Paul Barraza has been a property inspector since 2007, and started after attending ITA (Inspection Training Associates). While completing the course, he caught the attention of instructor John McComas, which served as a spring board to start an apprenticeship under one of the most well respected home inspectors in the Bay Area. He became an ASHI Certified Inspector (ACI) in 2011 and a Master CREIA Inspector (MCI) in 2017. Paul bought JMC Building Inspections from John McComas in January of 2015.

Paul attended Oregon State University, where he earned a degree in Forestry. It was there that he discovered his love of rock climbing and began his frequent weekend trips to Smith Rock. After graduation, Paul began working for Hornblower Cruises between climbing trips. Eventually, he gained enough experience and earned his 100-ton inland captain’s license.

Eventually, his passion for climbing culminated in a two and a half year road trip around North America in his trusty (and rusty) Volkswagen Westfalia. After the road trip Paul was hired at Berkeley Ironworks, where he eventually worked his way up to General Manager – overseeing one of the largest climbing and fitness facilities in the U.S (at the time). Over the years he has climbed many test pieces, including 5.13 sport routes, v13 boulder problems, and even the 3000′ tall El Capitan in Yosemite.
 

Paul grew up in Kensington, CA and was an active member of Troop 100, eventually earning the Eagle Scout Award. He currently lives with his wife and son in a 1916 Craftsman in Berkeley, and when he is not inspecting or rock climbing, he can be found working on his “fixer-upper.” In 2021, he completed an electrification project to make his house “net zero” – meaning that it makes more energy that it uses.