Our Home Inspection Growth Thanks to You

“Growth is never by mere chance, it is the result of forces working together.”
-James Cash Penney (Founder of JC Penney)

As I look back not only on the last six months of 2017, but also the last five years, I remember leaving the corporate world and jumping into the unprotected world of entrepreneurial business. Reflecting on it today, it’s hard to believe how far KGM Home Inspection has come. However, even with 40 years of corporate experience, none of our growth and success would be possible without the support of an incredible network of people.

At times, I didn’t know how to move this company forward, I just knew I needed to. Thanks to the support and advice from so many friends and family members, I never once thought “I can’t do this” or “I shouldn’t try that.” Some people call those moments mistakes, but each has been a teachable moment for me.

Like a safe and secure house we learn to call home, KGM Home Inspection is built on a strong foundation. For me, personally, that foundation has been my faith and my wife, Ginny. As our pastor at Solutions Church, Danny Dodge says, “Faithful, Faithful, Faithful.”

Our home inspection company has grown far faster than I ever expected because we believe that if we do the right thing, business will follow. So, from the beginning, we’ve approached home inspection as a service to the homebuyer/home seller.

The Birth of KGM Home Inspection

As a kid, I was always on our roof or in our crawlspace. And, when I was growing up, you didn’t call anybody. You fixed and maintained your house yourself. Times have changed. We look around, today, and see that we live in a throwaway society. And in it, there are plenty of people and businesses willing to charge others to do what they cannot. But, at KGM, we’ve always taken the approach that we don’t want to sell you a service; we want to figure out how we can help you solve a problem.

Buying a home is usually the single largest purchase a person will make in his or her lifetime. It can be a long, tedious, confusing, and frustrating process. We’ve been fortunate to build great, working relationships with excellent real estate agents, realtors, and brokers, like:

• Wendy Lee
• Lena Matariyeh
• Alex Fenske & Chicago Southland Homes
• Adam McAtee
• Rich & Karen Carlino at Realty One & Associates
• Mario & Edgar Zelaya
• Baxtie Rodriguez
• Torrance Green
• Robin McGinn
• Rebecca Howard
• and many more…

These incredible professionals have been the fuel that keeps the KGM Home Inspection fire burning. Without their referrals and hard work, we wouldn’t be where we are today. It’s been a privilege to work with each of them.

If you’ve bought or sold a home, you understand that the inspection comes at the end of the process. Inspectors are often viewed as “deal killers.” I’ve said very honestly, “I’ve never killed a deal. But, I’ve seen a lot of homes commit suicide.” This is true, because we don’t work for the agent, the lender, or the appraiser. We work for you–the homebuyer or home seller. In that sense, our goal is to give you the information you need to make the best possible decision for your situation. To that end, we’ve built a network of experienced, trustworthy, and reliable partners in a variety of industries. These are the experts we turn to with questions, and we appreciate the way they value our clients like we do:

• Kerry Schmidt, Professional Commercial and Residential Cleaning (Maid4Life)
• Mike Pekny, Insurance (Farmers Insurance)
• Frederik Koning (Basement Seepage Experts)
• Tim Rarrat, HVAC (Air Source 1)
• Jon Walsh (Davis Roofing)
• Superior Chimney Services
• Cal Pickup (Assured Insulation, LLC)
• Sal Matchain, Professional Painting Services
• Niki Ramirez, Business Development Manager (Rainbow International Restoration)
• Maurice Smith, General Contractor (MAS)

The home inspection industry has evolved tremendously over the years. As such, we believe it’s incredibly important to earn and maintain certifications in a variety of areas. Our clients can believe, trust, and value our work because we have partnered with outstanding organizations like the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the American Home Inspectors Training Institute (AHIT), Home Advisor, the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), and FLIR.

Today, running any sort of small business requires a team behind the scenes. KGM Home Inspection is no different. The people propping this company up don’t ask for recognition, but they deserve it nonetheless. So, thank you sincerely to:

• Bill Skowronski, Sharing the Good, Inc. (Social Media Consultant)
• Mark Rashid, Southland TV (Video Consultant)
• Steve Jaquez (Website Consultant)
• Patrick White & Erica Gillhouse (Financial Advisors)
• Sherry Teare (Office Manager)
• Cecil Wilson and his team at Goffers
• Rosezena Pierce (Legal Advisor)

In closing, I guess I would have to say I’ve never really been unprotected in this entrepreneurial journey. There’s always been someone on my path that I believe God put there to keep me going, pick me up, or hit me with that brick when needed. I want to thank my wife, Ginny Fenske-Mathers, for never doubting my resolve in making this business successful, and always being there.

Thank you to all who have made a difference in my journey.