[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/week-26-halfway-in-whats-working-whats-not-and-whats-next\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/week-26-halfway-in-whats-working-whats-not-and-whats-next\/","headline":"Week 26 \u2013 Halfway In: What’s Working, What\u2019s Not, and What\u2019s Next","name":"Week 26 \u2013 Halfway In: What’s Working, What\u2019s Not, and What\u2019s Next","description":"Week 26 \u2013 Halfway In: What's Working, What\u2019s Not, and What\u2019s Next Six months in, here\u2019s what I know for sure: I\u2019ve got some wins under my belt. I\u2019ve got a few bruises. I\u2019ve got a little money in the bank\u2014and more clarity than I\u2019ve ever had about what it takes to build a real business from scratch. This week felt like a natural pause. A halftime huddle. A chance to look up from the daily grind and ask: What\u2019s working? What\u2019s not? And where do we go from here? What\u2019s working (and working *really* well): Messaging: Realtors are repeating my pitch *back* to me\u2014thermal imaging, warranties, drone footage, videos in reports. That tells me the brand is landing. Reputation: I\u2019ve got reviews stacking up, and they\u2019re not just \u201cgood\u201d\u2014they\u2019re specific. People mention how thorough, professional, and calm I was. That\u2019s the goal. Referrals: I\u2019ve now gotten multiple clients through past clients and past Realtors. That\u2019s the beginning of real momentum. Cash Flow: I\u2019ve paid myself, covered my expenses, and even built a small emergency fund. It\u2019s not \u201cretire early\u201d money, but it\u2019s real and growing. Where I\u2019ve stumbled (and where I still need work): Consistency in outreach: I know I need 42 Realtor meetings a month. Some weeks I crush it. Some I coast. Coasting = no pipeline. Follow-ups: I\u2019ve left a few warm leads hanging. Not because I forgot, but because I let busy days become a reason to delay. Time blocking: I\u2019m still too reactive with my calendar. If I don\u2019t block time for outreach, admin, and even thinking\u2014I end up feeling behind. Where to spend marketing dollars (and where not to): What\u2019s worth it: Realtor events & happy hours: Small sponsorships = face time + visibility. Targeted print materials: Leave-behinds that actually reflect the brand (not clip art junk). Website SEO help: Not flashy, but long-term gold. I\u2019m finally showing up for \u201c[my city] home inspector.\u201d What\u2019s not: Lead-gen services that promise the moon: They drain money and give me mismatched clients. Generic digital ads: Without targeting or strategy, they\u2019re a black hole. The biggest lesson so far: Doing the work isn\u2019t enough. You have to *direct* the work. That means knowing what matters most and protecting time for it. Systems help. So does coaching. But ultimately, it\u2019s on me to stay focused when the distractions pile up. The franchise edge I feel most grateful for right now: I\u2019ve been spared 100+ painful mistakes because I had someone to call before guessing. Pricing guidance, messaging help, tool recommendations\u2014it\u2019s all added up to momentum I never could\u2019ve built alone this fast. What\u2019s next: structure and scale My goal for the next 26 weeks: lock in structure. Sharpen my daily\/weekly rhythm. Build consistency in outreach, delivery, and systems. Then? Look at scaling. First hire. Bigger reach. And maybe\u2014finally\u2014some margin in the calendar to think like a CEO. What I\u2019ll keep doing (without question): Build slowly. Market clearly. Deliver thoroughly. And never pretend I\u2019ve got it all figured out. Because the truth is\u2014I\u2019m halfway in, and just getting warmed up. \u2192 Next up: Week 27: I Hit My Monthly Revenue Goal. Here\u2019s How. \u2190 Catch the resource that saved me dozens of mistakes: Week 25: The Most Valuable Franchise Resource So Far Thinking about starting your own business? Check out this franchise opportunity.","datePublished":"2025-07-10","dateModified":"2025-07-10","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/#Person","name":"Kloc Curtis","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/author\/curtis\/","identifier":6,"description":"Curtis Kloc is a U.S. Navy veteran and seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in business development, inspections, and technical systems. He has built and sold multiple six- and seven-figure home inspection and environmental services companies, including HERO Inspections & Environmental and Elite Analysis. Curtis is the founder of Inspections Over Coffee, a nationally expanding franchise known for its white-glove service, inspector training systems, and streamlined operational workflows.\r\n\r\nWith deep roots in nuclear engineering from his time as a Machinist Mate and Engineering Laboratory Technician aboard two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, Curtis brings unmatched precision and discipline to every business he runs. He is certified and licensed in home inspection, mold assessment, asbestos inspection, and environmental testing, and is a member of NACHI since 2006. Curtis now leads AI automation initiatives through Nexation.ai, helping businesses eliminate busywork and refocus on what matters most\u2014client relationships, growth, and results.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1630069397452.webp","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Person","name":"Curtis Kloc","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/site-logo.png","width":512,"height":512}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/week-26-home-inspector-franchisee-journey.png","url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/week-26-home-inspector-franchisee-journey.png","height":736,"width":1312},"url":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/week-26-halfway-in-whats-working-whats-not-and-whats-next\/","about":["Uncategorized"],"wordCount":587,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWeek 26 \u2013 Halfway In: What's Working, What\u2019s Not, and What\u2019s NextSix months in, here\u2019s what I know for sure:I\u2019ve got some wins under my belt. I\u2019ve got a few bruises. I\u2019ve got a little money in the bank\u2014and more clarity than I\u2019ve ever had about what it takes to build a real business from scratch.This week felt like a natural pause. A halftime huddle. A chance to look up from the daily grind and ask: What\u2019s working? What\u2019s not? And where do we go from here?What\u2019s working (and working *really* well):  Messaging: Realtors are repeating my pitch *back* to me\u2014thermal imaging, warranties, drone footage, videos in reports. That tells me the brand is landing.  Reputation: I\u2019ve got reviews stacking up, and they\u2019re not just \u201cgood\u201d\u2014they\u2019re specific. People mention how thorough, professional, and calm I was. That\u2019s the goal.  Referrals: I\u2019ve now gotten multiple clients through past clients and past Realtors. That\u2019s the beginning of real momentum.  Cash Flow: I\u2019ve paid myself, covered my expenses, and even built a small emergency fund. It\u2019s not \u201cretire early\u201d money, but it\u2019s real and growing.Where I\u2019ve stumbled (and where I still need work):  Consistency in outreach: I know I need 42 Realtor meetings a month. Some weeks I crush it. Some I coast. Coasting = no pipeline.  Follow-ups: I\u2019ve left a few warm leads hanging. Not because I forgot, but because I let busy days become a reason to delay.  Time blocking: I\u2019m still too reactive with my calendar. If I don\u2019t block time for outreach, admin, and even thinking\u2014I end up feeling behind.Where to spend marketing dollars (and where not to):What\u2019s worth it:  Realtor events & happy hours: Small sponsorships = face time + visibility.  Targeted print materials: Leave-behinds that actually reflect the brand (not clip art junk).  Website SEO help: Not flashy, but long-term gold. I\u2019m finally showing up for \u201c[my city] home inspector.\u201dWhat\u2019s not:  Lead-gen services that promise the moon: They drain money and give me mismatched clients.  Generic digital ads: Without targeting or strategy, they\u2019re a black hole.The biggest lesson so far:Doing the work isn\u2019t enough. You have to *direct* the work. That means knowing what matters most and protecting time for it. Systems help. So does coaching. But ultimately, it\u2019s on me to stay focused when the distractions pile up.The franchise edge I feel most grateful for right now:I\u2019ve been spared 100+ painful mistakes because I had someone to call before guessing. Pricing guidance, messaging help, tool recommendations\u2014it\u2019s all added up to momentum I never could\u2019ve built alone this fast.What\u2019s next: structure and scaleMy goal for the next 26 weeks: lock in structure. Sharpen my daily\/weekly rhythm. Build consistency in outreach, delivery, and systems. Then? Look at scaling. First hire. Bigger reach. And maybe\u2014finally\u2014some margin in the calendar to think like a CEO.What I\u2019ll keep doing (without question):Build slowly. Market clearly. Deliver thoroughly. And never pretend I\u2019ve got it all figured out. Because the truth is\u2014I\u2019m halfway in, and just getting warmed up.\u2192 Next up: Week 27: I Hit My Monthly Revenue Goal. Here\u2019s How.\u2190 Catch the resource that saved me dozens of mistakes: Week 25: The Most Valuable Franchise Resource So FarThinking about starting your own business? Check out this franchise opportunity.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Week 26 \u2013 Halfway In: What’s Working, What\u2019s Not, and What\u2019s Next","item":"https:\/\/homeinspectionsovercoffee.com\/week-26-halfway-in-whats-working-whats-not-and-whats-next\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]