Why Choose FE Over Home Improvement Sales?

johnfl

New Member
2
So I'm very curious about something...I was planning on getting my insurance license then came across this forum thankfully. From what I can tell, except for a few people on here such as Spurcity, JD, etc. the vast majority of FE Agents live miserable lives. Everyone is constantly searching for lead providers, constantly complaining about charge backs, compliance, and dead beat customers with fleas in their homes, driving a couple hours a day, and again...the never ending marketing costs of $500 to $1,000 per week in direct mail.

WHY? You're obviously good sales people who don't feel intimidated walking into a strangers home to make a sales presentation, which is the biggest hurdle for most sales people. So why would any of you choose to do this when you can go sell kitchen or home remodeling, AC Replacement, even home security for the big alarm companies, and you have zero cost for leads? You have zero charge backs. You never have to search for lead providers or do your own direct mail because the company that you contract with provides your leads and sets appointments for you at no cost, and instead of going through hell for the hope of making $400 to $600 per sale, you make $1,000 to $3,500 per sale for a kitchen/bath remodel job.

I seriously doubt most of you do this because you care so much about the elderly. So my guess is that it's because you feel that being a licensed insurance agent is more of a respectable "profession" then being an independent sales rep for a home improvement company. Am I right?

I'm just really really curious about this only because I have read so many posts and it seems like 97% of agents on here don't make money. Even $100,000 per year selling FE is not that much if 30% goes to leads, and 20% goes to charge backs, and 12% goes to gas, etc.

So why not be a 1099 sales rep and have a large home improvement company book 3 sales appointments for you each day at no cost to you, with gas allowance, and $1,000+ per sale with no charge backs and no complaining customers?
 
So I'm very curious about something...I was planning on getting my insurance license then came across this forum thankfully. From what I can tell, except for a few people on here such as Spurcity, JD, etc. the vast majority of FE Agents live miserable lives. Everyone is constantly searching for lead providers, constantly complaining about charge backs, compliance, and dead beat customers with fleas in their homes, driving a couple hours a day, and again...the never ending marketing costs of $500 to $1,000 per week in direct mail.

WHY? You're obviously good sales people who don't feel intimidated walking into a strangers home to make a sales presentation, which is the biggest hurdle for most sales people. So why would any of you choose to do this when you can go sell kitchen or home remodeling, AC Replacement, even home security for the big alarm companies, and you have zero cost for leads? You have zero charge backs. You never have to search for lead providers or do your own direct mail because the company that you contract with provides your leads and sets appointments for you at no cost, and instead of going through hell for the hope of making $400 to $600 per sale, you make $1,000 to $3,500 per sale for a kitchen/bath remodel job.

I seriously doubt most of you do this because you care so much about the elderly. So my guess is that it's because you feel that being a licensed insurance agent is more of a respectable "profession" then being an independent sales rep for a home improvement company. Am I right?

I'm just really really curious about this only because I have read so many posts and it seems like 97% of agents on here don't make money. Even $100,000 per year selling FE is not that much if 30% goes to leads, and 20% goes to charge backs, and 12% goes to gas, etc.

So why not be a 1099 sales rep and have a large home improvement company book 3 sales appointments for you each day at no cost to you, with gas allowance, and $1,000+ per sale with no charge backs and no complaining customers?


I don't know about all that. But I do know that you can't judge this business by this forum. Most of the successful agents with FEX don't post here at all or they post very little here. Two of them are former home improvement sales guys and they say they would never go back to that. One of them was a very successful home improvement sales guy.

I would take a guess that the ones that can't make it in FE wouldn't make in that arena either. But that's a guess.

I'm sure if there was a home improvement sales forum it would be full of whiners and complainers too.:yes:
 
Not sure how you gather any of this information. I apply little if any effort to getting leads. Fill out an online form through my marketing organization, order a fixed price lead and every Thursday I get as many as I ask for. Chargebacks, cancellations, returns or whatever you call it is just another part of doing business. I am nearly certain there's probably another job I could make similar if not more money at but what I'm doing works great now so I will do it again on Monday.

On track to Issue pay over 200k and walk away post tax and business costs over 100K. That sure beats working 60-80/hrs a week for 75-90k at my last job.

Oh, and I forgot one of the best recruit lines... We work in a field where 10,500 enter our target market via age nearly every day. We sell someone people NEED.
 
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So I'm very curious about something...I was planning on getting my insurance license then came across this forum thankfully. From what I can tell, except for a few people on here such as Spurcity, JD, etc. the vast majority of FE Agents live miserable lives. Everyone is constantly searching for lead providers, constantly complaining about charge backs, compliance, and dead beat customers with fleas in their homes, driving a couple hours a day, and again...the never ending marketing costs of $500 to $1,000 per week in direct mail. WHY? You're obviously good sales people who don't feel intimidated walking into a strangers home to make a sales presentation, which is the biggest hurdle for most sales people. So why would any of you choose to do this when you can go sell kitchen or home remodeling, AC Replacement, even home security for the big alarm companies, and you have zero cost for leads? You have zero charge backs. You never have to search for lead providers or do your own direct mail because the company that you contract with provides your leads and sets appointments for you at no cost, and instead of going through hell for the hope of making $400 to $600 per sale, you make $1,000 to $3,500 per sale for a kitchen/bath remodel job. I seriously doubt most of you do this because you care so much about the elderly. So my guess is that it's because you feel that being a licensed insurance agent is more of a respectable "profession" then being an independent sales rep for a home improvement company. Am I right? I'm just really really curious about this only because I have read so many posts and it seems like 97% of agents on here don't make money. Even $100,000 per year selling FE is not that much if 30% goes to leads, and 20% goes to charge backs, and 12% goes to gas, etc. So why not be a 1099 sales rep and have a large home improvement company book 3 sales appointments for you each day at no cost to you, with gas allowance, and $1,000+ per sale with no charge backs and no complaining customers?


I don't know squat about the home improvement business. Agent in NC contacted me and will be coming on board with me and "THE SQUAD". He's a home improvement guy. Says he doesn't like it anymore and wants to give it a go with FE. My guess will be that I will help train him up enough so that he will NEVER return to the home improvement business again. I'm sure he has some reasons for leaving the HI business.


Each and EVERY business will come with its own struggles. I find it my job to limit the amount of struggles that my agents go through. It is my job to advise them on what kind of leads to work. What filters, if any to use and why. What carriers to use and why. What areas to work. And so on and so forth. TRAINING is undervalued by agents coming into FE so many will fail because they lacked proper training or an upline worth a flip. I see MANY agents whose struggles could have been prevented but they were dead in the water before they ever got going because they picked the wrong upline or IMO.


I advise agents to go on a ride along BEFORE they jump on board to see if it's for them. Another reason is I want my ride along to see that there is $$$ to be made in this business. I want them to see a day in the life of a FE professional. Can they handle the types of homes we visit? Can they stand funky smells?


I don't worry about charge backs or compliance either. I don't mind driving, I turn on Howard Stern and he keeps me entertained all day. Gas is $2, so that's another thing I'm not worried about. My car gets 30 miles to the gallon and my car was only $18,000 so I don't mind driving it to the ground. So your worries are not everyones. I worry about sales and if I do that everything else will take care of itself.


I have no one to answer to except my goals and my wife :)


What can I say, it's a GREAT GIG
 
I don't know about all that. But I do know that you can't judge this business by this forum. Most of the successful agents with FEX don't post here at all or they post very little here. Two of them are former home improvement sales guys and they say they would never go back to that. One of them was a very successful home improvement sales guy.

I would take a guess that the ones that can't make it in FE wouldn't make in that arena either. But that's a guess.

I'm sure if there was a home improvement sales forum it would be full of whiners and complainers too.:yes:

Yep. Because no matter what type of lead you're working, it probably sucks and is merely a place to go (or someone to call).:yes:
 
Most of the guys I know selling home improvement type items such as roofs, windows, alarms etc are working bad hours including nights and weekends. They also drive all over the state for 3 leads a day. Most of them are also heavy drinkers, drug users and chase wild women, not that there's anything wrong with that. They mostly live paycheck to paycheck

I think if your a good salesmen you will make more money in FE and also work less hours that won't include nights or weekends. If your an average salesmen you might be happier selling home improvement. While your sitting in the bar drinking at 3:30 in the afternoon, you can have time to figure out why your not making any money.
 
Most home improvement gigs are a grind (6 days/ wk. plus heavy miles). You have no control or say over where you are sent and who you work with (prospects). Don't forget the ***ing meetings.:arghh: And what if the leads dry up, the off-season (winter, late summer), they hire too many salesmen or the economy crashes? There's a reason you don't see too many old home improvement guys.:yes:
 
You are contracted with insurance companies that have to pay you what you have coming.

Home Improvements "joints" are usually full of thieves that will nickel and dime a salesman to death,steal his referrals,play games and screw him around on pay day.

Is the constant 24 hour a day stress of dealing with dishonest thieves worth being in that business ?

They are in complete control of the salesman.The salesman is depending on leads from the agent and for the joint owner to pay.

The independent insurance agent is in complete control of his game plan to make a living.


Tell me the name of any professional organization that is either formed by or caters to home improvement salesman ?

The only one I know of is Alcoholics Anonymous.

Lol

If you get an insurance license you have an opportunity to grow. You could sell annuities and make 50k a pop,who knows.
 
Everyone is constantly searching for lead providers, constantly complaining about charge backs, compliance, and dead beat customers with fleas in their homes, driving a couple hours a day, and again...the never ending marketing costs of $500 to $1,000 per week in direct mail.

You should follow mr. bcrane, he'll set you straight.

instead of going through hell for the hope of making $400 to $600 per sale, you make $1,000 to $3,500 per sale for a kitchen/bath remodel job.

What's the approx closing ratio and time commitment per sale?

FI annuity sales is north of 6k industry average, but you're not going to sell 5-10 in a week on 1-call closes :1cool:
 
for me, it's the renewal income!!!! I could retire on mine right now at age 51.
Now, I certianly know that income would drop over time. But, when it gets to the right point, i am a goner.
This is the only job that allows for long term income. That i know of
 
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