Finding Silver Linings During a Challenging Year
Insights from Home Inspectors

Creativity has been a driving force for many service businesses throughout the past year, and the home inspection sector was no different. To gain insight on how ASHI members have pivoted in 2020 into 2021 and parse some expert advice for our readers, Sedgwick spoke with Greg Bradle, ASHI Inspector (member since 2017) and owner of Lucent Home Inspections, about how he’s taken his services to the next level in recent years.
Sedgwick: What influenced you to add home inspection to your professional expertise?
Greg Bradle: My background is in carpentry and woodworking. Since I was a boy, I’ve always had an interest in the construction industry, and for awhile my career focused on that. Everything changed when I was working in trim carpentry for a high-end design and building firm and got a taste of what it’s like working with customers directly. I loved the satisfaction of pleasing a happy customer and was driven by the challenge of growing a business on my own. That’s what pushed me to start my own home inspection company.
Sedgwick: How has your day-to-day changed in the past year?
Bradle: In March 2020, all inspections came to a halt, which impacted my routine. Among my certifications, I’m a certified inspector for HUD REAC, and when the pandemic hit, HUD shut down. It’s still not up and going again.
One way I pivoted was through Sedgwick’s on-demand inspector program. I leveraged my home inspection skills to help settle property insurance losses by inspecting low severity/minimal damage claims. Everything was easily activated via Sedgwick’s mobile apps, giving me full access to schedule appointments, review assignment details and fill out inspection assessment reports. This program helped me fill in the gaps in my schedule conveniently and flexibly and keep doing what I love during the pandemic. Sedgwick has been the silver lining in a year filled with uncertainty.
Sedgwick: What business practices have made the biggest difference in your work the past several years?
Bradle: Offering an all-in-one inspection solution is a way I have been able to take my business to the next level while providing the best service for my clients. I chose not to become certified in a few specialized areas—radon, mold, termites, sewer scope, septic and well, for instance—because I personally believe that most of these areas require specialists with specific licenses to really do the job right for the client. Instead, I take a commercial approach to a residential inspection, subcontracting these specialists out while I serve more as a project manager and overall counsel. That way my clients get the best assessments from certified experts in their respective fields during a home inspection.
Sedgwick: Continuing education is so important for those in our industry. What resources do you find most helpful when you are looking to learn more?
Bradle: ASHI’s educational resources are a big reason why I became a member. The online portal is an excellent way to watch videos, get credits and keep my knowledge up-to-date. These online resources have been especially beneficial during COVID, when in-person conferences like InspectionWorld or Great Lakes Chapter of ASHI (of which I am a member) conferences were either postponed or canceled.
Sedgwick: What one piece of advice would you give to other home inspectors?
Bradle: Put yourself in the homebuyer’s shoes and treat every home inspection as if you’re inspecting your own home. Successful businesses always put the customer first. Give an honest opinion no matter where the referral comes from. Doing good work on behalf of the buyer will truly make a difference for your success over time.
Sedgwick: What about advice to new members of our network or readers who are just starting out in the business?
Bradle: Number one: Be patient. Any good business isn’t going to start overnight. A lot of people only see the end results of successful home inspection businesses, such as the income level, and think they can do it quickly and easily. It takes time to get your name out there, create a website with the right tools and information, and build the experience you need to facilitate communications between clients and Realtors.
Number two: Make sure you have a mentor you trust and can lean on when you have questions. You’ll encounter things you’ve never seen before during home inspections, and a mentor can help you navigate those circumstances. I have a mentor to this day, and our strong relationship has made a difference in my success.
Sedgwick: Is there anything else important that you’d like to add?
Bradle: The pandemic really drove home for me just how important your web presence is as a home inspector at every step of the customer service process. I invest a lot of resources on SEO and keeping my website updated with options for my clients, and I saw a big benefit from having my online resources prepared when the pandemic hit.
Today’s buyers look for flexibility and prefer to schedule their appointments online. They prefer to pay online as well. Home inspectors who provide the tools to do that all on their websites will help build their businesses while keeping their schedules and operations running a lot smoother.
Exciting opportunities for home inspectors are just a few clicks away! Sedgwick is a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions. For our property division, we need boots on the ground for assignments nationwide. That’s why Sedgwick developed the on-demand inspector program. We invite you to join the independent resource network and use your skill set to earn extra income.
Ready to get started? Please contact Sedgwick’s ASHI recruiter, Erin Vickers, at erin.vickers@sedgwick.com
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of ASHI. The information contained in the article is general and readers should always independently verify for accuracy, completeness, and reliability.
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