FORMER AIR FORCE VETERAN FINDS HIS NICHE AS PILLAR TO POST HOME INSPECTOR

According to the latest census figures, out of 27.6 million U.S. businesses, 2.5 million are veteran-owned. From a franchising perspective, a veteran owns one in seven franchises in the U.S.

Count Cleveland’s Mike Rothschiller amongst their ranks. Since 1998, the United States Air Force veteran and his wife, Nikki, have been franchisees of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors®, the company Entrepreneur Magazine has named as the number one home inspection company in North America.

The Rothschillers serve the western portion of Cuyahoga County giving homeowners a clear, unbiased evaluation of a home’s condition and answering any questions they might have to help ensure peace of mind.

The 62-year-old Rothschiller is a former air traffic controller. He joined the Air Force in 1972, but separated after six years to join the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, Rothschiller lost his job after three years as a result of the 1981 air traffic controllers’ strike. He returned to the Air Force, eventually retiring with 20 years’ meritorious service. As Rothschiller neared retirement, the couple began pondering their future plans.

“Nikki asked me what I was going to do. She said I should be a home inspector like my neighbor Charlie down street,” recalled Rothschiller, who lived in North Carolina at the time. “But I said no because they have crawl spaces in North Carolina homes and I didn’t want to deal with those.”

However, Rothschiller’s curiosity was piqued when he saw something about Pillar To Post Home Inspectors® in the Air Force Times.

“I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great to work for ourselves,’” Rothschiller recalled. “So we moved back home to Cleveland and the process started.”

Rothschiller completed his first inspection on July 26, 1998 and hasn’t stopped since. These days he is up at 6 a.m., working on his to-do list, whether planning his ongoing marketing program or teaching a continuing education class.

“We work closely with other franchisees in the surrounding areas to capitalize on the best large-scale marketing opportunities that will keep my lead inspector and our company moving forward and growing,” Rothschiller said.

A professional evaluation of more than 1,600 items inside and outside the home is at the core of Pillar To Post’s service. Inspectors input data and digital photos into a computerized report that is printed and presented on site. All information is provided to clients in a customized binder for easy reference, allowing homebuyers or sellers to make confident, informed decisions.

All Pillar To Post inspectors are members of regional, state, national and provincial associations across the United States and Canada, and all inspections are conducted within the Standards of Practice of those associations.

With low interest rates and an improved job market, Rothschiller said today’s economy is ripe for both home sellers and buyers. Rothschiller, however, did weather a storm along the way. Cleveland was hit hard by the nation’s foreclosure crisis, where in 2007, its rate was among the highest in the country. Despite strong marketing, Rothschiller’s inspections dropped 56 percent.

“Nikki and I survived because we have been together for a long time and somehow you know what you have to do to make it through hard times,” Rothschiller said. “But we had a proven franchise system that works and helped us get through it. Our market share has always been the highest in the area. We were able to hire another inspector and are currently looking to add another.”

Rothschiller said he relishes being his own boss, He said it is important for would-be entrepreneurs to compile a short- and long-term list of goals and not be afraid to follow the path of small-business ownership.

“Remember that you are paying a franchisor for their proven expertise to grow a successful business,” Rothschiller said. “Follow the plan, be aggressive and learn from your mistakes. If you have a goal, failure is impossible.”