Robert Lussenden, New Pillar To Post Home Inspectors® Franchisee

(St. Augustine, FL)—It’s amazing how jumping out of a plane from 18,000 feet will change your perspective on things. Just ask 46-year-old Robert Lussenden, who used the experience – once he safely landed after some understandable anxiety – to propel himself into a new career as a franchise owner with the No. 1 home inspection company in North America, Pillar To Post Home Inspectors®. Lussenden, who launched operations in January, is serving clients throughout Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Ekton, Crescent City and other surrounding areas.

In his former life, Lussenden was a graphic designer for 20 years and in the course of interacting with his employers and clients he would observe how they conducted business and often imagined what it would feel like to work for himself. “As an employee, I really wanted the freedom to have a say in how things were done, but I couldn’t,” said the South Ponte Vedra resident. “I wanted to be able to earn more money and grow. I wanted to unchain myself from a desk and a monotonous schedule. I wanted to push to create this kind of change in my life but fear always held me back and I wouldn’t jump.”

Until that day when Lussenden found himself having to make the decision on whether he was literally going to jump – out of an airplane – and get this… while on a first date! And, of course, he had been invited to go on the skydiving date by a woman who was also a franchise owner. Lussenden said he liked the challenge, so he accepted her invite. “As the plane doors opened, I looked out and I could feel the wind,” Lussenden said. “She had done this before and was pretty calm, but I almost panicked. I wanted to turn back.”

But jump he did.

“Once I crawled out the door, a calm realization came over me that there is no choice but to trust the process now and I actually chose this,” he said. “Fear instantly turned into excitement in that moment and the jump became the most exciting thing I have ever done. Something deep changed in me that day that caused me to make the decision to go forward against my fear to find a business.”

Having made the decision to finally pursue his dream, Lussenden considered a variety of different franchise concepts, but kept coming back to home inspection, in part because his father had been an entrepreneur who began as a plumbing contractor before moving into other areas relating to homes and real estate. In addition to that inspiration, there were other draws for Lussenden. “I enjoy being more physical than sitting stationary at a desk,” Lussenden said. “And I have a natural ability to recognize details along with a sense of curiosity about how things work or are related to each other. Most of all, I liked the freedom to make my own schedule and the idea that no two days will be the same and they will be both challenging and rewarding.”

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is the brand to which more than three million families have turned to for more than 25 years to be their trusted advisor when buying or selling a home. Consistently ranked for 23 years on Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual Franchise500®, Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is enjoying its 8th consecutive year as No. 1 in their category on that coveted ranking. In addition, the company has 5-Star status with the VetFran program offered by the International Franchise Association for veterans.

“I felt a connection,” Lussenden said. “The people at Pillar To Post Home Inspectors are really kind, good people and I immediately felt a sense of support. I felt like they were looking for a specific type of person just as I was looking for a specific type of team to join.”

For information visit https://robertlussenden.pillartopost.com or call 904-481-7003.

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About Pillar To Post Home Inspectors®

Founded in 1994, Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is the largest home inspection company in North America with home offices in Toronto and Tampa. There are more than 600 franchises located in 49 states and nine Canadian provinces. The company has ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise500® for 23 years in a row, the past 8 years as No.1 in Category. Long-term plans include adding 500 to 600 new franchisees over the next five years. For further information, please visit www.pillartopost.com. To inquire about a franchise, go to www.pillartopostfranchise.com.