Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Jensen.
Hi Brandi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My husband and I started this business 9 years ago. At that time, we had many years of experience in the automotive industry, which gave us a unique perspective about the used car buying process. We noticed that countless people were buying cars they thought were well maintained and paying top dollar for them. But they found out afterward that their perfect car needed thousands in repairs in order to be a safe and dependable vehicle. So, we established On-Site Inspections to provide unbiased findings and an expert opinion before the purchase of a used vehicle.
We knew we had to make it convenient, it had to be thorough, and it had to be a fast turnaround; so we made it mobile! It was difficult at first because most of Utah hadn’t heard of a pre-purchase inspection before, and we had to explain over and over that we don’t profit by selling a used car or by selling work on any vehicle – in fact, we explained that we can help save money by giving negotiation points or steering someone away from a lemon. We started part-time while trying to make ends meet, but now we are able to dedicate all our time as a family business thanks to self-marketing, word of mouth, and hard work.
For now, it’s still just the two of us doing every inspection, and I answer the phone and personally talk to every customer; because of this I know that we are providing the highest quality and best service possible.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been, and continue to be, many challenges! A few of the biggest that come to mind are;
The biggest hurdle has been educating the market on why they should care about a pre-purchase inspection. A vehicle is usually the second largest purchase people make, and the condition of that vehicle should matter! We have tried all kinds of things from gorilla marketing, billboards, traditional and online marketing, and much more; but in the end it’s only helpful if the population knows that they should have a used vehicle inspected before they buy it, especially if they expect it to be safe and reliable.
Another issue has been pushback (which the nicest form of saying it) from the dealerships; we understand that potentially loosing a sale can be upsetting, but we come from a mindset that the vehicle should be in great condition or otherwise priced accordingly.
Yet another challenge has been growing the business. Hiring an employee has proven to be very difficult and is still something we’re struggling to execute.
As you know, we’re big fans of On-Site Inspections. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
On-Site Inspections is the only established mobile used vehicle inspection service locally operated in Salt Lake City; and we are known for being intensely thorough. Our certified mechanics travel around northern Utah to any location, equipped with all the necessary tools to thoroughly inspect any used vehicle and provide the most comprehensive condition report on the market. Most other pre-purchase inspections don’t include everything, and we do! We test drive every vehicle, we including a CARFAX report and run the VIN through the database for open safety recalls; we also inspect the vehicle for body work and structural damage, we get under the vehicle to check for leaks and other mechanicals, and much much more.
We make the process easy and convenient; literally all it takes is a call or scheduling online at www.onsiteinspecting.com. We have the experience and knowhow with over 20 years experience, and inspect all types of vehicles on a weekly basis from 1940’s wood bodied vehicles, to modern day super cars, and everything in between.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
It was a big risk to start On-Site Inspections because we are talking about our full household income. I had just graduated from the University of Utah with my Bachelors in Business Administration and Sean was working full-time as a mechanic. We mitigated the risk by having him continuing to work and do the inspections part-time, until we found it to be too difficult and we took the leap. There are many ‘risks’ that need to be taken if we want to continue to grow, and that’s just part of business; but we tend to drag our feet on those risks for far too long.
Pricing:
- The price of our inspection is determined by the type of vehicle and the location
- A pre-purchase inspection will often save money on a used vehicle purchase
- Our inspections start at just $139, but most often fall between $169 – $229
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onsiteinspecting.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onsiteinspections
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnSiteinspecting
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@onsiteinspections
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/on-site-inspections-salt-lake-city-3
