Josh Holland never had any intention of owning his own business. An army veteran who served three tours in Iraq, he began looking for career opportunities after he retired from the army in 2013. It was then that he was connected with a HomeTeam Inspection Service franchise owner who offered to sell Holland his business. With that offer, Holland immediately saw an opportunity to apply his leadership and interpersonal skills within the growing home inspection franchise. 

What officially sold him was the brand: it’s unique team-based approach compared to the traditional home inspection process is what convinced Holland that this was a business model worth pursuing, and one that had a leg-up against competitors. 

“We always have at least two inspectors on each inspection,” said Holland. “We do follow-up calls as well, unlike a lot of inspectors — especially in my area — that tend to avoid calling back. They also don't use a team approach; they just send one person out to inspect a home and it usually takes them three or four hours.”  

This innovative approach to inspections allows each person on-site to focus on their portion of the report and do it accurately and efficiently. Overall, the process takes about an hour, and the report is issued within 24 hours or less. 

Before buying his HomeTeam locations that span the counties of Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, southern Levy and western Marion Holland met with members of the HomeTeam executive team, including Adam Long, HomeTeam’s president, and was immediately impressed with the franchise’s welcoming atmosphere and the knowledge and experience of the corporate team. 

“Everyone just felt like a family to me,” said Holland. “I was skeptical as far as getting into a franchise, but when I got there and met everybody and saw the team environment, I realized they were there to help. They care about the brand and want everyone to succeed.”

As soon as Holland met with the team and they laid out the support he’d receive while still owning his own business, he was in. 

“They help with everything you need to get started as a new owner and to run a successful long term business — the marketing, the branding, the training, everything,” said Holland. 

Now, seven years later, Holland has witnessed HomeTeam grow into an established franchise brand with more than 200 territories across the country. In turn, he has grown alongside it and expanded his portfolio to become a multi-unit owner. Over the years, Holland has continued to identify unique points of differentiation between HomeTeam and its competitors, including its state-of-the-art technology and unmatched reporting time.

“Josh brings tremendous potential to HomeTeam,” said Long. He’s smart, has incredible drive and is a true team player who really understands why sticking with a proven business model pays big dividends. He’s an excellent example of the type of HomeTeam franchisee we want in our system.” 

The level of convenience and accuracy that HomeTeam provides eases the burden of the selling and buying process for both agents and clients alike, and the brand’s reputation for excellence has allowed it to expand to serve more than 200 territories nationwide. Now, as HomeTeam continues to be a leading choice among real estate agents, Holland sees the capability for the brand to double or triple in size in the coming years.

Holland emphasized that HomeTeam goes above and beyond to guarantee customer satisfaction — and sometimes that means just picking up the phone.  

“We are available for phone calls if anyone ever has a question — client or agent,” said Holland. “It’s important for local real estate agents to know the scope of the services that we offer, and that we work hard to build valuable and lasting relationships with real estate agents in our communities.”