For one couple, it was all they needed.

When you hail from West Virginia, the last place you think you’ll land is…well…the last frontier. 

Sometimes, the northern lights and business ventures align just right, and you find yourself pouring into a clientele that delights (and invests in) a more rugged way of life. 

For Jamie and Jenice Brough, it was the perfect fit. In 2015 they uprooted their lives from West Virginia, moved to Alaska, and hit the ground running. 

With heavy military backgrounds on both sides, Jamie and Jenice both grew up with a healthy understanding of discipline and integrity. When you meet them, this is one of the first things you’ll notice. However, your interactions with them may differ from what you’d expect, given their history; military backgrounds don’t often equate to ‘family-friendly.’ Right? 

Spoiler alert: Jamie was voted Friendliest Guy in the Valley in 2019 and came in second place in recent years! He was also voted Best Home Inspector in the Valley in 2022.

No Drill Instructors here. Just a humble, inspirational husband and wife team making waves in the world of home inspections. 

Jamie is an Air Force vet who prides himself on providing a positive environment for both clients and employees, as well as the highest quality of customer service - no exceptions. 

For Jenice? It means honesty and integrity, first and foremost. 

Together, they are the proud owners of the Pillar to Post franchise for all of Alaska. Providing homebuyers with an exceptional experience not only sets them apart - it sets the standard. Jenice and Jamie have both experienced less-than-stellar customer service in their careers, and they agreed that if they were going to go all in, they wanted to create an experience unlike any other in the home inspection arena. 

This meant providing not only stellar service upfront - but building a lasting relationship that offered homebuyers a safe, welcoming and informed experience from start to finish on every transaction.

When you work with Jenice and Jamie, you have 3 Pillar to Post packages you can choose from: Plus, Premium and Prestige. While the Plus is your basic package, you still receive a virtual tour in addition to your home inspection. When you choose Premium, you are giving yourself additional peace of mind in also receiving a measured floor plan, a run-through with an infrared camera and moisture meter, as well as a Pillar to Post Home Manual, which includes a detailed digital manual for each and every appliance in the home! 

When was the last time your home inspector rolled out the red carpet for you? 

What many would consider “extras” are the norm for Pillar to Post. This is a huge bonus, specifically for those who are buying from out of state. With limited time to scout dozens of homes, especially in the vastness of Alaska, the Pillar to Post process helps homebuyers cut out a ton of the time-consuming nitty gritty. Additionally, because virtual tours are not doctored in any way, it gives homebuyers the chance to see the real home in all its natural glory - unlike listing photos that are often edited to add space and brightness. Virtual tours tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! 

Now, it begs the question…Alaska isn’t exactly known for its ease of travel. How does this husband and wife team get around to all these inspections amidst wild and often unforgiving weather and terrain? And how do they decide where to go?

“If we can get there with a truck, we’ll consider it.” Simple as that! 

Jamie and Jenice are also avid RV-ers, and quickly implemented the RV life into their careers. Sometimes inspections will be in areas where hotels are not readily available, so they will make a trip out of it. They’ll hook up the RV, arrive at their destination on a Saturday morning, host the inspection that afternoon and stick around to discuss the details with the client and REALTOR® as desired. Being able to extend this service on weekends has been a welcome treat for homebuyers and sellers! 

Where haven’t they been able to go yet? Well, they’ve received numerous requests for Ketchikan and Kodiak. While they are not able to get there just yet, don’t worry…their sights are set and they hope to be able to make those treks sooner than later. The furthest areas they have traveled thus far include Homer and Valdez. 

What do they love the most about the business? Easy. 

First-time homebuyers, and that no two days are ever the same. 

“You could have the same builder building two houses next to each other, and they won’t ever be the same. There is no monotony,” Jenice says. “This tends to be what reels people into real estate.”

In addition to providing a 5 star experience, Jamie and Jenice also place a heavy emphasis on education. Jamie recommends setting up an inspection a few months ahead of time if you know you are going to sell. It gives you time to address any repairs without the pressure of having to rush and accommodate at the last minute. He also explains the importance of regular home maintenance like painting, caulking, and roof repairs. 

After over 3,000 home inspections since their inception in April of 2017, (over half of which were inspected by Jamie himself), he can pick up on any discrepancies pretty quickly. He can tell within 10 minutes of walking into a home if it’s been taken care of or not, and he takes great care to explain in detail what needs to be done in order to make a successful transaction for buyer and seller. 

What’s one of the biggest things they want people to know about home inspections?

“Skipping them is a bad idea. It doesn’t affect me at all whether the transaction goes through or not.” But it affects both the buyer and seller! Do your due diligence, and it will save you a world of headaches later. 

Seeing where they are now, it’s hard to imagine their humble beginnings. But when you meet Jamie or Jenice, don’t be afraid to ask about their first year. They are no strangers to sharing their modest start! In their first seven months in business, Jamie did one home inspection. One! Now at over 500 per year, it’s inspiring to see their journey continue to unfold. They have big dreams, and with inspirations like local legends Jeremy and Heather Hongslo (former owners of TCM Restoration), they are well on their way to following in their tread tracks.

In the beginning stages, Jenice continued working for an insurance company while helping Jamie on the side to get the company off the ground. While the goal had always been to ultimately work together, Jenice hadn’t been ready to make the leap until she finally decided she was tired of the exhausting life of insurance. When she finally leaped, it made all the difference. By the 2.5 year mark, Jamie had been doing all the appointments, marketing, and inspections…and therefore sometimes missing calls and inspections! He knew he needed help and knew he needed people smarter than him to help the business continue to grow. As he shares, “I’d still be where I was then if she hadn’t made the jump.” 

Now, they both put a deep focus on who they want to work with and knowing when it’s time to grow. In being able to call the shots, they take pride in carefully choosing who they want to work with and maintaining their culture of honesty, integrity and communication. 

“Not all business is good business. We try to stick to this,” Jamie says. “I want to be around positive people. I don’t have the energy to have other people suck away my energy. As you age, it becomes more about having the right people around you. Our admins and inspectors are team members - we don’t call them employees.” 

Jenice adds, “We’re in control of this. We stand by honest and ethical business. We’re not going to change reports to appease anyone.” 

In a full-circle moment, both shared the word ‘integrity.’ What does this mean to them?

“We stand behind our work. When mistakes happen, it’s important to stand behind your business and correct it. We are completely transparent. We don’t sponsor charity events because we’re trying to promote our business, we sponsor because those organizations and causes mean something to us. Veterans and at-risk youth are very important to us. Anybody who wants to know those reasons can call us up for a cup of coffee and ask.” 

With Jamie’s Air Force career and family members serving in the Marines, Army and Navy, it’s no secret that they are passionate about serving the military and veteran community. They focus on assisting local nonprofits that do more to help veterans outside of the VA system, and regularly support Alaska’s Healing Hearts, Battle Dawgs and Fallen Outdoors. 

It’s hard not to feel like you’re sitting with family when you get to share even just five minutes with this powerhouse couple, who would never claim the title ‘powerhouse’ on their own. Their grit and tenacity coupled with their compassion and grace for others is unmatched and has no doubt played a role in their continued growth and success. There’s no doubt they’ve earned it, but what keeps them inspired?

“When we first started in the franchise, we went to an annual event and made a point to talk to as many people as we could and learn as much as we could. This past year at that same event, newer folks were seeking US out to meet us and ask questions. It was a crazy feeling, and I guess a sign that we’re making the right decisions,” Jamie says with a gentle chuckle. 

With that same humble character, Jenice and Jamie offered what they would share to someone starting out in the business. 

“Go to as many networking events as you can and get plugged into what feels right. Recognize when you get good vibes. There are good back-and-forth conversations that happen in networking that are worth spending your time on. Our first year would have been a lot smoother if we had given the necessary time to networking.”

And a final nugget, 

“Go talk to other business owners in your field. Sounds counterproductive, right? The good ones know there is enough work for everybody. You can’t lift your business by putting another one down.” 

In this industry? That attitude can be hard to come by but it sure is refreshing when you find it. Alaska is full of diamonds in the rough, and Jenice and Jamie exemplify what it means to be leaders, role models, and challengers of the status quo in their own way. 

With a level of compassionate and trustworthy service that goes far beyond the norm, Jamie and Jenice Broughs' offerings through Pillar to Post have changed the game of home inspections, and in turn, changed the game of the journey to homeownership. In setting the standard as high as they have, they continue to raise the bar and in the process, make a whole lot of friends along the way - all over this wild frontier we all love to call home. 

For more information on all the services offered by Pillar to Post, please visit their website at jamiebrough.pillartopost.com.