Hello, Daren Carper here, owner of Spotlight Inspection.

I started working in the real estate industry in 2007, first as an agent, then later as a managing broker. That was when I found my love for houses and building science. When working with my own clients, I’d examine the condition of each house while touring to try and find major issues, but when we only had about 20 minutes in each house, there often wasn’t enough time to explore the details.

It was during my time as an agent that I was introduced to home inspectors and what they do; I was immediately hooked. Houses are fascinating to me: how different materials perform (or don’t), the technology developments that have happened over time, and just general building evolution in construction. I get a kick out of being a house detective. Every day I get to use my knowledge, deductive logic, and various gadgets to find hidden problems. It is awesome and fun!

I pride myself on communication and “bedside manner.“ I’ve worked with many fantastic—and some not so fantastic—inspectors over the years, and communication is critical. Most inspectors have good technical knowledge about houses; the standout ones are also great at communicating their observations (both verbally and in their written reports.) Every house has issues, but I help explain and prioritize everything I see. That means not sugar coating big issues, but also not being an alarmist about minor and common things. Without this perspective, inspections can end up being overwhelming and scary. People can be scared away from good houses, or even worse, end up buying complete money pits without realizing it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope we can work together soon!