It's certainly not the best time to be penny-wise and pound- foolish. Simple math quickly demonstrates that a home inspection is money well-spent when making what is typically the largest single investment most people will ever make. "That's one piece of advice that's hard to argue," says Lori Wims, the new owner of Pillar To Post serving Orange County in Southern California. "No one needs surprises with what they are spending to buy a home in today's market."

And as far as choosing home inspection as a new career, these are industry facts: The U.S. building inspector industry, measured by revenue, is estimated to have a current market size of $4.9 billion according to global research firm IBISWorld.

Launching operations in January 2023, the 55-year-old Wims - a Laguna Niguel, Calif., resident - is a perfect example of someone with the knowledge and passion that provide the perfect combination for success as a Pillar To Post Home Inspectors franchise owner.

Prior to joining Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, Wims worked in property management and accounting. But the mother of three and grandmother of two has bought and sold more than 30 homes and flipped about 10. "I'm educated on what can go wrong with a home and have worked with many trade professionals and real estate professionals over the years," Wims said. "That experience will be invaluable in my new career with Pillar To Post Home Inspectors."

Divorced for two years, Wims decided the time was right to launch a business of her own, and given her experience, a real estate-related field made the most sense. She knows what it takes to run a business since Wims is a minority partner in two businesses that provide residential housing for individuals with mental health conditions.

Cementing her decision to join Pillar To Post Home Inspectors was the fact that Wims was a past customer. "I know how exciting and nerve-wracking buying a new home can be," Wims said. "But I loved how thorough they were and the professionalism of their reports. I started to do some research and realized that I could be part of the solution to helping homebuyers feel comfortable and confident in their home purchase."

Wims also had an equally important goal and it centered upon her family. "I wanted to start something that I could bring my children into someday," Wims said. "My children and my grandchildren are my life and succeeding in this venture will allow me to leave them something exceptional down the road."

One of the many reasons Wims chose Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is the innovative technologies the company introduced in the past 18 months. These advanced technologies, along with the business model, provide an exceptional home inspection with unique and innovative features that are all delivered within a seamless brand experience. All developed pre-pandemic and ready to be utilized when the pandemic struck, the new features further highlight Pillar To Post Home Inspectors' standing as a visionary in its industry. The package is now known as the Ultimate Home Inspection and it's revolutionizing the home inspection industry. So much so that the company was just awarded the much- coveted Best Innovators by Franchise Update Media in the category of "best customer service tools."

"I'm excited about all the new technology that has come about to help inspectors do their jobs even better," Wims said. "I have a passion for technology and implementing it in my new career."

Wims' passion for the newest chapter in her working career is easy to discern. Like anything thing else, she said it takes a lot of dedication and hard work, but the payoff is worth it.

"I like that I make all the decisions now, so I know exactly who is doing what and when and where," Wims said. "If you do it right and work hard, the payoff is incredible. You call your own shots and have your time and freedom to spend with your family and friends, and hopefully, something to give to your family one day."

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