I started in residential concrete in 1996 and spent the better part of 20 years in the field — forming, pouring, finishing, running crews as a foreman, and eventually co-owning Gillespie Concrete Construction, where I handled estimating, scheduling, subcontractors, and day-to-day operations. Concrete is unforgiving work. Slabs, footings, foundations, and flatwork either get done right the first time or they don't, and a homeowner is living with that decision for the next 40 years. That background shapes how I look at a house. I start at the bottom, because that's where the expensive problems begin.
From there I moved into inspection work. I inspected new construction for quality and warranty compliance at 2M Quality, checking builders' work before homeowners took possession. I inspected existing and new homes for energy code compliance, which means building envelope, insulation, air sealing, ductwork, and mechanical systems. And I've done insurance field work, documenting condition and loss for carriers. Between those roles I've been through a lot of houses with a lot of different questions in mind, and I've read blueprints and construction drawings for most of my career — I hold associate degrees in drafting and architectural technology on top of the trade experience.
I'm a licensed Alabama home inspector and a Certified Professional Inspector through InterNACHI. I also hold an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate and a UAS certificate, so on steep, high, or damaged roofs I can put a drone up and get clear photographs of what's actually happening on the surface instead of guessing from the ground or the eave. You see the same images I do.
What that adds up to for you is a straight answer. I'll tell you what needs attention now, what to plan for down the road, and what's simply normal wear for a house of this age and construction. I'm not trying to talk you out of a home, and I'm not going to soften something because a deal is riding on it. Buy it or walk away — either one is fine with me, as long as you're making the decision with real information.