Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Swanson.
Hi Daniel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2011, having been a commercial inspector for a company in Anaheim for almost ten years, I found myself in contract on a home with an accepted offer, my first child on the way, and getting laid off of work… After searching for comparable work and pay, only to come up empty-handed, I decided to go into business for myself as there didn’t seem to be any real security in working for someone else, anyway.
This time, focusing on residential. I went knocking on realty broker doors and passing my cards out to anyone who was or knew a realtor. It took a couple of years to build my business to where it could sustain us but once it got traction, it took off. Since then, I haven’t looked back. Swanson Inspections has been faithfully serving Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and L.A. Counties now for 12 years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The beginning was slow going. Fortunately, my wife had a great job that was floating the both of us when I found I hadn’t had enough work to pay the bills.
Once business took off, I found myself accepting every job that came in. I was doing up to three inspections a day, working weekends and staying up all night to write the reports. It didn’t take long for me to start to wear out. The initial excitement kept me going for a couple of years but after that, I started experiencing “Inspector Burnout”. I needed to slow down but I didn’t want to lose by referral base by disappointing the agent who called me on a regular basis. I struggled with this for another couple of years before finally having to make a decision. Satisfying my mental health or satisfying every call.
After successfully slowing down to a manageable pace and keeping it for a few years, the real estate market started fluctuating. Things went from steady to slow in 2016. I found myself booking anything I could to keep afloat. Then, business picked back up and was status quo up to 2020. COVID hit and the world shut down. Real estate kept working but it did slow down and get funky for a while. Once interest rates sank to rock bottom numbers, houses started selling faster than ever before seen. Business started looking completely different in this COVID/Post COVID time.
Typically, once an offer was accepted on a home, the buyer had 17 days to complete their due diligence. With a flood of buyers fighting for any given home, bidding wars became normal and so did 7-day contingencies. That left me with usually about a 3-day window to get the inspection done. I was used to being booked out 14 days. Now, I couldn’t get a solid week of work booked out in advance. I was literally booking 2-3 days in advance. If I didn’t have availability in that window, they would call someone else. I think this is when my gray hair really came in.
Today, we still are seeing the short contingency periods but they are loosening up some. I’m now booking 4-5 days out.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Swanson Inspections is a one-man band. I do not have employees. I believe I would not be able to sustain the level of quality I expect if I relied upon employees to do inspections for me. I do both residential and commercial inspections. I have a reputation of thoroughness, clear reporting, being personable, punctual and reliable. For some of my clients, it’s a game to see if they can beat me to the inspection as they know I will always be early. I pride myself on this reputation and strive to keep it. My personal rule is clients and agents can be late. I cannot.
I’ve been told my ability to communicate issues to my clients is something that sets me apart from others. I also offer services not many in my area offer like Infrared camera scanning included in every inspection. I also have a sewer camera for scoping the waste lines if the client elects to do so. This is something that typically takes a plumber at a higher cost and at the expense of additional time scheduling to visit the property. I do it all during the scheduled inspection. I also have resources for various contractors if needed.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Starting my business was a huge risk. As I mentioned, we did this when we had an offer on a house accepted and a baby well on the way. But that risk was a very real motivator. But believing in yourself and more importantly, having someone who believes in you makes a risk seem more of a process than a risk. It makes all the difference in the world. In actuality, I don’t consider myself much of a risk-taker. I’m very conservative by nature.
Pricing:
- $425 is about the starting point for a home inspection.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SwansonInspections.com
- Instagram: @swansoninspections
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwansonInspections
- Twitter: @SwansonInspects
Image Credits
Infrared camera finding possible leaks in ceiling. Sewer camera finding roots in main sewer line. Infrared camera measuring water heater performance.
