Inside Out Building Inspection

by Reis Pearson July 1, 2016


Reis Pearson likes to tell her clients, “The inspection process is like dumping a puzzle box so all the pieces spill on the floor. You start with the edges and corners, and eventually you say, ‘Oh, it’s a little red house!’ Yet, some pieces still might not fit until the end. I try to honor the process of filling it all in.”

Pearson’s process includes talking with her clients about all the elements involved. She says, “Within about 20 minutes of most inspections, I know what the biggest issues will be. But even though I know something’s wrong, it might look normal to my client. This gives me a chance to explain details, and they often react with that ‘aha’ moment.”

You could say that Pearson’s career puzzle fell into place when she began inspecting homes 10 years ago. Laid off from a position in higher education where she’d applied her skills in educational leadership and policy studies, she took a job as a go-pher for two contractors and learned about electrical and plumbing systems, and how to find and fix trouble spots in homes. 

At the same time, she remodeled some properties, including her own home. But, she said, “Construction work was awful on the body, so when I had the opportunity to purchase a home inspection business, I took it.” 

Next, she immersed herself in training. She said, “I was horrified that the state of Washington didn’t have licensing laws in place. It seemed that anyone could inspect a home and give opinions without credentials ensuring that the information provided was reliable. That led to me to get involved with ASHI. I was impressed with ASHI’s focus on education and Standard of Practice.”

Preparing for the National Home Inspector Examination validated that she already knew a lot. “My first two years were rough. It was a crazy market with people waiving inspections and many people trying to become inspectors. Then, in 2010, Washington required that inspectors pass an examination and become licensed. I was prepared, so when the number of inspectors dropped from more than 4,500 to 800 over the course of about a year, my business thrived.”

She said, “I’ve actually found that thing that combines the best parts of my personality. I love educating people and I enjoy showing my clients the ‘system’ of the house, even down to the physics of it all. Doctors are some of my favorite clients because I like to joke with them, saying, ‘Now we’re examining the neurological part of the house—the electrical systems’—and so on. I appreciate the acknowledgment that comes as clients begin to understand.”

She continued, “I love figuring out why something doesn’t work and understanding the science behind the system—and then being able to explain it technically and in layman’s terms. I eat up all the reading it takes to stay up to date, and I like talking with service providers to learn how and why things work the way they do.”

Pearson noted, “I can tell when a client might be skeptical of my abilities.” She makes this intuition work to her advantage. “When someone is thinking, ‘What will she know?’, I start the conversation by showing my command of technical knowledge. I find that approach quickly addresses doubts or misconceptions.”

This year, Pearson attended her third InspectionWorld®. At each IW she’s attended, she’s gathered insights about technical and business-related topics. She commented, “I like getting that new perspective that comes from talking with people outside of my region of the country.” 

Also, playing a part in helping single women buy a house is important to her. She said, “They typically have a look of fear, and I’m glad I can instill confidence by giving them information and the feeling that ‘You got this, girl.’”

Pearson also has leveraged her education background by becoming a licensed provider of continuing education units for home inspectors. “I teach these topics with the understanding that the way I inspect a home might be different from your approach. Each person has unique specialties or interests; some are great with roofing, others are experts with HVAC systems. By sharing my knowledge, I can help others develop their process. It’s important to educate inspectors who will reflect well on our profession.”

 

Pearson reflected, “When I started out in 2006, I knew five women inspectors. Now there are at least 20 women inspectors in this area.”

With numbers like that, women like Reis Pearson will increasingly represent significant pieces of the home inspection puzzle.


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