With a Keen Eye for Detail, Second-Generation Immigrant Puts Experience to Work with Largest Home Inspection Brand
(Rockford, IL)-One only has to listen to Matt Manikham for a few minutes to understand how much this opportunity means to him. In September, the 37-year-old Rockford, Il., resident launched operations as an owner within the Pillar To Post Home Inspectors® network, the largest home inspection franchise in North America. Manikham will serve homebuyers and sellers throughout Rockford, northwest Illinois and the Wisconsin state line.
Manikham is a second-generation immigrant whose parents migrated to America to escape civil war in their native country of Laos with the help of a sponsorship from a family and church in Lake Geneva, Wis. His parents worked hard to establish themselves and provide for their children. “But college and entrepreneurship were never a topic of discussion in our family, only work,” Manikham said. “When the opportunity to become a franchise owner with Pillar To Post Home Inspectors presented itself, I thought to myself, ‘I can do this.’ I can use this opportunity to make my family proud and also build generational wealth for my family.”
Manikham got his first full-time job when he was 18 as an entry-level punch press operator for a metal stamping company. He spent more than 12 years there, eventually becoming a sales engineer before leaving to work as a quality inspector with a heat treatment furnace manufacturer. Because of the exacting standards required in the manufacturing industry, Manikham believes his experience translates well into his new career.
“Real estate is my real passion. But I was never able to decide how I wanted to join the industry. It took me 20 years to figure it out, but when the Pillar To Post Home Inspectors opportunity presented itself, I knew that home inspection was my dream job,” Manikham said. “Every prior job I held was actually preparing me for this career. Home inspections are similar to what I have done in the past. It’s the same concept and mindset, just a different industry.”
Manikham’s timing for launching his new career couldn’t be better. Home inspections have become a vital part of the real estate sector, providing buyers and sellers with reliable information about the condition and value of a property. 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 Home Inspectors has been at the forefront with its outstanding and innovative technologies that were introduced just in time to provide contactless home inspections during the pandemic.
Manikham is a perfect fit for Pillar To Post Home Inspectors and the business model affords him the opportunity to structure his business as he sees fit, whether hiring employees or doing it all himself. One thing is certain, Manikham couldn’t be more eager to launch the next chapter of his life as a small business owner.
“The American Dream is attainable. A wise man once told to find an industry that you are passionate about and figure out how to make money at it,” Manikham said. “It took me 20 years to figure it out, but I finally did. When you do figure it out, give it 110 percent. And it’s OK to have help in business. I chose to lean on a franchise for help and guidance to maximize my chances for success.”
Today’s homebuyer – especially in the ever-changing housing market – would be wise to turn to Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, given some recent findings. According to Clever Real Estate, 72 percent of homebuyers who purchased in 2021 or 2022 have regrets over their home purchase. The most common factors that contributed to their remorse were spending too much money and rushing into buying.
And there are some other important considerations to mull in addition to a home’s square footage and number of bathrooms. Clever’s survey also found that almost half of homebuyers – 43 percent – made financial concessions like waiving a home inspection amid fierce competition for homes, according to CNBC. And skipping that home inspection can be costly. A survey from insurance firm Hippo found that most homeowners – 77 percent – had to pay for an unexpected repair within the first year of owning a house. Two-thirds of respondents said those fixes cost more than $1,000, said the CNBC report.
“We are currently in a ‘down’ real estate market right now and I love it,” Manikham said. “I see opportunity for a fresh, new face with a fresh, new marketing strategy to enter my local real estate market and help stimulate home sales. We will be entering the fall and winter months when I launch, and I have a marketing plan for this trend. I’ve been thinking about it for months now and I am ready to execute it.”
For information visit https://mattmanikham.pillartopost.com/ or call 779-867-5100.
About Pillar To Post Home Inspectors®
Founded in 1994, Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is the largest home inspection company in North America with home offices in Toronto and Tampa. There are nearly 558 franchises located in 49 states and nine Canadian provinces. Long-term plans include adding 500 to 600 new franchisees over the next five years. For further information, please visit www.pillartopost.com or for info about a franchise go to www.pillartopostfranchise.com