Homeward Bound Home
Inspections
Celebrating Over 25 Years
of
Home Inspection Excellence
In 1986 American Inspection
Inc. was founded by Dan Wood. His architectural background and years of
building experience were a perfect fit for the then budding home inspection
industry. His intentions were to keep the company a one man show but the
demand Dan created by offering a level of service and professionalism not
witnessed in the home inspection industry prompted him to bring on other
inspectors. Two of his earliest hires were his sons Bob and Bill who run the
company today.
By 1991 Dan grew his company
into Michigan’s largest home inspection company. Dan’s philosophy was
service based and he often said, "Service starts from the time the phone
rings.” He created an office staff that understood the importance of
customer service. He put together a team of inspectors that were both
knowledgeable in home construction and had the personality to communicate
inspection findings to all involved in the home buying experience.
Throughout the 90’s Dan was
often asked to consider franchising his company. Although he found the
possible financial rewards intriguing he feared that with less control of
franchises quality would suffer and ultimately his name was still on every
inspection. When he finally put the idea to rest he proudly proclaimed “We
will be the un-franchise.”
Next came the national
companies. Dan was never very interested in selling his company. For
starters it was a family owned company and neither he nor his boys wanted to
loose family ownership control. The thought of the phone being answered by
some call center on the other side of the world did not sit well with Dan.
“We are a local based family business; everybody here has a sense of
community and the people we are privileged to work for will always be a
phone call away from the top.”
In 1998 a difficult decision
was made. Due to American Inspections dominance in the market place many
other companies were emerging with peculiarly similar names. As a simple
test Dan called information 5 times to get his own company’s phone number
and all 5 times the number given was to a smaller company with a similar
name. This prompted the name change to Homeward Bound Home Inspections.
Early 2000 brought the
untimely death of Dan Wood. As he planned however, it did not mark the end
of his great company. His boys, Bob and Bill, carry on the ideals instilled in
them from birth and expect nothing less from those who work with them.
Bob and Bill took ownership
in stride and Bill ironically states, “It’s hard to find time to look back,
we make time, our past will predict our future. It’s about the people we
work with and the people we work for. Everybody here understands the
excitement and stress involved in home buying. Our job is to help make the
process a lot less stressful and in the end perhaps, the home a little
happier.”
One thing the boys have done
is embraced technology. Homeward Bound's report is, as always, delivered on
site. Now however the report is computerized with digital photos. Bob
spear headed the search to find and develop the next reporting system and
confidently stated, “Our reporting system produces the most clear and
concise report in the industry.” The report itself is more user friendly
than past check lists/narrative reporting systems and for out of town
clients is just a mouse click away.
Since 1986 Homeward
Bound has set the standard for excellence for home inspections. When asked, what best marks your
success; Bob and Bill have very different answers that are profoundly
similar.
Bob states that “It's the
people we work with. I came on board in 1988; my name was on the scheduling
board just below a guy named Dick Hemming. Here we are some 18 yrs later
and that Hemming guy's name is still above mine, although now retired. Vince Esteban started
inspecting homes about the same time as Bill, 1990. He also is still here
inspecting homes. That’s 4 guys with a combined 68 years of inspection
experience. Add the rest of the guys and that number closes in on 100 years
of experience. Everybody here is still passionate
about all that we do. The most impressive buildings sit on strong
foundations, my company’s foundation is the people that work here."
Bill concurs whole heartedly
with his brother but adds “let’s not forget about the people we work for.
Since 86 we have completed over 60,000 home inspections in S-E Michigan.
That’s a lot of houses, but more importantly, that’s a lot of families we
have touched. It is also safe to say we have helped in the successes of the
people who have referred us as much as they have helped ours. Every day the
people I work for give compliments to the people I work with. Sometimes
it’s a simple 'boy who ever answers your phone sure knows her stuff ' to a
more specific 'I was on an inspection with Vince Esteban last week, he really
takes the time to explain things.' I would have to say it’s having the
respect of our customers for 25 years that best marks our success.”
It is quite clear that
Homeward Bound Home Inspection is a 21st century company, putting
people first. The entire company looks forward to the next 25 years of home
inspections. There is no doubt that they will be there,
"Helping People Find
Their Way Home".
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