Loss of job leads Gary Manley to home inspection

By Editor | January 9, 2013 |

It is a common and wise practice for a potential buyer of a vehicle to have it checked over by a qualified and knowledgeable person to determine if there are any existing problems or conditions that may cause future problems or safety hazards that would require expensive repairs or replacements.

Gary Manley saw the need for a potential buyer of a house or other structure to have the same access to that assurance and peace of mind concerning the even-greater notable worth of investment in their home or business … or for the peace of mind of knowing a person’s present home is safe and sound of structure.
Thus, he began to prepare to provide that service and in the year 2011, Assurance Home Inspection Service was launched by Gary and Christy Manley.
In the Beginning
Gary Manley had the knowledge, experience and motivation to begin the service that his business, Assurance Home Inspection Service, provides for both potential buyers of houses and also for homeowners who desire to have their home checked over for safety’s sake.
Through the service, he helps to avoid any surprises down the road, which, if let go, could lead to more expensive repair or replacement work.
He said, “I was a commercial industrial roofer for 12 years,” which certainly qualifies him for expertise inspection of roofs. As his employer downsized, Gary found himself unemployed, and he couldn’t find another job in that field that would pay him adequately for his experience.
“We had toyed with the idea (of home inspection) for a while, even when I was employed and things were going good at the old job,” he said.
“We talked about it right after I lost my job, but I thought I had another job lined up. But that wasn’t working out, so finally we just had to bite the bullet and say, ‘All right, we are going to do this.’”
Gary took the training Illinois requires for a home inspection license.
Becoming certified, he started going around to let the right businesses and people know who he was, what service he offered and where he was located.
“I’ve been doing inspections for over a year and a half now,” he said.
He seems to be the only one in Fayette County to provide the service, and none within a 30-mile radius. He hopes to see the business grow more in the future.
“Inspections of houses are not required, such as when banks give the loans for purchase,” Christy said. “It is just, do they want to spend the money to have it inspected, just for their own peace of mind, knowing that the house they are buying is going to be their home and is it safe."
“I don’t think people realize how inexpensive it is,” Gary said. “My inspections start out at $200 for a small home and then goes up by footage from there.”
The Home Inspector
“When you are putting up $50,000 to $100,000 to buy a home, it is just a drop in the bucket to know that there is nothing wrong with the house, or to find out that there is something major wrong with it that will require extensive, and expensive, repair,” he said.
Christy said that a potential buyer sometimes just sees the “ribbons and bows” (convenient cute kitchen, pretty interior, use of space, etc.), and doesn’t see problems.
“I don’t look and say, ‘Oh that is really pretty wallpaper,’ or ‘I like what they did here,’” Gary said. “I’m there to see the cracks in the walls, the problems or creaks in the floors, the basement walls,” Manley said.
“But I can’t see everything,” Manley said. “If there is an electrical problem within the wall, for example, I won’t know that unless it shows up at an outlet.
But if there is a crack or some indication that there is a leak, that will be in my report, and I will suggest they have someone come out and look at it before they buy the house.”
‘Up on the Housetop’…
… Check, check, check.
Having worked so long in roof construction, Gary knows what to look for.
“I go up the ladder and walk over the whole roof. I can tell approximately how old the roof is and what it is going to need to be replaced if it has damage of any kind, I’ll report it and take pictures of it,” he said. “If the chimney needs tuckpointing, or anything done to it, they are going to know about it.
“Usually, I can tell pretty quickly if the roof is put on right, too,” he said.
He told of one inspection, in another county. “An inspector had been called in to inspect the roof before, and they were having me re-inspect it because of a bad termite problem, after they bought the house.
“When I re-inspected the roof, there had been no starter shingle put on, and the wind and rain could easily get under it.
Manley Reports and Only Recommends
“I only report and recommend repairs, replacements, ” Gary said.
“It is up to the owner or potential buyer what they want to do, but at least I make them aware of safety issues, something that could be a problem down the road.
“I will get the information on air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, on how old they are, their condition, etc., and give them the information on the average life span of them. Some will last longer than the average expectation, but it will at least give them some idea.”
Inspections also cover…
… Partial inspections of a person’s home, mobile homes, manufactured homes, new constructions, etc.
“I also do partial inspections for individuals, such as someone’s chimney, at a much-reduced price, of course,” Gary said.
“And it is not just when you are buying a house, but also when you are selling a house, so you will know what you want to fix to sell it,” he said. “I have someone right now that wants me to inspect his house before they list it to sell, so they can know what is wrong and what they should fix.”
Not Just A Job
“I love what I do,” Gary said. “It’s nice to be someplace new every time I’m out.
“I see different styles of houses, I see the good and the bad (features), I can see electrical panels that work perfectly,” like the one his brother-in-law did. Gary inspected it, and was describing how perfectly it was done, not knowing his relative did it.
“Then I see panels that makes me wonder what they were thinking when they wired it, “ he saids.
The Name, Assurance Home Inspection Service …
… was chosen because, “I wanted something that would give people a sense of security, that I was going to do a thorough job.
“I like to help people and I want to do a good job for them. They may not always get the best news from me, but at least they are getting information that they need, and can depend on,” Gary said.
The Family Manley…
… consists of Gary and Christy, and children, Arika, 16, and Aaron, 4. They are members of the First Baptist Church in Vandalia. Christy is employed in the office of Dr. Brent Schwarm.
They are a close family and a compassionate one, toward other people and causes. “And I feel that God has had a hand in this,” Gary said, as he feels the loss of a 12-year job led to the decision to “bite the bullet” and establish this service.