When I started that first business at the age of 11, my wise old grandmother taught me that “help” is the second most powerful word in the English language, right behind “love” and right in front of “free.” I’ve lived that throughout my life. I love to help, believing that if one is willing to help, the monetary rewards will take care of themselves. That has proven to be true throughout my life.

As a former real estate agent a few decades ago, I’m a firm believer that a home inspector is crucial to happy buyers and, in the long term, happy sellers and real estate agents. To that end, I believe in working with everyone to solve problems. After all, there is a seller willing to sell to a buyer who is willing to buy, and there are typically two real estate agents who are trying their best to make it all happen to everyone’s satisfaction.

Then along comes the home inspector documenting any variety of conditions and problems. I believe in helping everyone understand what that documentation means, even if it is the documentation of a different home inspector. So if readers here have questions, or can’t reach their home inspector, know that I answer my phones 24/7 and you can always email me.

I grew up in a large, lower middle-class family, so we did everything ourselves, resulting in me becoming a Jack-of-all-trades, which is perfect for the roll of a home inspector. As I like to tell my Clients, “I’m a home inspector. What that means is that I’m a generalist, not an expert. I know something about everything but everything about nothing.” That gets a chuckle, helps set expectations, and helps establish rapport with everyone involved.

Along with real estate, my avocations include photography, landscaping (especially xeriscaping), music (as both a listener and a performer), history, nature, trains, sports, and travel. I guess really one could say that I simply love life (note that “life” is another four-letter word!).

I don’t know everything, and I enjoy finding out what I don’t know. I am well-versed in using my personal library, my local libraries, and the Internet to find answers.