Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Nelsen.
Peter, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve spent the majority of my working life building businesses for others in the technology sector and decided that being in business for myself was the best career move for me and my family. In anticipation of this career change, I looked for an opportunity that would fit my personality and allow me to directly impact people’s lives in a meaningful way. That may sound stereotypical, but I’ve learned through buying and selling my own homes how critically important a home inspection can be and I was certain that I could provide this valuable service to others.
The path to become a TREC certified Professional Home Inspector is well defined and requires a significant commitment to training, fieldwork and in-depth knowledge of homes and their systems to pass the testing requirements. After passing the challenging test and before going out on my own, I decided to partner with a highly respected and established inspector in the DFW area to hone my skills and ensure that I could provide the best product to my clients.
Once I felt comfortable going solo, I learned that there is far more to being an inspector than just inspecting homes. The aspect of being a small business owner is just as challenging and largely open to interpretation. Understanding my strengths in marketing, sales and time management are keys to the success I’ve been having.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any small business owner will tell you that time management is one of the biggest challenges they face. There are so many things that we can do with our time, but efforts that impact the growth of the business take priority. I spend a lot of time working with clients on their inspection and the report. This impacts my sales efforts and the ability to grow because I am so focused on the task at hand. However, I’ve found that working with people in the real estate community and getting referrals is an engine that drives most of my business. If you do a great job for the clients, you WILL get more work.
It’s extremely rewarding to have customers refer their friends and family to me because they had a great experience. An inspector is only as good as his last inspection, so I work diligently, provide a comprehensive and well written report and take the time to review information with clients.
Along with getting new business, ongoing training and learning new skills is always a challenge to manage from a time and resource perspective. TREC requires a minimum level of training before every license renewal, but a good inspector is always honing their craft and learning how to provide the best service. Whether that’s taking an extra HVAC class, infrared certification or how to inspect a pool, there is a lot of time involved and that’s when we aren’t making revenue or building new relationships. It’s a balance that is sometimes hard to maintain and the difference in being a good inspector or a great one will depend on the level of commitment.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dallas Inspect, PLLC – what should we know?
My home inspection business provides an essential service to anyone looking to buy a home. I don’t always provide good news and for me it’s simply a case of where you should want to hear the bad news first to protect your interests – both financially and emotionally. Sometimes clients are concerned about the cost of an inspection, but I can say without hesitation that I’ll almost always identify an issue that needs repair or resolution and that the cost to fix this item is usually more than the cost of my inspection.
While performing the inspection I look at the systems in the home such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, appliances and overall construction. As a knowledgeable generalist in all these areas, I’ll indicate areas of concern and if there are safety issues, I’ll point those out more explicitly.
During the option period to buy a home, I find that clients are worried about making a good decision and finding someone to provide them with some level of confidence is critical. I’ve spoken to many homebuyers who after the inspection are relieved to know that they are aware of what needs to be addressed. Many times, it’s something minor, sometimes it’s very serious. My role as a home inspector is rewarding in that I assist clients navigate some of their challenges in purchase negotiation armed with important information.
One of the best parts of my job is to spend time with clients educating them on the home they are looking to buy. We can walk through the inspection together and I’ll gladly provide information and helpful hints on home maintenance, recommended repairs and where they may benefit from some updates.
What were you like growing up?
In my youth, you could always find me building something or taking something apart to see how it works. I spent a lot of time in my father’s workshop using some sort of tool I probably wasn’t supposed to touch. If I was not in the shop, I’d be outside building a tree-fort or maybe a go-kart. My parents allowed me to use my creativity and whatever resources I could find to build things.
After high school, I went to college in North Carolina and received a BS in business. Despite working in the business world for many years, I never lost my passion for building things and home improvement. I learned so much by building furniture and remodeling and repairing my own homes. Following a new path can be daunting, but I feel like I’ve picked the right one for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dallasinspect.com
- Phone: 214-616-9336
- Email: info@dallasinspect.com
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dallas-inspect-pllc-dallas
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
