HomeTeam featured in the Chicago Tribune

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune discussed how potential home owners can avoid making big mistakes when buying houses. In it, multiple home-owners give entertaining and informative descriptions of the various issues they encountered when buying their first homes. Greg Haskett weighs in as the expert source of information, as Vice President of Services for HomeTeam Inspection, an Ohio-based national franchise. Check out a portion of the article below or read the full story here.

Scary first-time buyer mistakes and how to avoid them

New or old, every home has issues, said Greg Haskett, vice president of the Milford, Ohio-based HomeTeam Inspection, a national franchise.

"It's not if the house has a defect, but whether you want to buy it with that defect," he said. "Hiring a home inspector tells what you are buying."

Drainage issues, aging roofs, improperly built decks, inadequate attic insulation and defective drywall top the list of problems his inspectors find, said Haskett. When red flags arise, he said, an inspector brings in specialists who advise the buyer on specifics, such as lead-paint testing.

"It's not necessarily that the house had a 'bad' builder; his reputation may be OK," said Haskett. "But the builder may have had a bad sub who used a substandard product." (Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Ken Walter

Franchisee Name: Ken Walter
Location: Metro Milwaukee area including Washington County and Waukesha

How Ken Walter Got Started With HomeTeam…
Ken started his professional career in retail sales and marketing with premium pet supplies. He owned and operated three retail stores, but in the late 90’s when big box retailers began selling premium pet products, Ken started thinking it was time to do something else. In the interim, his friend’s house burnt down and she solicited the support and expertise of Ken to become the general contractor to rebuild the house. After the project was completed and she was going through the home inspection process, she had commented that the market could use some more home inspectors and suggested the idea to Ken.

Ken took her up on it. He thought he had enough expertise to become a home inspector so he researched the market and thought he would start up his own shop. During his research process, Ken found a HomeTeam inspector in his market whose franchise was up for sale. He visited Cincinnati where the corporate team is based and enjoyed meeting the franchise support staff. In May of 2000, Ken signed on with HomeTeam. In 2006, Ken expanded his business to include the Milwaukee and Washington County territories. This year, he hit his 10-year anniversary as a HomeTeam franchisee.

What Intrigued Ken Walter about HomeTeam …
Ken thinks of the corporate office as partners in his business. He feels comfortable giving Greg Haskett, VP of Shared Shares, a call to discuss ideas, obstacles, and opportunities. He loves the support the corporate team offers to the franchisees including marketing support like website development and marketing materials for his location. Ken also finds it very helpful to network with other HomeTeam franchisees for knowledge.

Something Interesting About Ken Walter’s Story…
Ken owns another business in the Milwaukee area, a somewhat unique business; he runs hot air balloon rides and promotions called WindDancer Balloon Promotions. For this, he sits on the National Board of Directors of the Balloon Federation of America.

Ken is involved in his community with both businesses. He participates actively with the Chamber of Commerce, his church parish council and his children’s schools.

Ken is married to his wife, Kay and they have three children all under the age of six including a new born!

Franchisee Profile: Ray Fonos

Franchisee: Ray Fonos
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Q: What did you do before becoming a HomeTeam franchisee?
A: I spent 25 years in corporate America working in sales and service product management. I was starting to get tired of the whole corporate culture, having all the responsibility without all the power and the “more with less” mentality. When my company was bought out, I took my chance to strike out on my own.

Q: How did you learn about HomeTeam?
A: A former employee I kept in touch with owned a HomeTeam franchise and was very happy with it. He said he thoroughly enjoyed the work, and after doing some research I decided it sounded like something I would enjoy.

Q: What steps did you take to validate HomeTeam as a brand?
A: I did lots of research online into HomeTeam and its competitors, checking the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 and other resources. I ended up choosing HomeTeam because of their marketing program. None of the other brands I looked at could match the professionalism, content or quality of HomeTeam’s material.

Q: What are some career milestones for you? Is there anything unique about your business?
A: My growth has been exponential every year we’ve been open. Last year I was in the top 10 for HomeTeam franchises, and we’re set to do so again this year. Even though it’s been a tough year for the housing industry, we’ve done very well. We continue to gain market share. My strong service background enables us to deliver the highest quality service and superior customer care.

Franchisee Profile: Terry Campell

Franchisee: Terry Campbell
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Q: What did you do before becoming a HomeTeam franchisee?
A: I was working as the general manager for an engineering firm. When the company was sold, I was told I’d be relocated to Europe. I decided that wasn’t right for me, so I began looking into other business opportunities.

Q: How did you learn about HomeTeam?
A: I initially decided to go into franchising because of the ease of entry into the market. The format of a ready-to-go business caught my eye. While researching inspection services, HomeTeam really stood out because of their professionalism. That sense of professionalism was reinforced when I met with members of their corporate staff and spoke to other franchisees. They’re not the biggest company in the industry, but I think they’re the most stable.

Q: What are some career milestones for you? Is there anything unique about your business?
A: Last year I was the fastest growing franchise in the system and ranked in the top 10 for sales. I also offer a few uncommon services not many other HomeTeam franchises do, including mold testing and heating and cooling services.

Franchisee Profile: Mike Faulconer

Mike Faulconer - HomeTeam Inspection Service

Location Opened in 2002.

Q: Before Franchising, what were you involved with?
A: “Before I got into franchising, I worked in the corporate world for 20 years. I was primarily involved with sales and marketing management. I burned out of the corporate world and wanted to go into business for myself. That’s why I decided to shop around for a new opportunity.”

Q: Why was this brand the right fit for you?
A: “First of all, I looked into franchising because I wanted and needed the support. I still find it valuable to this day every day. It’s very important to have a network of colleagues to tap into. I didn’t have experience in home inspection, but I wanted something that would be an intangible service. I was thinking of something that could be a viable business in a short amount of time. I think of myself as a small business owner and entrepreneur. It just so happens my business is home inspection. Luckily, I’m good at it!”

Q: What’s your business approach?
A: “We use a team approach on every inspection. I go to each home inspection along with a subcontractor on my team. We also pull in others as needed. I’d say typically there are three of us at each home inspection, which cuts the time of the inspection down to about half.”

Q: What have been some career milestones for you/your business?
A: “Last year, we had our best year and grew about 15%. While many businesses were down, we had a banner year. We gained more market share and continue to gain market share this year. While others were losing business and getting out of the business, we continue to grow.”

Q: What are your future goals? Development plans?
A: “My goal is to continue to gain market share in my existing territory. I may add multiple teams in the future too.”