Sep. 15, 2006 Edition

Why Do You Work?

Convention keynote speaker says your work should serve your life By Laura Collins Michael Gerber What attracted you to HomeVestors? Whether you joined HVA as a franchisee, or you're an associate of a franchisee, or an employee of HVA, there's a good chance that you made your decision because you believed HomeVestors would improve your quality of life. HVA believes the ideal reason for participating in any business is to improve your life. That's why our Vision statement says, "Transforming the Real Estate industry so that everyone we touch wins!" It's a noble and desirable goal, but the big question is how to achieve it. What can you do to transform your life and those around you through your business? Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth and keynote speaker at the Lone Star Legacy: HomeVestors 10th Anniversary Convention, offers a practical philosophy and plan that has changed 50,000-plus businesses in every industry. His revolutionary strategy is based on this fundamental concept: "Once you recognize that the . . . primary purpose of your business is to serve your life, you can then go to work on your business, rather than in it." - Michael Gerber, The E-Myth HomeVestors' CEO and President, Dr. John Hayes, a student of Gerber's training, says, "I've never forgotten the importance of working 'on' it rather than 'in' it. I am sure that not following that principle is the reason most franchisees (in any concept) struggle, and some eventually fail. If every HVA franchisee spent more time working 'on' the business and not 'in' it, there would be fewer transfers and terminations at HVA. Unfortunately, it's not easy to get that message across to people—Gerber has been trying to do it for years." Gerber will conduct a 3-hour seminar on Dec. 1, and deliver the closing address during Saturday's General Session. "At convention," Hayes says, "I hope every franchisee will understand the value of 'on' it vs. 'in' it and choose to work on it! Those who make that decision will build HVA franchises that exceed their greatest expectations and fulfill their lives in ways that they previously only imagined." As for the convention, it pays to register early! Download the convention registration form now on the Franchise Owners page of HomeVestors.com. . . . Please note that Michael Gerber's 3-hour workshop on Friday morning of convention will be open only to franchisees. His General Session speech is open to all attendees.

Sale Sets Up Franchisee To Sail

Dominic Bianco gets ready for his 'golden years' By Monica Feid Dominic Bianco Home, sweet home...sweet second home...and sweet sailboat. That's basically how Dominic Bianco sums up life after HVA. Thanks to his tenure as an HVA franchisee running Zapata Properties, Phoenix, AZ, Bianco said he was able to cash out much earlier than he expected and enjoy the road to his golden years in style. At 64, Bianco sold his franchise for $340,000, proving that the brand and the franchise system were all they promised to be and more. (His was one of four franchises in the same market to sell for approximately the same money this summer). "I wasn't ready for retirement when I bought the franchise," he said. "But (circumstances) allowed me to retire early." Having operated the business for three years, Bianco was the sixth franchise to open in the Phoenix market, which now supports 12 locations and huge brand awareness. He bought a lot of houses in that time, and considers joining HVA one of the smartest decisions he ever could have made. When he first heard about HVA through a friend, Bianco was living in Reno, NV, and trying to buy distressed houses in an incredibly strong market. Business was tough. But the idea behind HVA attracted him. When he met HomeVestors' founder, the late Ken D'Angelo, it was all the inspiration he needed to become a franchisee. There was just one catch. The franchise network hadn't expanded into Nevada yet. Instead, there was an opportunity in Phoenix, an area where Bianco had lived for 18 years and where his children and grandchildren still resided. The decision to move back was that simple. "When I relocated, it didn't take me long to fit back into the groove of things," Bianco explained. He opened Zapata Properties and "started buying them deep." Things took off so fast that the former Navy sailor bought a brand new sailboat ordered out of Taiwan in 2003, which now calls San Francisco its port. "I was taking up sailing, loved it and wanted to continue it, but I got sidestepped by making money at HVA," Bianco commented. Today that hard work has paid off. Bianco has purchased a residence in Flagstaff, AZ. He is shopping for a second home in Lake Tahoe. And when he's in neither place, he can be found on his sailboat in San Francisco enjoying what he calls semi-retirement. He may be having some second thoughts about selling, but he said, "You can't be semi-retired and own an HVA franchise. You can't maintain the sales quotas and obligations you have to the business. So I've given that opportunity to someone else to go out and make money." As for his newly-acquired free time, he said he has made plans to sail to Mexico and the Caribbean. "My golden years are a direct result of the efforts I put towards HVA," Bianco said. "I took advantage of an opportunity and we made a lot of money at it." . . . Monica Feid of BizCom Associates handles public relations services for HomeVestors and its franchisees.

Franchisees, Buyers Sharpen Evaluation Skills

Advanced Property Evaluation Workshop expands proficiency By Gregg Stengel Last month, 14 franchisees learned techniques to hone their expertise evaluating houses in the Middle West region during a two-day Advanced Property Evaluation Workshop. "Unique to this region were older homes that date prior to 1900, basements, wood sub-structure, roofing and a variety of evaluation items," said Kent Letterman, who led the workshop. Kent is a member of HVA's Training Team and a Franchise Systems Manager. "Different regions of the country have unique challenges when it comes to evaluating property. We actually went on site to evaluate and tour three different houses unique to that region, along with evaluating comps in those areas." Letterman, Second Eyes evaluator Peter Valavanis, and the franchisees toured three houses in the Milwaukee area by bus. They also drove six comps in their evaluation process. "Besides the normal evaluation items such as basements and alternative heating fuels like heating oil and coal used in the area, we also evaluated how ice and snow damage can literally expand and contract walls," said Letterman. Do you know what's wrong with the plumbing in this picture?   This retaining wall isn't retaining much of anything anymore. "Most of the franchisees that attended have been in the HVA system for less than 18 months, so the workshop was really informative and pertinent to them. The feedback from franchisees was excellent, so we are planning several workshops in other regions." The workshop cost $200 per person, plus travel and lodging. HVA plans another workshop on the East Coast (probably Philadelphia) in February 2007. More information regarding upcoming evaluation workshops will be in future editions of The Vestor’s Voice®. . . . Gregg Stengel is HomeVestors' Marketing Publications Manager and can be reached at 972-761-0046, ext. 189.

Dedicated To The Man We Love!

Ken D'Angelo Training Center christened with ceremony and reception By Gregg Stengel Nearly 100 HomeVestors franchisees, associates, corporate staff, board members, friends, family and Ken D'Angelo Foundation board members witnessed the official dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Ken D'Angelo Training Center on Sept. 13. Attendees enjoyed the ceremony and reception inside the new facilities on the second floor of HVA's corporate office building. Success System Training attendees, HVA staff, local franchisees and Ken D'Angelo's friends and family mingle in the lounge of the new training center.   Cliff Harmon greets fellow HomeVestors Board of Directors member and HVA Vice Chairman Fred Burley. HomeVestors President and CEO Dr. John Hayes spoke to the audience about personal memories of Ken and what he meant to the many people in his life. "We've all been touched by Ken, whether you work here, or you're a franchisee, or you're a vendor or an investor. Ken knew that HomeVestors would continue to grow. Anybody else would have thought, 'This can't be done.' But Ken knew it could be. Ken was about opportunity. He never gave up." The new Ken D'Angelo Training Center was built for franchisee training, eliminating the need for an off-site training room. "We provide better services and better training to our franchisees than we've ever been able to before," said Hayes. "The new training center is just another part of our ongoing dedication to be the best franchisor for our franchise network." Dallas locals Jennifer Raney (Jennifer Raney Investments, left) and Margaret Roan (Meadow Wood Homes) share stories with President and CEO John Hayes.   Guests and staff fill the beautiful Ken D'Angelo Training Center for the dedication ceremony. The most recent class of Success System Training graduates had the unique privilege of graduating as part of the dedication ceremony. The seven new franchises are part of the third class to use the Ken D'Angelo Training Center since the facility opened in late May 2006. . . . Gregg Stengel is HomeVestors' Marketing Publications Manager and can be reached at 972-761-0046, ext. 189.