After working in the fields of physics for 10 years and information systems for 17 years, Will decided he was in need of a change. With no prior experience as a professional tradesman (although he had worked construction in high school, and rehabbed some of the rental buildings he and his wife owned), he made the career shift to home inspection in his mid-50s. Bored by the monotony of office life, he now enjoys being his own boss and the endless variety of clients and homes. In a mere five years in the inspection business, Will has managed to accomplish a great deal – he teamed up with colleague John McKenna to write a course on thermal imaging for InterNACHI members, and is currently creating a more detailed, technically-oriented version of that course. He helped organize inspectors in Illinois and provide them with much-needed state-mandated Continuing Education courses so they can be certified by the state. Just six miles from ASHI’s headquarters, Will manages to compete with well-established chapters and offer instruction that, in his opinion, is far more informative and inexpensive than anything else on the market.

Will believes that, above all, it is important for home inspectors to be professional. To him, this means that their primary goal should be to serve their clients, not themselves. “Anything I put out, I get back,” he says, while reflecting on the amount of work he has gained through honest and generous business practices. He also allows people who are new to the business to ride along with him and observe real inspections for free. He maintains close ties with other Chicago-area inspectors who he views as colleagues, rather than competitors. Will’s experiences show how hard work and professionalism can guide you to success, no matter what you’re doing.

 

 

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