This business idea may be just right for you if you are knowledgeable about home health issues such as allergens, toxins, air quality, safety, using eco-friendly cleaning products and more.
Everyone considers the home to be "home sweet home". But nowadays pollution has made many houses the lurking place of hidden health dangers such as dust mites, allergens, chemical vapors, and toxic molds.
These pollutants can make the people in the house ill, and prevent them from getting better.
By becoming a healthy home consultant you can help people rid their home of these pollutants, and educate them about what is needed to provide a quality living atmosphere for themselves and their families.
When offering your services, you should be able to look for and recognize all the potential hazards in a house.
Besides air quality issues, you should also show your clients a fire escape plan if they live in an apartment or multiple story building, and include any needed steps for fire prevention.
You should have sufficient knowledge to know where there is no or low airflow in the house and warn people of the hazards of drinking water directly from the faucet.
Asthma and many forms of allergies are triggered by mold spores, pet fur, and dust mites.
So you can advise people on how to lower these pollutants, especially if they are building or remodeling and can use low or non-toxic materials so there is better ventilation in the house.
The less airflow there is in the house, the more the tendency of these triggers aggravating humans and animals. Where there is no ventilation, the house may get too damp to live in.
This in turn encourages lead paint flaking and peeling, mold growth, and facilitates infestations by cockroaches and many other insects.
Mold grows on many building and decorating materials, like sheet rock paper backing, carpet, upholstery, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, insulation, and around standing water.
Some forms of mold can even kill. So, it is better to advise the ultra sensitive to use non-toxic materials in the house like ceramic tiles, stainless steel countertops, natural stones and woods and low shag rugs.
Make sure that the house has its alarms maintained regularly. Radon, smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors have to be functioning well.
Educate your clients about using non-toxic cleaners in the house, as some cleaning agents and pesticides emit volatile organic compounds that may cause respiratory and neurological conditions, including cancer.
Check gas ranges, and any other appliances in the home using natural gas, to insure they are in good working condition.
If not working properly, excessive carbon monoxide is in the home. And be sure to stress that the most important safety issue is maintaining a clean home.
Tell the client that pet dander and dust is dangerous for asthma sufferers and children.
There are so many homemakers unaware of all these precautions. You could offer your services and make their houses safer to live in.
And this business idea is something you can develop and educate yourself about through lots of research and reading.
There are many sources online, and some quick Google searches about this subject will turn up a volume of information to get you started.
I also recommend the books showcased on this page as quality resources to help you get started to.
To know how much to charge for your services you would need to work out a fee schedule based on the consulting time involved, and depending on the size of the house, the amount of work you would have to do to make the house safe for the homeowners to live in.
One of the best ways to market this business idea would be to connect with alternative health professionals.
Acupuncturists, homeopaths, massage therapists, etc., would all be open to recommending you to their clients who may have health issues being aggravated by problems with their homes.
You can also use traditional forms of marketing such as advertising your services through pamphlets, flyers, or ads in the newspaper.
Once you get a few satisfied happy clients, they themselves will vouch for you and give your reference to friends. Offer them a gift or discount if they do.
You can also offer your consulting services to builders and architects to help them build healthier, safer and more eco-friendly homes too. And participate in home shows and health fairs in your area.
And it would be a good idea to
build a website
with helpful information, tips and advice about healthy homes.
You could also do free community education classes, and write articles for local publications to help establish yourself as the local “healthy home expert”.
This will help build your credibility and give you and your business exposure.
This is one of those small business ideas that will become more in demand as people become more aware of the effect that toxins and chemicals in their homes have on their health and the health of their family members.
And it's a business that taps into the growing trend for environmentally friendly living and consuming.
So if you know all about safer and healthier houses, why not spread your knowledge to make your neighborhood, and the world, a healthier place to live!
