Connect
To Top

Meet Andrew Powell of Pacific Crest Home Inspections of San Diego in Poway

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Powell.

Andrew, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Like many in San Diego, my wife and I are transplants. Originally from Eastern Oregon, she and I were dropped off here in 2008 by the Military. After deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, my time in the Marines was coming to an end so it was time to make plans for our future. I spent several late nights trying to decide what I truly enjoyed doing. I enjoyed spending time with my dad and grandfather while performing home renovations as a kid. I always thought I was going to be a contractor or an architect “when I grew up” so buying a house seemed like the right place to start. I was also trying to find a profession where my experience in aviation Quality Assurance inspections could fit in. Cue entering the real estate market!

I began my journey in real estate when my wife, Alyssa, and I were buying our first house together. I was transitioning out of the Marines at the time and we were in the market for a home inspection. We found our inspector online and met him at the property a few days later. That was when the light bulb clicked! I found myself following the inspector through the home (after some prompting from my wife) and found that he and I had the same background in the Marines. From that day on, I was hooked! I worked for his company for 8 years before deciding it was time to start my own company: Pacific Crest Home Inspections.

After opening my own business, I feel a refreshed sense of enthusiasm in the industry and truly enjoy educating my clients on the home buying experience. I always encourage my clients to follow me during the Inspection and to ask questions. After all, that is exactly how I got started all those years ago!

Has it been a smooth road?
After working for a well-established company for so many years, the prospect of heading out on my own was daunting to say the least. I received constant support from my wife, peers, family and colleagues encouraging me to start my own business. Let’s face it, change can be terrifying. The best way to beat the fear of the unknown is through education. My wife and I went online and ordered books by the dozen. So there we were, buried in books and hoping that we were covering all our bases.

Fortunately, I had a secret weapon. I remain very active on social media and work in a profession where, at the time, that was a rarity. I had been helping other home inspectors across the country answer questions from “what’s this” to the “how do I’s” for several years. When I announced that I was starting Pacific Crest Home Inspections, I was met with a plethora of resources from other established inspection companies.

The next challenge down the road is bringing on our first hire. Guess it’s time to hit the books again!

Please tell us about your work.
Well, let’s start with the name. Pacific Crest Home Inspections started as an idea of what was important to us. My wife and I are both from the Pacific Northwest and we have a great appreciation for the outdoors and a special love for the West Coast. Having lived in Oregon, Washington and California we had a hard time finding a name that would incorporate what truly means so much to us. The Pacific Crest Trail is a well-known trail that starts in Canada, extends through Washington, Oregon and California before ending in Mexico. Our name is based on that trail and embodies the portion of the country that has provided us the opportunity to be the people we are today.

After choosing a name, the rest began to fall into place. During my 8 years in the home inspection industry, I have performed over 3,500 home inspections individually. My main goal was to pass that knowledge on to my clients. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that you are always learning. I see something new every single day!

The next step was to decide what I wanted my business to stand for. I pride myself on providing an informative and personalized experience for every client. So much so that my slogan is “Specialized home inspections, with a personalized approach”. As a homeowner myself, I understand how intimidating the home buying process can be. This is also why the inspection is so important. I tell my clients, “The last thing I want is for you to move into your home and say ‘I wish I had known about…’ “. I have the opportunity to help buyers protect their investment! I also take extreme pride in the relationships I form with the client and the real estate agents. Being a home inspector, I find myself surrounded by so many great people. A vast majority of the real estate agents I find myself surrounded by are like-minded, fun loving and all around great people! This is why I am in business and I wake up every morning with a smile on my face!

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My favorite part about San Diego is that it is one big melting pot! It is a privilege to live in a city where so many people from so many places call home. Coming from a rural community, San Diego was a big change. I love that my children will grow up having the opportunity to experience other cultures and creeds. The number of opportunities that San Diego presents for education, culture, entertainment and (above all) cuisine seems endless! I would say that the only thing I miss living here is true seasons. However, winter is only a quick drive to any one of the amazing mountain towns close by.

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in