Today we’d like to introduce you to Ievgeniia Manchion.
Hi Ievgeniia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My love for construction started early—with toy construction sets and LEGOs. I could spend hours constructing entire worlds. My parents were very restless people. They were always renovating and modernizing our family home in Ukraine. I watched, asked questions, and finally, I was involved in all this. It felt natural, so choosing a building college after school was an easy decision. I didn’t stop at a bachelor’s. I earned a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Odessa Building Academy in Ukraine. That education gave me deep knowledge of structures, materials, and systems—tools I still use every day.
For 11 years, I worked as a retail network development manager at UKRSIBBANK BNP Paribas Group. It was stable, corporate, and challenging in its own way. I opened new bank branches, controlled repairs and reconstructions for existing premises. I concluded lease agreements and furnished the premises with furniture and equipment. Also, I was in charge of the questions of civil defence and fire safety.
My life changed dramatically when I decided to move to the United States. I packed my entire life into three suitcases, took my son, and started over in Texas.
When I moved to the United States, I focused on trying to put my mind together, learning the culture, and supporting my son. But staying home wasn’t for me. I needed purpose, something that used my skills and passion.
One day, a friend who’s a realtor vented about a home inspector who “broke her deal” with alarming or poorly explained findings. That clicked. I realized that home inspectors it is directly who I want to be! With my engineering background and love for buildings, it felt like the perfect path.
I enrolled at Champions School of Real Estate, completed the required hours of qualifying education, passed the exams, and became a licensed Professional Home Inspector in Texas.
This industry isn’t always welcoming to women. Home inspection remains male-dominated—only about 14% of inspectors in the U.S. are women, and many face initial skepticism about handling roofs, crawlspaces, or technical details. But I found a mentor who wasn’t scared off by me being a “girl.” He gave me a real chance, and I worked for him for nearly two years. Those hands-on rides built my confidence and mastery. I realized I was ready to go independent.
When I started my own company, I had to begin from scratch. I’d promised my previous employer not to use his realtor contacts, so I honored that. UTEX has now been running successfully for more than two years. As I worked independently in the DFW area, I met incredible realtors—professionals who truly care about their clients’ best interests, not just commissions. Most of my inspections come from their referrals and by word-of-mouth.
There’s truth to the saying: one happy customer tells one friend, but one unhappy customer tells a hundred! That’s why I pour everything into thorough, honest, clear reports.
Our profession blends knowledge, sharp observation, analysis, and constant learning. My goal is to inform and educate my clients. People deserve the truth about a home they’re considering buying so they can make informed, confident decisions.
In August, I expanded further: I started working part-time as an inspector for an engineering company. Now I also review geological reports, prepare data for calculations, and support foundation assessments. It’s exciting to see my Master’s, training, field experience, and ongoing education come together at a deeper level.
I adore my job, and I am really enjoying every inspection that I perform. I am really happy! Not a lot of people can brag that they are in love with their job!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest problem was my English. I never studied English before I decided to move to the United States. I will open up the secret, instead of english classes, I played volleyball for college 🙂
When I started to study for the Home Inspector, I got six thick textbooks to conquer before my licensing exam, and at the beginning, I was translating almost every single word. I’d fill entire notebooks with vocabulary lists—English terms on one side, Ukrainian translations on the other. It was slow, exhausting work. But by the third book, I was only pausing for a handful of unfamiliar terms. That moment of realization—that I was actually reading and understanding technical material in English—felt like a massive personal triumph. The exams were another beast entirely. These tests are notoriously tricky even for native speakers: nuanced phrasing, double negatives, scenario-based questions meant to trip you up. Trying to decode all that in a non-native language added real pressure. I was over the moon when I passed both the national and state exams on my first try. It proved to me that persistence pays off, no matter the obstacles.
Then came the industry itself. Home inspection is still very much a male-dominated field. Many guys weren’t eager to see a woman step in. I faced skepticism, while I proved to other inspectors that I am one of them. I have a lot of male home inspectors from different states that I can call friends now.
I registered my PLLC and even built my own website from scratch-no small feat for someone who doesn’t have a friendship with computers 🙂
We’ve been impressed with UTEX Inspection Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The name UTEX is deeply personal to me—it’s a perfect blend of Ukraine, my homeland, and Texas, the state that welcomed me and gave me this new chapter. UTEX Inspection Services has now been operating for more than two years, and I’m proud of the foundation I’ve built.
My company specializes in residential home inspections and small commercial inspections. I provide pre-listing inspections. I support constructions at all stages, from pre-pour foundation inspection, pre-drywall inspections, up to final inspections. I’m certified by the National Association of Wastewater Technicians (NAWT), which allows me to thoroughly inspect septic systems and onsite wastewater treatment. I also handle pool and spa inspections, and I’m not afraid of the physical demands of the job—climbing roofs, crawling through crawlspaces. I am using advanced equipment to uncover hidden defects that others might miss.
My engineering background is a huge help here. It helps me analyze structural issues (I can even measure foundation elevation if problems appear), make accurate conclusions, and connect the dots others might overlook. I can’t sleep if I haven’t figured out the root cause of a defect or if I spot something unfamiliar-I have to research, understand, and explain it properly.
Our profession is a unique mix: deep knowledge, sharp observation, careful analysis, and never-ending learning. I am spending a lot of time on continuing education.
Building UTEX this way—through hard work, ethical choices, specialized skills, and genuine relationships- has been incredibly rewarding. Two years in, the business is growing steadily because of the trust I’ve earned, one inspection at a time.
Some realtors don’t want to use my services for their clients, because I will find everything, and at the same time, when they need an inspector for their own house, they are using me 🙂 it’s means something 🙂
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I have defects in my own house too… but tssss, I didn’t tell this 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://utexinspections.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utexinspectionservices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552919537374
Image Credits
dockapole, son
