Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill Kent.
Bill, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been interested in architecture and buildings. As I grew up, my father, an engineering professor, was always getting me involved with his major home renovation projects. He was always showing me the way things work and how things are put together.
Upon moving to Chicago, I immediately fell in love with its architecture and its variety of buildings. My interest expanded into building sciences, how buildings are put together and the materials used.
After receiving the required education, I took the state home inspection licensing examination. I spent a year training and performing inspections with two veteran home inspectors. Home inspecting requires constant training, since materials are always changing. I receive ongoing continuing education being active with the Northern Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors and other sources
I am a very detail oriented person and love to investigate. Home inspecting requires a certain degree of curiosity and detective work.
The above combined with the desire to help people out before making what will probably be the biggest investment in their life, is why I am a home inspector. It is all about helping people. Helping them to understand the home and its observable issues.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think the marketing is the hardest part of running a business. You can spend a lot of time with marketing. It takes time to get your name out there, establishing relationships. One of the challenges is there are a limited number of places to advertise affordably and effectively, since this event occurs once or twice in a life time for the client. My approach has been using a variety of sources to get referrals. In the internet era of doing things for yourself, having a presence on social medial and internet is a must. Being actively part of professional organizations such as the American Society of Home Inspectors and affiliate groups has helped to establish contacts and relationships.
One constant challenge, but an easy one, is defining the scope of your inspection to the client. Many clients believe that a home inspection is to look at everything, an exhaustive search. Home inspectors report on significant deficiencies of the home’s components and safety concerns. We do not report on cosmetic issues. We cannot see through walls and our inspections are not an exhaustive search. As a result, we are constantly defining the scope at the start of each inspection, so that we achieve success with our clients.
Please tell us about Clearview Home Inspections, Inc.
Clearview Home Inspections, Inc. started about 2 ½ years ago.
We provide a complete home inspection of condominiums, single family homes, and multi-unit buildings. We offer buyer inspections (for clients who are purchasing a property), pre selling inspections (for those who plan to list their home and wish to have an idea of what might come up on an inspection report), and home warrantee inspections (to look at the home before the warrantee expires, so the condition can be fixed). During the inspection, we take pictures of deficiencies or safety concerns and issue a thorough report.
I also provide a service called Recall Check. They get a report within a couple days of the inspection detailing any recalls of the appliances.
Additional services include radon testing and thermal imaging analysis.
Customer service is what sets us apart from others. A lot of home inspectors spend the time going on the home inspection, writing the report, sending out the report, saying “call me if you have any questions”, and then they are off to the next inspection. In most cases, the report should handle what the client needs, however not everyone is familiar with building science terminology (e.g. Lentels, P traps, etc.). I usually touch base with the client after they get their report. The inspection is usually the 2nd time the client has had a chance to see the property. It is an opportunity to educate them about the building (the water, gas, and electrical shutoffs, where the furnace filter is located, and address any concerns).
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I probably would market more aggressively to realtors and lawyers.
Pricing:
- Single Family Homes start at $350 – call for pricing
- Condominiums start at $325 – call for pricing
Contact Info:
- Address: 930 Home Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60304 – Servicing Chicago and suburbs - Website: www.clearviewinspector.com
- Phone: 312-833-2799
- Email: mr.bill.kent@gmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/clearviewchicago/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/clearview-home-inspections-oak-park-6
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