QUALITY HOME CONSULTANTS

Written by Dave Danielson Photography by Juliana Garske Jim Rauland

Integrity and Information

In the long race to the closing table and to the finish line, the process is filled with moving parts.

Through it all, it’s good to know you can count on partners who are knowledgeable, experienced and passionate about helping others.

These are qualities that describe Quality Home Consultants, and their Co-Owners Jim and Jennifer Rauland, who serve area residents with integrity and information.

A Wealth of Experience

Jim brings a wealth of experience to his work.

“I was a builder and contractor in the 1990s and found it difficult to staff our jobs with qualified labor that would show up every day. So I found a new path I really enjoyed — the home inspection field,” Jim recalls.

After working for another inspection company for a time, Jim started his own company in 1999. Business kept growing, and Jim hired four inspectors. When the economic downturn hit, work slowed down, and Jim started again with QHC.

Today, Quality Home Consultants (QHC) has eight inspectors and a continuing reputation for results that have added up to more than 27,000 inspections completed.

Building Their Best

Through time, Jim and Jennifer have added new services to their repertoire.

“We do everything from radon inspections, water testing, well testing, septic system inspections, termite inspections and, of course, home inspections,” Jim explains. “We’ll also do pre-listing inspections.”

These services are becoming increasingly valuable during these COVID-19 times. “With COVID, we’re finding that people are taking advantage of getting their house inspected before it goes on market,” Jim points out. “Often, the buyers can use our inspection and they don’t have to have an additional one done. With a seller using our report, they can usually negotiate off the inspection sheet. Some sellers include our report and attach it to the listing. That makes the whole process more streamlined … and it also eliminates the amount of foot-traffic that needs to come through their house.”

Beyond the Deal

The value Quality Home Consultants brings goes way beyond the deal.

“Another service we provide is an annual home inspection for a reduced cost of $200. It’s not a full-blown inspection when you buy a house; it’s an abbreviated review; including items like the roof, attic, and under the house,” Jim says. “We make sure there are no moisture issues, damaged shingles or flashing on the roof. In general, we work to identify potential issues that can be identified early on.”

Jim, Jennifer and the team added septic inspections last year after receiving more than 700 requests for this service in 2018.

“As a result, we bought a septic truck and hired team members experienced with that service,” he says.

The septic service has been well-received and is thriving.

Team Spirit

Supporting the team in the field are three “top-flight” professional administrative team members.

As Jim says, “They are awesome! With our three administrative team members, we provide something that makes a difference. When someone needs something, we have three people in the office to answer the call, so there’s always someone they can reach if there are any issues, rather than needing to leave a message.”

In the field, the Quality Home Consultants team brings immense quality to its work.

“All of our inspectors come from a building background and they know what they’re looking at ... We have monthly meetings to discuss report writing and other inspection-related issues that result in ongoing training for our inspectors. Report writing is huge for us,” Jim emphasizes. “We want to convey those results to clients without scaring them about things … and to keep them informed without alarming them. It’s important.”

Life’s Foundations

Away from work, Jim cherishes time with Jennifer, and their four children — 7-year-old, Carter, 4-year-old, Kennedy, and 2-year-old twins, Slater and Archer.

In his free time, Jim has his pilot’s license and enjoys flying and showing his oldest child how it’s done. The outdoors are a favorite place for the Rauland family to be — spending time fishing and swimming.

Giving back to the community is a big part of their lives. Jim and his family sponsor St. Gerard House, a school for autistic children. They help with donations, fundraising and sponsoring children to be able to enter the school.

At the end of the day, customers are more informed and able to make better decisions with the work Quality Home Consultants delivers.

“It makes us feel good to know people hire us to give them some insight on what they’re purchasing. It’s about the relationships we build. We’re here for them with any questions they may have down the line … things like where the main water shutoff is,” Jim says. “We go beyond the inspection. We send them reminders about homeownership and tips on maintenance. We’re their neighbors, and we want to be their ongoing resource. We love living here. We love the people and we feel blessed to be able to do what we do.”

For more information about Quality Home Consultants: Web: www.QualityHomeConsultants.com Email: QualityHomeConsultants@gmail.com Phone: 828-687-7221

Jim RaulandQUALITY HOME CONSULTANTS