Meet JoVonn P. Jefferson of JPJ Home Inspections in Marrietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to JoVonn P. Jefferson.

JoVonn, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I always tell people that I did not choose to be a home inspector but instead I chose to be an entrepreneur, and home inspecting chose me. I remember it like it was yesterday. My wife and I had won a bid on a home and were in search of a home inspector, and once we finally got the inspector booked, I decided to come to the inspection, little did I know that this would be a game-changer for me. Because we had purchased multiple homes before, I understood that most inspectors prefer to be left alone while inspecting to make sure they do not miss anything, and usually, I do not attend the inspection. This time I believe that it was God’s plan being executed. I respected the unwritten protocol and let the inspector do his job without breathing down his neck and asking a bunch of questions, but I couldn’t help but to realize that I was about to pay him a nice amount of money for a service that I felt confident that I could provide myself.

After all, after I was done with the basketball career, I went to carpentry school and learned how to build a house from the ground up, so I was familiar with all the workings of home. Once the inspector was done, my curiosity leads me to inquire about getting into the business, and once I got the information, I was enrolled the next day for the six-month training course. After completing my training, the same inspector that inspected our house and provided me with information brought me on board with his company and allowed me to get hands-on experience for four months, and then I was able to partner up with another reputable home inspector to gain valuable hands-on experience for additional three months. I chose to be an entrepreneur, and after seven months of hands-on experience, it was time for me to step out on faith and start JPJ Home Inspections. Starting out, I knew I had the knowledge and the know-how to inspect a home, I just did not know how I would find my niche to really build my business and my brand.

So the first six months were really a struggle because I didn’t know how to market myself in a way that would attract a realtor. But, one day I was riding in my truck and remembered a conversation that the last inspector I worked with had with a realtor. Although he was doing well for himself, she asked why he did not have a presence on social media. It was like a lightbulb went off; it was time for me to sell myself. I have never been afraid of the camera, I had played basketball on tv countless times, and have done interviews, never lacked confidence, so it was only natural that I would see what I could generate through social media. I did my research and noticed that realtors, lenders, mortgage brokers, builders, and almost every other real estate professional had a strong presence on Instagram and Facebook, but it was hard to find any home inspectors that used the platforms effectively.

That was it, that was my niche. I literally doubled my business in six months by being me on social media, and part of being me is always having an attitude of gratitude. As a successful home inspector, I fully comprehend the value of the realtors that trust me with their clients, and because of that understanding, I use social media to genuinely show appreciation to my realtors and give them shout-outs every time I’m booked by their client. This is literally how I built my business. It doesn’t hurt that I also service all of Georgia, provide a flexible schedule, same-day reports, and lifetime callbacks. But the foundation of my success is God first, then my realtors. I love what I do and because I love what I do, it makes me want to be the best at it.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has not been smooth, but it has been worth it. During the first six months of existence, I would weeks at a time where I would no inspections, or maybe one or two. These was the most frustrating times. To know you have the knowledge, the customer service, and the desire to provide a good product, but no one book you, it was tough. My grandmother uses to tell me that there is one thing that all pilots know that sometimes the roughest part of a flight is the take-off. She would say that there is gravity pulling the plane down, turbulence, and sometimes you have to go through a storm, but they continue to go up and fight through all that and eventually get to a level where all that stuff is beneath the plane, and then they put the plane on auto pilot. The story resonates with me every day because I believe every day is a new take-off with JPJ Home Inspections because I’m trying to get better every day.

Please tell us about JPJ Home Inspections.
JPJ Home Inspections LLC is my own residential and commercial home inspection business that services the entire state of Georgia. I conduct inspections on residential and commercial properties to check for compliance and assess if there are hazards or structural defects. This entails examining both the interior and exterior of the property, including roof, foundation, electrical and plumbing, and HVAC. Typically, a home inspection is performed for clients buying or selling properties. Residential inspections include single-family homes, condos/townhomes, multi-family homes, and apartments. Commercial inspections include storefronts, churches, stand-alone, and restaurants. As you can see, JPJ Home Inspections is a full-service inspection business that prides itself on personal professionalism. This company has made me proud for so many reasons, but the solid reputation within the Georgia real estate community is what I am most proud of. I believe what sets me apart is my realtors, I am blessed to be teammates with some of the best and most productive agents in the real estate game, and my success is a product of their success.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I honestly have no regrets on how I started, I learned so much about myself, business, and God during the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jpjhomeinspections.com/
• Phone: 6784692009
• Email: Jpjinspect@gmail.com
• Instagram: jpjinspect

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