Local Spotlight: Joe the Home Pro

At HeyNeighbor, we love highlighting businesses that make Southwest Florida stronger. This month’s Local Spotlight shines on Joe the Home Pro, a full-service home inspection company built on community, service, and relentless dedication to homeowners and realtors alike. From their story of humble beginnings to becoming one of the most trusted inspection companies in the region, Joe the Home Pro is a perfect example of local entrepreneurship in action.

ABOUT THE BUSINESS

Tell us about your business — what do you do and who do you serve?
We are a full-service, multi-inspector home inspection company servicing Marco Island to Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte. We serve homeowners, or future homeowners, depending on their inspection needs. Our company performs general home inspections, wind mitigation inspections, 4-pt inspections, radon testing, mold/air quality testing, and termite inspections.

How did you get started, and what inspired you to launch your business?
In 2013 I unexpectedly lost my job and I knew that I wanted to go work for myself. In 2014 I was watching a ton of HGTV and I came across this home inspector. I thought to myself, “I can do that!” So I started to look into the business and realized there was a gap in SWFL for good inspectors. I went through the training and in March 2015 we officially launched!

What’s your favorite part about running your business in this community?
SWFL has such a vibrant and fun housing market! We are in 30 homes a week, so it is a lot of fun to see the different types of homes and work with some amazing realtors and insurance agents here. This is a service-based company, so everything we do is about serving the great residents of SWFL.

THE LOCAL

What makes your business unique in your neighborhood?
Probably the fact that we have 4 inspectors on our team. This allows us to get to a home within 48 hours typically. I have also invested thousands of dollars into our software, which allows us to send reports out within 2 hours of finishing an inspection.

How do you stay connected with the local community?
Our 4th company pillar is Community Centric, which simply means we would not be here without the community. Every quarter we do a Joe The Home Pro Day of Service and I personally sit on several Boards and donate my time to non-profits around town. It is our duty to give back to the community.

What local partnerships or collaborations have been meaningful to you?
Our realtor organizations such as NABOR, MIIAR, BER, and Royal Palm Coast have been huge. I’m extremely active in NABOR and currently chair their Leadership Academy along with their Membership Committee. I also sit on their Events, Symposium, and Expo committees. In addition, we have several key partners in real estate and insurance, and by having these Preferred Partners in our program, it allows us to deliver even greater Relentless Service—our #1 core pillar.

CHALLENGES & WINS

What has been one of your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome it?
Scaling the company was a challenge—especially when realtors realized I personally might not always be the one doing inspections. It took time for them to get comfortable with that. The housing market and high cost of living in SWFL also make running a business challenging, especially with payroll compared to other areas.

What moment or milestone are you most proud of?
Winning Best of the Best Home Inspection Company for Naples (2022, 2023, 2024) and Fort Myers (2024). Also, launching our company nationwide through a licensing program, with our first location opening in Lynchburg, VA. And of course, our 100+ 5-star Google reviews—a true testament to the team and the job they do.

MARKETING & GROWTH

How have you used local advertising (like HeyNeighbor) to grow your business?
We attend and sponsor tons of networking events each week. I also do a lot of podcasting and interviews such as this. All of it has really helped us drive our messaging and increase brand awareness about who we are and what we do.

What’s one marketing tip you’d give to another small business owner?
You have to get out and network! The more people you meet, the more they can help spread the word about you. Also, be very intentional with your marketing dollars—not every sponsorship or event will give you the ROI you’re looking for.

JUST FOR FUN

What’s your go-to lunch spot or coffee place around here?
Boston Beer Garden has an awesome lunch special! For coffee, I like Narrative Coffee, and lately I’ve been taking a lot of meetings at Acopio.

If your business had a theme song, what would it be?
“Don’t Give Up” by Ryan Star.

Any funny or surprising stories from working with local customers?
Ohhh there are many! From someone putting a skeleton in the bedroom closet to a homeowner placing pillows under the sheets to make it look like someone was in bed. People often ask us what the craziest thing we’ve found is—and let’s just say it’s very interesting to see how people live. You can take that either way!

LOOKING AHEAD

What’s next for your business — any exciting plans or projects coming up?
We’re expanding into the Tampa area and hiring for an Area Director. We’re also pushing our licensing division, with a goal of helping 250 people become business owners in the next three years. In particular, I’d love to help veterans. Our licensing program costs just 1/10th of a typical franchise, making it affordable for more people to experience the joy of entrepreneurship.

How can people best support you right now?
By liking our social media pages, sharing our content, or referring us to friends and neighbors for inspections.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Joe the Home Pro (https://www.joethehomepro.com/) has become much more than a home inspection service—they’re a trusted partner to homeowners, realtors, and the entire SWFL community. With a foundation built on service, integrity, and connection, Joe and his team continue to grow while giving back to the place they call home.

👉 Want to learn more? Visit their website or connect with them on social media.