HomeTeam Inspection Service owner Charlie Crout and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate agent Jennifer Strubler work closely together to support homebuyers through the inspection process and beyond.
Teamwork and education are central to the HomeTeam Inspection Service model. Charlie Crout, a HomeTeam franchise owner, and Jennifer Strubler, a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate real estate agent, exemplify this perfectly. For Crout and Strubler, the professional relationship is about providing the best possible experience to homebuyers in Kane County, Illinois, but their connection goes beyond the end of the transaction.
Crout previously worked as the lead inspector of his HomeTeam business before purchasing the location intaking over in 2021. With five years of experience with local real estate agents, he had built a strong reputation, and when he took over the business, they were excited to know they would still be in good hands.
“Being established with the real estate agents, and particularly with Jennifer, made the transition a lot easier,” Crout said. “They knew they could trust whatever team I would send out, and that trust is what has kept the relationship alive since its inception early on.”
Crout says that while his primary objective is to perform thorough, reliable home inspections, his role extends into a true partnership with Strubler.
“The agents that I work with know that if they have a question about an inspection, they can send me a text or photo and I’ll help them figure it out,” he said. “My interactions with them aren’t just, ‘Hey, use us for inspections because we’re great inspectors.’ They’re about me asking how I can help.”
“HomeTeam has been a total game-changer for me. I’ve been in the business for over 11 years, and I’ve been working with HomeTeam for at least 10,” Strubler said. “Working with Charlie allows me peace of mind because I know that all of my clients are super happy with them. I’m not going to get a call from my client two days after the scheduled inspection saying that the inspector never showed up. Charlie and his team are reliable about showing up, and they’re reliable in how they handle the inspections. When I know HomeTeam is involved in a transaction, I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief. Everything will be taken care of.”
Strubler and Crout agree on how the homebuyer should be treated throughout the inspection process, including a shared commitment to easing any stress and tension as much as possible. Difficult news doesn’t have to be as difficult when presented properly, and Strubler says that Crout and the team do a great job of presenting the results of the inspection — even if they’re not great — in a way that doesn’t alarm the buyer. Rather, they talk through why the issue is important and potential steps to get it remedied.
To stay involved with the agents beyond the real estate transaction, Crout has made a point of stopping by the office to participate in local events.
“We do stay connected through social media and when Charlie pops by the office to say hi and make sure everyone is good,” Strubler said. “Just recently, he made the ‘skeletons’ for the scarecrows we’ll be making for the Scarecrow Fest in St. Charles. He’s very hands-on and quick to support us however we need, even if it has nothing to do with an inspection or real estate transaction.”
