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How Teams Are Engaging Fans During the Pandemic
Despite COVID-19’s continual presence in our country, many sports organizations are finding ways to adapt their seasons to the ever- changing circumstances. As many teams try to play out their seasons as normally as they can, they are also adapting to not having their fans there to cheer them on. So, some team members, teams, and entire sports organizations are getting creative. Here’s a look at some of the most noteworthy ways sports teams and players have connected with their fans so far.
in the Uecker “Last Row” in the highest level of seating in Miller Park. It was a great way for fans to be with the team in spirit, and all the money from the cutouts went to the Brewers Community Foundation.
Esports Take the Hockey Season off Ice
When the National Hockey League’s season was abruptly suspended, fans were left without any games to look forward to — at least, any live games. Soon after the season was suspended, the marketing staff of the New Jersey Devils came up with a plan. They prepared 20 simulations every game night against would-have-been opponents using EA Sports’ NHL ‘20. They even got the Devils’ radio announcer Matt Loughlin to voice the play-by-play for the simulations to give them an air of authenticity. It might not be as good as the real thing, but one game drew over 60,000 views.
Cut Me Out for the Ballgame
When the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team learned their fans wouldn’t be joining them at the stadium this year, they made sure fans wouldn’t be cut out of the fun completely. For just $50, Brewers fans could have a 2-foot-tall cardboard cutout of themselves placed
TikTok Trick Shots
Even in the midst of the pandemic, the social media following for some sports teams, such as the Philadelphia 76ers, has grown. This is due, in large part, to some players’ abilities to meet their young fans where they are. While quarantined at home, 76ers star player Matisse Thybulle began posting trick shots with pingpong balls on TikTok — some of which garnered over a million views. This is just one example of how some players are continuing to foster a personal connection with their fans even off the court.
Page 4 | Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082
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