Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Eye on Your Home is a Second Home Property Management Company for homes in North Carolina, and they are now looking to leave a national footprint. The company is currently looking for franchisees throughout the United States. This is the essential home business — not only can you work from home, but you will also be working with other people’s homes. But here’s something unique about Eye on Your Home: the owner, Melissa Rulli, is looking for extraordinary women to become a part of the company. Rulli is looking for strong, confident women to take her company to a higher level through franchising. We had the pleasure of speaking with Melissa about Eye on Your Home and her passion to inspire and motivate women through entrepreneurship opportunities.
What is the name of your company?
Eye On Your Home
How many franchises do you currently run? Company owned units?
Currently, there are two territories. One company owned unit and one franchised unit.
Please explain your background (before creating this company)?
I owned a restaurant for three years then a family roofing company for 11 years. After getting divorced, I became a licensed realtor for 2 Caldwell Bankers. Then, I got a job as a residential property manager for 18 months — but did not like the negativity of the tenants or that company. After that, I realized that my location in West North Carolina was the 9th largest area for second home owners with no tenants that needed that same support — to keep their homes safe and maintained. Shortly after, Eye on Your Home was born — this was over 8 years ago.
What made you create this company?
Having grateful owners who need my support is so fulfilling. This is something that I would jump hurdles and do back flips for.
What ALL services does Eye on Your Home provide for people who bring you all onboard?
We perform a wide array of services including: Home Watch, Concierge Services, Estate Management, Real Estate Maintenance and Cleaning Service. They all offered as support to owners of a Vacant Home.
What can a franchisee expect to learn once coming onboard?
They will receive training on how Eye On Your Home is ran on a complete level. They will have a business to start working within 3 weeks. This includes accounting set up, company website integration, in person lessons on all factors (from the correct vendors to billing an owner to support). They will also receive hands on marketing support. Once a franchisee is up and working, they will mentored weekly.
Who is your ideal client? What are their qualities?
With clients, they should second home owners. But, honestly, anyone who owns a home will get our support. We get homes sell ready, move-in ready. This is for estate support, local owners, and vacation rentals by owners.
Please list out characteristics on your ideal franchisee.
A woman in transition who wants to own her own business — she would also need to respects and appreciate the mentor/protege relationship of a franchisee system. She should have the strength and skills needed to own a business, including: great work ethic, confidence, organized, a task manager, a strong networker, communicator, optimistic, honest and dependable for owners. A woman with self-confidence.
What type of background should a franchisee have?
Having a real estate license is great but not required — as it only allows for them to make referral fees in certain situations. They should also have an understanding on logistics. They need to have natural people skills, efficiency for task management, be trainable and open to creativity.
Why do you prefer women franchisees over their male counterparts?
We are the “Mom” of the home. Our attention to detail and efficiency is just stronger. We tend to have stronger relationship skills and this job is all about the connection. Our networking and connecting is strong and needed to grow this support for clients.
Can you please how the average process works with someone becoming a franchisee? What are the normal steps? How long does it take?
Yes, they would have an initial conversation with my franchising team to make sure they are a serious interested prospect. If so, they would be scheduled to have a phone conversation with me. We will chat about the whole concept, income flows and expectations. I will email them some materials for them to review. If they are still interested, we then set up a discovery day to meet in person and talk deeper to making sure they are a good fit for me and Eye on Your Home. If the meeting goes well, I will email them legal documents for them to review for 15 days. Once approved, we sign the contracts, they pay the franchising fee and they will own their territory. This whole process could happen with a month’s time.
Please describe your training or onboarding process for franchisees?
Once the documents are signed and the franchising fee paid, we then set up training. They will initially be set up with my CFO of Operations to create a legal business entity. Depending on their location, I will go to them or they will come to me for two weeks of training. This can be done in person or over the phone. From there, we will schedule a few calls a week to support the tasks that they will be given. We will also connect weekly to support their efforts to keep their business and territory growing and successful.
What makes Eye on Your Home the perfect home business? Can people run the franchise by using their home as an office/main quarters?
Eye on Your Home is a fabulous home business. Of course, they can use their home office. All they need is a desk, car, phone and computer to be successful. Nothing else needed. This is a flexible system that fits into their life. You can set your own hours (most people go the Monday-Friday, nine to five route). Normally, we try not to work weekends unless it is an emergency.
What made North Carolina your main hub? Where do you plan to expand next? What are your preferred markets?
The concept was born here in North Carolina because this area is abundant in second home owners — it is the 9th highest location in America. We need 16 territories here alone — not to mention nationally. My exposure is nationally but my main focus is from North Carolina to the end of Florida. This is because the abundance here, primarily comes from Florida, South Carolina and Georgia. As far as heading west, Colorado, Texas, Ohio and Michigan are up there as well. The first plan is to have the support on both sides of the second home owner’s homes. For example: my Miami client who has a second home here in Biltmore Park/Arden, North Carolina will Eye on Your Home support the home in North Carolina and then support the home in Miami. That will complete the proof of concept and support that we desire. That same concept will be the plan nationally. Second home owners, for the most part, stay on either the East or West coast and go from North to South, not East to West.
Where do you see the brand in one year? Five years?
I see the concept and need being recognized by more and more women! I see them getting excited that this is an opportunity to work from home — and to bring in a substantial income. They will make money yet they will be in a positive setting. They will also have a career that’s extremely flexible and a team that’s supportive.
