Home Watch Boot Camp

round, and wind up going out. I have always felt that if only they would have had a better foundation for their business, they would have made it. The original idea for a “Boot Camp” came back in 2010, when Dana Salo called me and asked if he could come and spend a couple of days with me here in South Carolina. Dana lives on Cape Ann which is just north of Boston, and was in the early stages of forming his company. So, Dana came to see me. For two days we talked about every aspect of business that we could think of, while we rode in the truck going to perform Home Watch visits at some of my client’s homes. I showed him how and why I looked at different things in the homes. He asked questions, and I answered - right then, and right there. It was great. And Dana continues to grow his company - and reputation - year after year. A big part of my job with the NHWA has been to mentor companies and give guidance when asked. Every time I was asked about a training program, I explained that the NHWA was built on the sharing of knowledge, and that we learned from each other. But the requests kept coming for in-depth training. New companies were craving it, and novice companies wanted more conversation and hands-on, down in the dirt know-how. And so only because I knew that I had the right people to formulate “Boot Camp”, did I decide that the time was right. So, I called Carl Lorenzini of Homewatch Services, Etc. (Bonita Springs, Florida) and JP Lalonde of Home Watcher LV (Las Vegas, Nevada) and we talked...and talked. I laid out what I had envisioned: One-on-one training, done with no more than one company at a time; we’d physically visit homes and teach at each location. we’d teach HOW a Home Watch visit is properly performed, not what some people thought it was. We would train using the NHWA’s Best Practices and Glossary, and have meaningful, real-life conversations about what the “boot” should know about marketing, invoicing and getting paid, reporting to the client and building a client base; How to negotiate with contractors and vendors. We would help them overcome fears about starting a new business. There is a lot to talk about, and I believe that being one-on-one is the best way to teach. And finally, by holding Boot Camps around the US and Canada, the training will vary to address different climates and locales. Certain things that are crucial to know in South Carolina, mean nothing in Arizona. What is needed in Minneapolis doesn’t necessarily make sense in West Palm Beach., and so on. Carl, JP and I have put a lot of thought and preparation into the curriculum. We now have Home Watch Boot Camp instructors and locations in various regions of the continental United States, and we will be adding locations in Eastern and Western Canada as soon as possible. For a list of instructors and locations, you can visit www.homewatchbootcamp.com/instructors. So why Home Watch Boot Camp? You’ll spend two days, in a one-on-on situation in a location more suited to your own new company, learning the very best curriculum, which has been developed by industry leaders who operate successful Home Watch companies in your region. The training will take place at actual homes so you’ll be “hands on”. Your training will conclude with the NHWA Certified Home Watch Professional certification online exam. You will leave Home Watch Boot Camp knowing what you need to do. And THAT is why Home Watch Boot Camp!

- Jack Luber