In the Media -Franchise Canada Magazine

November 2008

"Building Homes & Building Hope"

Home-Alyze is doing its part as a committed partner of Habitat for Humanity.

Home-Alyze's partnership with Habitat for Humanity is a natural fit for the home inspection franchise system. "Habitat for Humanity builds homes across the country for people in need, and our expertise in home inspection can really help the people moving into these homes through educating them on preventative maintenance," says Peter Salmon, Founder and President of Home-Alyze.

In 2000, Salmon was approached by Habitat for Humanity Calgary for assistance in developing a home maintenance manual to give to families moving into Habitat homes.

"I thought the manual sounded a lot like the Home-Alyze manual we give to our customers after a home inspection," says Salmon. "We thought that instead of just giving them the manual, we would come in and spend a few hours doing an inspection of the Habitat house, writing up our report and educating the new owners about looking after a home."

Home-Alyze and Habitat for Humanity Calgary's official partnership began in 2003 and Home-Alyze franchisees have been volunteering their knowledge and expertise at other Habitat affiliates across the country as home inspectors, as Board of Directors members, and even the building of Habitat homes.

"We've had an excellent response from our franchisees," says Salmon. "This is our charity right across the country and we encourage our franchisees to participate at any level in Habitat projects." Salmon himself has served on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Calgary since 2002, as well as on the national Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Canada.

Home inspection volunteers receive a Habitat for Humanity logo on their vans designating them as the official home inspector for the local affiliate. These franchisees help prepare homeowners for the responsibilities they will have when they move into their new Habitat home by touring through with them and explaining how the home works and how to properly maintain it.

Like any Home-Alyze customer, Habitat homeowners who receive a Home-Alyze inspection are able to call the franchisee with questions about home renovations or maintenance for as long as they own their home. This over-the-phone coaching, Salmon says, relieves Habitat office staff from fielding questions and allows them more time to supervise volunteers or plan what needs to be done.

"The success of our company is based on the fact that we care about people and the communities in which we all live," says Salmon. "Habitat for Humanity is a really good fit with us and it's evolving and growing in Canada. Habitat is something we think is credible because a lack of affordable housing is a concern across Canada."

According to Campaign 200, a national anti-poverty coalition, this growing concern affects 1.5 million Canadians who currently live in unaffordable housing that is overcrowded and substandard.

Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada has provided over 1,200 homes through its 72 affiliates (local offices) across the country to families living in inadequate housing. Families are able to purchase their homes with no-interest and no-down payment mortgages an each homeowner invests 500 hours of their own labor, called "sweat equity", into the building of their house and the houses of others.

"Habitat homeowners have generally never been involved in homeownership in their lives," says Andrew MacLachlan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity Calgary. "They require much more to help them understand the importance of home maintenance, and Home-Alyze has been great in educating Habitat homeowners on how they can maintain their investment."

MacLachlan adds that partnering with Home-Alyze provides Habitat Calgary greater credibility with funders and that the franchise system often serves as an advocate in the communities in which they do business.

"It's a community responsibility," says Salmon. "The heart of our business is to provide families with a safe and secure place to live. We're living in the community, so it's appropriate to give back. We like to do our part."