Big Moose Home Inspections

By Amanda Matkowski

Photos by Dawn Townsend Photography & Design

Big Moose Home Inspections lives up to its motto of “inspecting to a higher standard.” As a full-service home inspection company that services all of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin, it provides services such as septic and well inspections, water and air quality testing, mold and radon testing, and infrared imaging. The company is also the largest privately owned home inspection company in Michigan.

“We pride ourselves in our quality reputation,” Tom Ruemenapp, CEO of Big Moose, said. “Professionalism is our top priority — from our customer care services provided by our office staff to our inspectors in the field.”

Big Moose knows that part of its success comes from their stellar team, and it employs 26 home inspectors — several of whom are certified master inspectors — to thoroughly examine a client’s house. Tom is a certified master inspector as well, but he is also certified in log-home building and has inspected custom log homes throughout the Midwest. All phone calls — even if it’s after hours or on the weekends — are answered by a fully staffed scheduling team at the company’s own call center.

Other than its attentive staff, Big Moose’s success is also attributed to its ability to stay up-to-date on technological advancements within the industry. “Recently, the biggest advancements have been in infrared technology,” Tom explained. “All of our inspectors are equipped with infrared cameras and use infrared imaging in their reports.” The CEO of Big Moose was also the first home inspector to use digital reports in Northern Michigan.

Tom has been at Big Moose for 18 years, and his expertise has not gone unnoticed. He has been featured on the cover of an Alpena newspaper, and has won awards from Michigan and Wisconsin real estate boards for Affiliate of the Year.

Although Tom has a background in property and rental management, it was a friend who encouraged him to become an inspector. Tom’s work ethic was inspired by his father, Ernest, who worked simultaneously as a carpenter wood crafter and a Detroit correctional officer so he could provide for his eight children. Tom is also appreciative of the support his wife, Linda, has provided for him and his business.

Tom has a heart for mentorship and creates opportunities for hardworking people because he remembers a time when he was given a second chance in life. From 1992 to 2003, Tom spent those years in prison as a first-time offender for a drug infraction. He became a Christian just prior to his arrest while at a men’s retreat in Northern Michigan with his twin brother. Tom continued his faith walk during his imprisonment, and after his release, Tom led an addiction recovery ministry and is currently involved with Christian outreach ministries. He is grateful that his faith has transformed him from the inside out and is now happy to care and provide for the needs of others.

When Tom is not forming friendships with inspectors, clients and real estate agents, he is spending time with his large family. He and Linda have seven children and 15 grandchildren, and two of their children work for Big Moose. His oldest son, Chris, is an inspector, and his daughter Rachael does company marketing and events. Tom also enjoys spending time outdoors doing activities such as boating, camping, fishing, biking and hiking.

Although Tom takes great pride in the success of Big Moose, he would ultimately like to be known for his generosity. One way Tom shows his spirit of giving is by sponsoring several local real estate offices and donating to their charity fundraisers. “Building relationships with our real estate agents and clients, seeing the deals close and then hearing families move into their homes are the most fulfilling parts of our jobs,” Tom admitted. As a company that is “inspecting to a higher standard,” Big Moose Home Inspections certainly remembers to care for others as it continues to provide high-quality services throughout Michigan and Northern Wisconsin.

For more information about Big Moose Home Inspections, visit bigmoosehomeinspections.com.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT on Big Moose Home Inspections