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Most inspectors avoid solar panels. Why? Because they’re not in the SOP, and they’re shrouded in mystery. No noise, no moving parts, no red flags… until a buyer asks, “Does it even work?”

In this episode, host Matt Williams welcomes Cory Vanderpool from Sprk to tackle a growing challenge in the inspection world, how to confidently evaluate solar panels during a home inspection. Cory shares how his company is pioneering a new process that empowers inspectors to offer solar as a high-value ancillary service, without needing to become a solar expert themselves.

They dive into the gaps in traditional home inspections when it comes to solar, the risks buyers face when those systems go uninspected, and how inspectors can step in with a smart, profitable solution. You’ll hear how Sprk’s process works, what data inspectors collect, and how fast the turnaround is. Plus, they break down how this service can help you grow your business and build deeper trust with agents.

5 Key Takeaways:

Solar panels are often excluded from SOPs, but buyers still demand answers.

Sprk enables inspectors to gather simple data and get expert-certified reports.

Most systems seem fine, but 30% have issues buyers need to know about.

This is a high-margin, 15-minute ancillary service you can easily add.

Sprk also equips you with CE courses and marketing tools to win agent referrals.

“The more value you bring, the more money you’re going to make. Feed the root, and the fruit will follow.”, Matt Williams

If this episode sparked ideas for your business, subscribe to the show, share this episode with a fellow inspector, and visit sprkhome.com to learn how you can start offering solar inspections today.

Watch on YouTube

⁠

To connect with Cory Vanderpool using the following link:

Website

To connect with IEB using the following links:

Website

Instagram

Email: support@iebcoaching

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Most inspection business owners start out doing everything themselves, but what happens when you want to scale beyond a one-man show? If your systems rely too heavily on you, growth will always hit a ceiling. So how do you grow a business intentionally, one that can thrive even when you step away?

In this episode of the Inspector Empire Builder podcast, host Matt Williams sits down with Kurvin Gordon, owner of Ugly Duckling Home Inspections in Oregon. From working in construction in Texas to building a thriving multi-inspector firm in the Pacific Northwest, Kurvin shares the step-by-step strategies he used to plan, launch, and scale his business with the end in mind. This isn’t a story about overnight success, it’s about building a long-term, sellable asset from day one.

You’ll learn how Kurvin:

Pre-planned his business for 6+ months before launching

Created service packages that average nearly $1,000 per inspection

Uses systems and VAs to streamline operations

Builds strategic partnerships with mold remediation companies

Maintains business continuity with backups and smart planning

“We don’t work nine to five, we work start to finish.” - Kurvin Gordon

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale past technician mode, this episode will give you a real-world roadmap to build a business that works even when you don’t.

👉 If this episode sparked ideas, subscribe, share with a fellow inspector, or spend 10 minutes journaling what your next intentional growth step should be.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l0gctoXdRlg⁠

To connect with Kurvin Gordon, using the following links:

Website

To connect with IEB using the following links:

Watch on YouTube

Website

Instagram

Email: support@iebcoaching

⁠Send us a text

Most home inspectors don’t get punched in the nuts on their way into the business. Aaron Shishilla did, and it changed everything.

In this episode of the Inspector Empire Builder podcast, Matt Williams sit down with Aaron from WolfPack Advising to uncover the wild path that took him from deli worker to leading marketing expert for home inspection companies. If you’re a business owner wondering how to actually grow your reach without throwing away money on advertising that doesn’t convert, this is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.

Aaron shares how his unexpected start in home inspections, and a traumatic encounter with a 30-year-old coworker, ignited a passion for marketing that’s reshaping how businesses dominate their industries online. We dive deep into AI’s disruption of search, how Google and Apple are struggling to keep up, and what home inspectors need to do right now to thrive in this new digital landscape.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How getting fired from Publix led Aaron to discover his calling
  

• Why most digital agencies fail service businesses (and how Aaron’s team is changing the game)
  

• The shifting future of Google, SEO, and AI-driven search
  

• What “zero-click marketing” is and how it impacts your visibility
  

• The exact ROI mindset every home inspection company needs to grow sustainably
  

• “Digital marketing never sleeps. It’s a grind, but it’s the grind that makes growth possible.” - Aaron Shishilla

  
  

  If this episode challenged your thinking or sparked some next steps, subscribe to Inspector Empire Builder, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who’s ready to take their business to the next level.

  Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l0gctoXdRlg⁠

  
  

  To connect with IEB using the following links:

  Website

  Instagram

  Email: support@iebcoaching

  To connect with Matt Williams use the following links:

  Instagram

  Email: matt@dciabq.com