During the most frenzied time of the residential real estate market last year, when inventory was low and option periods were becoming shorter and shorter, some eager buyers were waiving home inspections to close deals more quickly. Others waive inspections to save money.

But foregoing inspections isn't a wise move, said Friendswood businessman David Veatch, who this month launched operations of his franchise Pillar To Post Home Inspectors.

"It's certainly not the best time to be penny-wise and pound-foolish," Veatch said.

Before becoming a Pillar To Post Home Inspectors franchisee, the U.S. Navy veteran spent 30 years selling metal components in the oil and gas, petrochemical, energy and aerospace markets, both domestic and foreign, he said.

One of his most memorable experiences was selling fittings to NASA for its Return to Flight project, which was a space shuttle mission in 2005 after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

Veatch traveled extensively and rarely was home, he said.

"I was tired of traveling and saw some major changes during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Veatch said. "Getting involved in a service industry and being able to work closely from home sounded sweeter and sweeter."

It also didn't hurt that the U.S. building inspector industry, measured by revenue, is estimated to have a market size of $4.9 billion, according to global research firm IBISWorld.

Pillar To Post offers such services as 360-degree visual home inspection summaries, accurate floor plans and a digital owners' manuals for a home, letting users download manuals and warranty information, find safety recalls on appliances and learn the age and useful remaining life of systems.

Veatch's territory encompasses 10 counties, including Galveston.

"The number of homes being built in my territory is staggering and people need help understanding their homes before they move in," Veatch said.