Brian & Lauren Marcy

Welcome to the Grand Life

By Amanda Matkowski

Photos by Jacob Harr with harr Creative LLC

Just two weeks shy of their wedding in 2015, Brian and Lauren Marcy established Grand Home Inspection. “I must have been delirious during the wedding planning because I agreed to let Brian leave his stable engineering career with something like $2,500 in the bank,” Lauren said, laughing. “However, it taught us the most important lesson: Pursue what brings you joy and purpose, and everything else will fall into place.”

Since then, Grand Home Inspection has become West Michigan’s fastest growing inspection business. Their team has grown to six people, and they are currently seeking more talent to add to the group. “Every day, we seek to up the bar in the inspection industry,” Brian said. “For us, that’s through building a team of top talent who can provide unparalleled customer service.” Due to their focus on customer service, Grand Home Inspection has doubled their business year over year for the past three years.

The husband-and-wife team agree that, although many other similar businesses also provide good inspections, they do not place importance on building relationships with their clients and therefore lack the same principles that guide Grand Home Inspection. In addition to their clients, the Marcys are also invested in the success of their real estate partners. They enjoy gifting business books, leading classes, and encouraging their partners to take risks and pursue big, ambitious goals.

“We know a successful agent needs a reliable team on their side,” Lauren said. “We have seen, time and time again, an agent convert from seeing us as the necessary evil to partnering with us at the eleventh hour to help put together a winning offer. A good inspector really can be the difference when it comes to closing a deal or earning a repeat client or referral.”

Along with supporting clients and agents, Brian and Lauren credit their team and everyone’s defined roles within the business as factors that contribute to their excellent customer service. “Clarity is what sets our business apart,” Brian said. “We’ve found that we can provide the best service possible when our team focuses on their primary strengths and isn’t forced to perform bad-fit tasks. As a result, our team is happier and our service is exponentially better.”

When it comes to their business, Brian and Lauren believe that it has become increasingly personal as they strive for outstanding customer service. “It’s no longer to do your best inspection or to negotiate the best deals. People want to be a part of something more meaningful,” Brian said. Lauren added, “The biggest joy we get as business owners is pouring into our team and helping them achieve their goals. If you find the right people, you can achieve anything.”

Their willingness to adapt to changing market conditions has also helped their real estate partners to succeed. “We see the 10-day inspection period as a thing of the past, and we adapted our business model to meet that expectation,” the couple said. “We have committed to providing same-day or next-day inspections so buyers have more options than waiving or hoping they can get an offer accepted within a 10-day window.” Grand Home Inspection was also one of the first inspection services in the area to provide online scheduling.

As we grow, our ability to help others grows.

Although Brian and Lauren agree that they love seeing clients succeed in their goals, the most rewarding aspect of working together is being able to appreciate what the other person has accomplished professionally. “We truly are the yin and yang and align perfectly together,” Brian said. Lauren added, “When you understand each other on a deep level, you can help each other achieve your version of individual and collective success.”

Family time is incredibly important to the Marcys, and they enjoy quality moments with their two daughters — Zara, 4, and Frankie, 2. “We live on a small private lake, so we spend a lot of time on the water and at the neighborhood beach,” Brian shared.

In 2020, the family spent an entire month in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and is looking forward to visiting the area again this winter. “Frankie was only 3 months old the first time, so I’m excited to see her splashing in the waves and creating her own fun. This time, she’ll be old enough to accompany Zara on our morning walks to the bakery, which was one of our favorite rituals during our last stay,” Brian recalled.

The Marcys are energized by what is to come as their business continues to expand. “As we grow, our ability to help others grows,” the couple said. “We’re on a mission to build something special so we can serve others as they pursue their dreams of homeownership, business growth or whatever their big, wild goals may be. It’s what we live for.”

For more information about Grand Home Inspection, visit grandhomeinspection.com.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT -- Brian & Lauren Marcy from Grand Home Inspection