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If you’re a home inspector or blue-collar entrepreneur trying to figure out how to build real wealth—not just a busy schedule—this episode is for you.We sit down with the “Godfather” of the inspection world, Nick, to unpack how he went from broke, hungry, and starting over… to millions in real estate, multiple businesses, and commercial inspections.Learn how to protect yourself from inflation, create real freedom, and build a business that actually pays you back.

• How Nick went from poor coal-mining family to multi-business owner with a massive real estate portfolio

• The early days of home inspections: on-site reports with photos in the 90s and how that innovation exploded his company

• Why he lost money for 11 years building InterNACHI—and why it was still the right move

• How he quietly built 55 properties worth ~$30M by keeping his crew busy between jobs

• Why he buys heavy equipment instead of Lamborghinis—and how “toys that make money” can change everything

• A simple breakdown of inflation, the dollar, and why he loves gold, silver, and real estate

• How home inspectors can use their X-ray vision to buy under-market properties and outplay hedge funds

• The smartest exit strategy for solo inspectors: building a multi-inspector firm and selling it to your own team

• Why commercial inspections are the next level (from “hundreds” to “thousands”) and how CCPIA fits in

• How to use an SBA-compliant business plan to get funding and transition into commercial inspections

• The hidden role your spouse and fear of failure play in how much risk—and reward—you’re willing to take

To connect with IEB using the following links:

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

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Highlights
Email: support@iebcoaching

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Building a home inspection company from scratch? This episode breaks down what actually works—how to ramp from zero to steady bookings, add team members the right way, and build a culture people fight to be part of. If you want a business that outlives your toolbelt, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn / Highlights

• The real reason solo inspection businesses sell for less—and how to build transferable value

• How Kyle ramped to 5–6 inspections/week in ~90 days after moving markets

• Who to hire first (client care vs. inspector) and why it depends on your life season

• Practical culture plays: “Duck-season Fridays,” parental leave, and flexible time without chaos

• Handling callbacks + conflict: turn angry calls into long-term trust (scripts + mindset)

• Perfectionism vs. progress: beating the “all-or-nothing” trap so your team can actually scale

• Mission • Vision • Values • Culture (MVVC): using it for interviews, accountability, and buy-in

• Why masterminds/annual planning (IEB) compress years of trial-and-error into weeks

Chapters (timestamps)
00:00 Intro & why building the right way matters
01:12 Kyle’s first company sale (solo vs. sellable business)
05:33 Moving to a new market: starting from zero again
09:18 Hitting 5–6 inspections/week in 90 days—what changed
12:45 Agents, retention risk, and why “they loved you” matters in a sale
16:02 Who to hire first: client care vs. inspector (season of life lens)
19:55 Culture plays that actually work (duck season, paternity leave, flexibility)
24:38 Small team = no slack: hiring only people you truly want to work with
28:41 Building MVVC you’ll actually use (not corporate wallpaper)
33:10 Training a new Client Care Coordinator in real time (“build the plane in the air”)
37:25 Perfectionism vs. progress for inspectors (and owners)
41:03 Callbacks & conflict: the mindset that turns heat into loyalty
45:27 Scripts for calming sellers/agents and fixing what matters
49:40 Annual planning & why masterminds pay for themselves (IEB)
53:22 How to know you’re ready to add your first team member
56:10 Wrap-up + how to connect with Kyle & Matt

To connect with IEB using the following links:

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

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Email: support@iebcoaching

Send us a text

What if the plumbing system in your home is a ticking time bomb, and no one told you? In this eye-opening episode of Inspector Empire Builder, host Matt Williams sits down with home inspection veteran John Bolton to dig deep into a growing controversy that could impact millions of homes: is PEX piping heading down the same disastrous path as polybutylene and Kitec?

Home inspectors, realtors, and homeowners alike need to hear this. John shares decades of industry experience and recently uncovered research revealing that PEX, used in countless modern homes, is beginning to show alarming signs of deterioration, contamination, and system failure. With lawsuits brewing, insurance companies pulling back, and hidden dangers lurking inside the walls, this episode doesn’t just raise questions, it blows the whistle.

Matt and John cover:

The shocking parallels between PEX and past plumbing disasters like polybutylene and Kitec

Mold growth inside water lines and what it means for your drinking water

The health risks of microplastics and chemical leaching from PEX

How insurance companies are reacting, and why that matters for your next inspection

What every inspector should start including in their reports to protect themselves and their clients

Takeaways:

PEX piping has documented issues with mold, chemical leaching, and UV degradation.

Some insurance companies in Florida already restrict coverage for homes with PEX.

PEX degradation can begin within the first year, it doesn't take decades.

Inspectors should consider carefully-worded disclosures to protect against liability.

Awareness is growing, and this could be the next nationwide plumbing crisis.

“We’re putting things in houses today that we’ll regret in ten years, we just don’t know which ones yet.” - Matt Williams

Inspectors: take this seriously. Subscribe, share this episode, and journal your current disclosure practices around PEX. Be proactive before the industry forces your hand.

To connect with IEB using the following links:

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

Website

Instagram

Email: support@iebcoaching