Embarking on your career as a freelance PEB (Energy Performance of Buildings) or EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) inspector in Belgium is exciting but a common challenge looms large: how do you book that first paying assignment when you have no track record?  

In this article we unpack actionable, low-cost marketing and networking strategies to help you win your first clients. We also explain how the platform ExpertOps can accelerate this journey by enabling a professional web profile, service-packages, and a seamless booking calendar that gives clients confidence to book you. 

1. Define your value proposition 

Before you embark on outreach, you need to be clear on what you offer and to whom. As summarized in recent freelancer-guides: “Refine your unique selling point (USP)…the easier it is for prospects to see what sets you apart, the faster it is for the right ones to find you.” 

For a new PEB/EPC inspector this means: 

• Identify your niche (residential landlords in Brussels, non-residential units in Flanders, small landlords in Wallonia). 

• Sum up your promise: e.g., “Fast PEB reports for Brussels rentals” or “EPC non-residential under 1 000 m² in Flanders”. 

• Ensure your messaging is simple, credible and client-focussed: phrase the offering in terms of what the client gets (compliance, peace of mind, rental readiness) rather than what you do. 

Once your USP is clear, it needs to appear consistently on your website, LinkedIn profile, portfolio and service-packages. This aligns with advice such as “Start with a professional website or portfolio and build a strong online presence.”  

ExpertOps allows you to build a professional web presence through a profile that includes your credentials, inspection packages, availability calendar and booking link. Having this in place reduces client friction and professionalises your offering. 

2. Tap your existing network and ask for referrals 

When you’re new to the market, one of the fastest-moving approaches is to leverage your existing contacts rather than rely solely on cold outreach. As one consultant guide puts it: 

“The fastest way to secure your first client is to tap directly into your existing network.”  

Steps you can take: 

1. Reach out to former colleagues, building-managers, facility service providers you’ve worked with and let them know you are now offering inspection services. 

2. Ask specifically: “Do you know any landlords or property managers who may need an EPC/PEB inspection?” Direct referrals create trust. 

3. Offer a small discount or an introductory price to your first clients, the aim is to win the first booking and use that success to build testimonials. 

ExpertOps supports this by capturing your clients neatly: once you win your first job, the platform enables you to populate a client-portfolio and link bookings to that client data by making it easier to showcase past work (even if just a handful) and send automated follow-ups or referral requests.

3. Position yourself 

Finding your first client means being visible in the right places and delivering the right message. Here are tactics aligned with recent 2025 freelancer marketing trends: 

1. LinkedIn presence: Use LinkedIn to connect with landlords, property-managers, HVAC service companies, real-estate agencies and facility-managers in Belgium.  

It’s not just about a passive profile, you should join relevant groups, engage in discussions and share helpful content.  

According to the guide “How to find clients on LinkedIn in 2025”, “Focus on building genuine connections first. Once you’ve established credibility, people will be more receptive to learning about your services.” 

2. Local networking events: Attend property-management forums, landlord associations, real-estate trade events in your region (Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia).  

Networking is less about handing out cards and more about building relationships: “Networking is leaving conversations open-ended, telling others what you do and being open to opportunities.” 

3. Partner-referral outreach: Identify complementary service providers (HVAC installers, building-managers, property-administrators) and propose a referral partnership: when they service a building requiring an inspection, you receive the lead. This early-stage collaboration can circumvent the “no credibility” barrier. 

ExpertOps aids visibility by allowing you to embed your booking link on your website or share it directly in LinkedIn posts or email outreach. Prospects can then instantly view your available slots and book, rather than waiting for a back-and-forth email chain. 

4. Use content, proof and testimonials to build credibility 

Even with minimal past work, you can build credibility through smart content and visible proof of your professional status. 

• Create mini-case stories or blog posts on your website about inspection best-practices, changes in regional regulations, or tips for landlords to improve energy performance. This positions you as knowledgeable and helpful. Articles show you engaged and authoritative. 

• Display your certification credentials, regional accreditation and any memberships in professional associations. For early work, ask for testimonial quotes from your first clients, even if they’re friends or supportive contacts, and publish them on your website and LinkedIn. 

• Sheet your inspection offering into service-packages with clear deliverables and pricing. According to freelance-marketing advice: “Choose the right niche… Use powerful keywords… Build a portfolio.”  

On ExpertOps you can define your packages (e.g., “Residential Brussels quick PEB”, “Non-residential Flanders full EPC”) and publish them in your client-facing profile with pricing and booking link making your service instantly tangible. 

5. Make it easy for clients to book 

For a new certifier, every bit of friction reduces conversion. The harder you make it for a landlord to book you, the higher the drop-off. Here’s how you simplify:

• Online calendar: Show available slots for inspections, allow clients to pick their preferred time and let the system send automatic confirmations and reminders. 

• Clear service description: On your booking page show exactly what the inspection includes, estimated duration, deliverables, price, next step. 

• Simple payment terms: Include transparent pricing and easy payment options (invoice pre-visit or post-visit) so clients don’t hesitate.

• Automated follow-up: After booking, send an email or portal link with pre-visit checklist, client expectations, and any required documents (owner contact, building data). 

• Referral request: After you complete the job, ask the client if they know any other landlords who need inspection services and provide them with a simple referral link or discount code. 

ExpertOps is designed for precisely this user-flow: your web profile shows packages, integrates a booking calendar, generates confirmation emails, links to your invoicing and collects necessary inspection data. By eliminating manual scheduling and back-and-forth emails, you maximise the chance a prospect converts quickly. 

6. Offer discounted/introductory pricing and pilot projects 

Since you are new and lack a large portfolio, consider offering an introductory rate or pilot inspection service to build your case-history. This doesn’t mean undervaluing yourself, but presenting it as a “founding client bundle” and emphasising that you will deliver the same professional service as any established inspector. 

By doing 3-5 lower-cost jobs early, you gather testimonials, refine your workflow and increase your confidence. Then you can raise your rate to market-comparable levels. 

Freelancer marketing research underlines that new freelancers often struggle simply because “people don’t know you’re there”, visibility and credibility require actionable early work. 

While you deliver those early jobs, leverage ExpertOps to document them, generate reports automatically, send invoices timely and maintain audit-ready records. This professionalism helps you treat each job as a case-study for your future marketing.

7. Track metrics, iterate and refine your process 

Getting the first booking is just the start. To turn this into a sustainable business you should track simple key metrics and refine your approach: 

• Number of leads per month (networking contacts, referrals, website inquiries). 

• Number of bookings per month. 

• Conversion rate: leads à bookings. 

• Time between inquiry and booking. 

• Client satisfaction / referral generation. 

• Each month review: which tactics delivered the lead? LinkedIn post, partner referral, event conversation? Double down on what worked and reduce what didn’t. 

On ExpertOps you can use built-in dashboards to monitor bookings, client pipelines, invoices and repeat business. This helps you identify which marketing channel produced the fastest booking and optimise accordingly. 

8. Build momentum and expand your reach 

Once you have your first bookings and testimonials, expand your marketing and networking: 

• Ask satisfied clients to refer you, word-of-mouth is powerful in property sectors. 

• Write short articles or LinkedIn posts about change in regional regulations (Brussels minimum rental standards, Flanders EPC NR expansions) and highlight your viewpoint as an expert.

• Collaborate with property-managers and HVAC service companies to become their preferred inspector. 

• Consider creating a newsletter for landlords (“What you must know about EPC for rental 2026”) to stay top-of-mind. 

• Raise your pricing slightly as your credibility grows, and gradually reduce introductory rates. 

The goal: shift from “I’m new and wondering if any bookings will come” to “I’m becoming recommended and chosen for my efficiency and professionalism.”

9. Conclusion 

Securing your first paid inspection assignment as a PEB/EPC certifier is a significant milestone but it need not be daunting. By clarifying your offer, tapping into your existing network, being visible where your clients are, simplifying the booking experience, and tracking your process, you position yourself to win that first booking sooner than you may expect. 

And by leveraging ExpertOps as your operational backbone which means hosting your service packages online, enabling instant booking, automating reminders, linking invoicing and capturing client history, you reduce the administrative drag that often derails early freelancers. 

Every seasoned inspector was once in your shoes. By following these practical steps, staying consistent, and investing a little effort in marketing and networking, you’ll move quickly from “new-inspector” to “trusted professional.” Get out there, make the first bookings count and let ExpertOps help you build your reputation. 

Bibliography 

1. Jalees S. (17 Sept 2025). “How to get clients as a freelancer: 7 proven tips.” Wise.com. https://wise.com/gb/blog/how-to-get-clients-as-a-freelancer 

2. “How to get your first consulting client (without ads or big budgets).” MelisaLibermanBlog, 4 Apr 2025. https://www.melisaliberman.com/blog/how-to-get-your-first-consulting-client  

3. “A simple guide to marketing for new freelancers.” TheFreelanceFairytale, 6 days ago (2025). https://www.thefreelancefairytale.com/a-simple-guide-to-marketing-for-new-freelancers/  

4. “How to find clients on LinkedIn in 2025 – the ultimate guide for freelancers.” SolidGigs, 3 Apr 2025. https://solidgigs.com/blog/how-to-find-clients-on-linkedin-in-2025-the-ultimate-guide-for-freelancers/  

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