Pillar to Post Business Owner Proves It's Never Too Late To Earn A College Degree, Or Three

Dave Sumner had a lofty goal and he achieved it. Not content to rest on his laurels, he built upon his first achievement and turned it into another.

But knowing where he came from and where he's headed, it should come as no surprise to those who know Sumner.

Sumner is a franchisee of Pillar To Post, the largest home inspection company in North America and serves multiple counties throughout northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota.

For 25 years prior, he held positions in several industries, always holding true to his mantra of "if you take care of your company, your company will take care of you."

It worked as he earned numerous promotions and pay increases at every workplace.

But there was a void in Sumner's life story that he wanted to fill. That's why in 2011, Sumner earned a college degree after a failed first attempt right out of high school.

In fact, Sumner earned two bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Manufacturing Management from the University of Minnesota Crookston. And Sumner is only six credits away from earning a third degree - a bachelor's in accounting.

"I was an older-than-average student, but it was a dream of mine to earn a college degree," Sumner said. "I am the first one in my family to graduate from a university."

Having always been successful in the workplace and now with a college education on his resume, Sumner decided it was time to focus his efforts on going into business for himself.

Sumner spent 18 months researching and evaluating various opportunities before finding a perfect fit with Pillar To Post, the leader in home inspections in the U.S. and Canada, giving homebuyers or sellers a clear, unbiased evaluation of a home's condition and answering any questions they might have to help ensure peace of mind.

"I love the idea of managing my own business, yet still having the chance to get dirty once in awhile," said Sumner, who estimates he invested about $25,000 to launch his Pillar To Post franchise.

A professional evaluation of more than 1,600 items inside and outside the home is at the core of Pillar To Post's service. Inspectors input data and digital photos into a computerized report that is printed and presented on site. All information is provided to clients in a customized binder for easy reference, allowing homebuyers or sellers to make confident, informed decisions.

All Pillar To Post inspectors are members of regional, state, national and provincial associations across the United States and Canada, and all inspections are conducted within the Standards of Practice of those associations.

"Realtors I have spoken to have indicated that more and more people want a professional home inspection," Sumner said. "One major agency even told me that 75 percent of all home sales involve a professional inspection. Since fewer people are knowledgeable about the systems that make up a home than in the past, I truly believe that both home sellers and buyers will be looking to Pillar To Post for my expertise."

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