Question. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/cities.
Answer. Apollo Inspections LLC is a woman-owned residential and commercial property inspection company based in Henderson, Nevada. We serve all of Clark County – including Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Boulder City, Mesquite, Laughlin, Logandale, Overton, Mount Charleston and Indian Springs – as well as Pahrump in Nye County. Our multi-inspector team helps buyers, sellers, homeowners, tenants, investors and commercial clients understand a property’s condition through thorough inspections, clear explanations and strong photographic documentation. After 24 years in business and more than 16,000 inspections, our purpose is still simple: give people peace of mind through education and documentation.
Question. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself, including your educational or entrepreneurial background and some major achievements.
Answer. I am Peri McCulloch, owner of Apollo Inspections and a Las Vegas-area local since 1963. I started my adult life getting married and raising four kids in six years, spending 25 years primarily as a stay-at-home mom while working a wide mix of side jobs I could build around my family — realtor, receptionist, legal secretary/assistant, process server, 7-Eleven clerk, overnight janitorial work (I’d put the kids to bed and head out), which led to my own commercial cleaning company, three years of taking in ironing, and co-owning a window company that led into restoration work. My husband, Billy, started as a carpenter and framer, and I worked beside him early on as a laborer, carrying lumber and plywood and helping build patios. We later co-owned a restoration company, going into properties after a catastrophe to assess the damage, prepare estimates, and oversee repairs for insurance-related losses — repairs never scared me if they were done right.
At 44, I became an inspector. Since mentors weren’t readily available in this field, I had to create my own path: I attended home-inspection school, completed additional training through a national inspection school, and took building-code classes at community college. I’m a certified residential structural inspector and have been involved with InterNACHI for about 20 years. My proudest achievements include building Apollo into a six-person, multi-inspector company, completing more than 16,000 inspections, and growing the business from the ground up.
Question. What inspired you to start a new business venture or make significant changes in an existing business? How did the idea come about?
Answer. About 25 years ago, Billy encouraged me to explore a path that was mine, independent of him and mentioned that a friend was going to home-inspection school and suggested I consider it. At first I was not even sure what the profession involved, but our construction and restoration background made it a natural fit. I enrolled, became certified and kept studying because I understood quickly that inspection is a lifetime of learning. For several years the business remained small. Around 2011, I decided it was time to take it seriously. I wrote a simple email promotion to local real estate professionals, the phone started ringing, and I tripled the business in roughly 30 days. I hired another inspector and never looked back. Billy stayed busy with construction, I took Apollo and ran with it. What fun it has been!
Question. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Answer. First, keep learning. The moment you think you know everything, you become a risk to your customers and your company. Second, surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and let their strengths raise the whole team. Third, document everything and tell the truth, even when the truth is uncomfortable. I often say, ‘Documentation beats conversation.’
Question. What are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer. Resilience, curiosity and communication. Resilience keeps you moving when people underestimate you or the plan does not work the first time. Curiosity makes you research, ask better questions and continue your education. Communication allows you to tell people what they need to know without confusing or frightening them.
Question. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Answer. I have never run Apollo by watching a clock. There have been years that I have worked half days six days a week (As Billy would say I just picked which 12 hours I wanted to work.) And we have had years when we could take a breathe and count on our team. Today, having a multi-inspector team gives us more flexibility, but I am still available when clients request me, when the team needs support and when a situation requires follow-up.
Question. To what do you most attribute your success?
Answer. Hard work, continuous education, trusted relationships and refusing to let other people’s expectations define me. I entered an industry where I was often the only woman in the room and where I was not always welcomed. I learned to do the research, build a network of qualified people, support my team and keep the customer’s interests at the center of every decision.
Question. How do you market your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Answer. Apollo has grown largely through relationships, referrals, real estate professionals, customer reviews and direct outreach. The turning point came around 2011, when I sent a promotional email to thousands of local real estate agents. That campaign helped triple the business in about 30 days. Long term, however, trust and word of mouth have mattered most. We are now expanding our website, search visibility, educational content and social presence so more people can understand what makes Apollo different. How we bring value to every transaction.
Question. Where did your organization’s funding or capital come from? How did you obtain investors?
Answer. Apollo grew through our own work and operating revenue, not through a traditional investor story. We began small, built relationships, reinvested in education and people, and expanded as demand grew
Question. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Answer. Earn trust repeatedly. Keep your knowledge current, hire good people, document your work, admit when a specialist is needed and never recommend something simply because it creates another sale. Long-term success is the result of doing the right thing consistently, especially when no one is watching.
Question. Where do you see yourself and your business in five to ten years?
Answer. I see Apollo as an even stronger founder-led, multi-inspector company known throughout Southern Nevada for education, documentation and calm, honest guidance. I want the business to keep growing without becoming impersonal, to create opportunities for talented inspectors, and to make our knowledge more accessible through better online content and public education. I also want the company to remain strong beyond any one person, with a team and systems capable of carrying the standard forward.
Question. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Answer. I admire organizations that make serious education available and help professionals improve their craft. InterNACHI has been especially valuable to me because of the education, information and support it provides inspectors. More broadly, I admire businesses that raise standards while still treating people generously. Attending an IEB Convention- Inspection Empire Builders was also essential in inspiring me to grow into a multi-inspector firm.
Question. How important have good co-workers been to your success?
Answer. Essential. My team brings construction knowledge, practical problem-solving, communication skills and different perspectives to every property. I want clients to benefit from more than one person’s experience. I was fortunate to find Kevin and Joey about eight years ago, Lenny and Alex came right behind them about 7 years ago and have helped Apollo become the company it is today. I cannot say enough good things about them. I have had many inspectors over the years with one being a third generation pool builder that gave us the benefit of his immeasurable knowledge, Dan Coombs who is now opening his own inspection company in the bay area.
Question. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Answer. I stay with an idea as long as the evidence says it can work and I am still learning from the effort. Persistence does not mean ignoring facts. If something is not working, I change the approach, seek better information or ask someone with deeper expertise. I do not quit simply because the first version was difficult.
Question. What motivates you?
Answer. People. People motivate me. Protecting and educating people. Buyers often feel overwhelmed, and my job is to help them understand what they are buying without creating unnecessary fear. Once someone hires Apollo, I think of them as ‘our people.’ Their safety, peace of mind and ability to make an informed decision matter to me. You get me for life. I have clients that have become friends and are still in my life over a decade later. They call me with whatever their needs are and occasionally ask for a recipe or a lecture, a hug or how to fix something or who to call. I am here for them.
Question. What are your ideals?
Truth, safety, education, loyalty, fairness and service. I believe documentation should be stronger than memory, recommendations should be based on genuine need, and customers should receive the same level of care regardless of the price of the property. My original promise was ‘million-dollar service always,’ and I still take that seriously.
Question. How do you generate new ideas?
Answer. I pay attention in the field, listen to the questions clients ask, study changes in materials and codes, and stay close to knowledgeable people in the trades. When I encounter something unusual, I research it and call someone qualified rather than relying only on myself. Good ideas usually begin with a real problem that needs a practical solution.
Question. How do you define success?
Answer. Success is when a client finishes an inspection informed rather than overwhelmed, understands the important conditions, and knows what to do next. In business terms, it means building a company people trust, creating opportunities for a strong team and being able to stand behind the work years later. Success is being able to add value to someone’s life period. Whether it be on an inspection or saying a kind word to someone that put’s a smile on their face. Success for me is measured in kindness and grace.
Question. How do you build a successful customer base?
Answer. One trustworthy interaction at a time. Be available, explain your work clearly, keep good records, follow up when questions arise and give people a reason to recommend you. Apollo’s customer base grew through real relationships with clients, agents and other professionals, not through a shortcut.
Question. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Answer. The freedom to speak my mind and shape the company around my values. I can choose people who care, invest in education, return to look at a disputed condition when appropriate, and refuse business practices that do not serve the customer. I make the decisions. The big ones and the little ones. I was never the team mom I was the coach. Don’t get me wrong I love Team Moms – we would be lost without them.
Question. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Answer. There has not been only one. Tripling the business in about 30 days proved that Apollo could become something much larger. Building a team of people I respect has been even more satisfying. Every time a client leaves an inspection calmer, better informed and confident about the next step, that feels like a win. Truthfully I am humbled every day by the success and growth we have known and continue to know.
Question. What is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Answer. An entrepreneur carries the final responsibility. You do not get to hand the difficult decision to someone else. You must decide what the company stands for, accept the consequences, keep learning and move forward even when there is no clear map. No one did the work for me. I had to blaze my own trail and make all the decisions with very little input or feedback. When a particular individual threatened me over the loss of a deal due to the inspection it was me in the bullseye. I am HR.
Question. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish it, and why?
Answer. Apollo’s culture is candid, protective, collaborative and a little humorous. We take the work seriously without making the client experience unnecessarily scary. We share knowledge, bring in a second set of eyes when helpful and treat other good inspectors as allies rather than enemies. I established that tone by hiring capable people, encouraging questions and making it clear that ego never comes before accuracy or the customer. I recently did a podcast where the interviewer wanted to acknowledge our reputation for making inspections fun. We have worked together for over a decade and we have a blast together and make sure the client is having fun too as well as getting educated.
Question. In two words, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Answer. Fearless and joyful. I am really fun right up until I’m not. I’m funny and smart, strong and capable and cannot be bullied.
Question. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Answer. I would seek stronger systems and a wider professional network earlier, and I would recognize sooner that I did not need anyone’s permission to belong in the field. At the same time, the difficulty taught me resilience and forced me to become resourceful, so I would not erase the lessons.
Question. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Answer. I raised my family before I became an entrepreneur. Everything else was secondary and part time so I would not miss out on anything while they were growing up.
Billy and I worked in construction, restoration and inspections together while raising a large family. I often chose part-time and temporary legal work so I could remain available to the children, and later the business demanded long hours from both of us. I take care of my client’s like they are my family.
Question. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Answer. Fear is not on my bingo card unless we’re talking about lightening. Concern is a good word, not fear. The rest of the way you answered is pretty spot on.
In this work, my greatest concern is missing something that could affect a person’s safety or major financial decision. I manage that concern through preparation, continuing education, thorough documentation, teamwork and knowing when to recommend a specialist. Fear becomes useful when it makes you more careful and safe.
Question. How did you decide on the location for your business?
Answer. Southern Nevada is home. I have lived in the Las Vegas area since 1963, built relationships here and learned the region through decades of construction, restoration and inspection work. Henderson is our business base, while our field service area extends throughout Clark County and to Pahrump.
Question. Do you believe there is a pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Answer. There is no guaranteed formula, but there is a pattern: learn constantly, work hard, build trust, listen to evidence, surround yourself with capable people and keep the customer’s real interests ahead of short-term gain.
Question. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Answer. My inspiration comes from people who work hard and bring others along with them. I know it’s cliché but together we rise. Professionally, I have also been inspired by leaders who believe in surrounding themselves with people who are smarter than them. I’m still looking for that person that I could call from the next office over to fix the Xerox machine. Now that’s dating myself right? lol
Question. What book has inspired you the most, or what is your favorite book?
Answer. Lee Iacocca’s autobiography made a lasting impression on me as a young woman; I read it twice. The lesson I carried forward was to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you because they will help you rise. I love that Richard Branson is dyslexic and still successful. You don’t have to be perfect. Mary Kay Ash “Having it All.” Mary Kay Ash the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics promoted the theory that You Can Have It All- just not all at the same time. Run the long race.
Question. What are some of the biggest mistakes you have made?
Answer. I had very little knowledge of how business really worked. I just put my head down and got to work and figured it out along the way. I would have educated myself better on the business end and reached out sooner for help in areas that are not mine. Like marketing! Lol I did go to Community College to learn about business and take accounting.
One mistake was believing for too long that I had to solve everything alone. Another was working without enough systems during the mom-and-pop years. Experience taught me to build a trusted bench, ask for expert support and create a team whose combined judgment is stronger than any one person’s.
Question. How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Answer. Document thoroughly, take photographs, use checklists and consistent processes, invite a second set of eyes, and do not pretend to be a specialist when you are not. If a client raises a concern, listen, review the record and respond. A mistake becomes worse when ego prevents an honest follow-up.
Question. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Answer. I love going on adventures especially when I get to take a grandchild or two along and go climb a mountain. We love boating and just being on the water. Books. I love books. I am currently working towards becoming a hospice volunteer which is an area near and dear to my heart.
Question. What makes you happy?
AnswerPeople. People make me happy. Helping people, watching my team thrive and seeing a client move from anxiety to understanding. I also enjoy the humor and human connection that can turn a stressful inspection into a positive experience.
Question. What sacrifices have you made to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer. Time, comfort and the luxury of waiting for someone else to make a path for me. Somebody else to carry the responsibility and lay the ground work. Billy and I spent years working extremely hard as a small operation, and I had to work twice hard to be accepted in some areas. Building Apollo required long days, continued study and the willingness to keep showing up. I didn’t see it as sacrifices although many people made fun of us for not taking vacations. It’s as if I lived two lives. One raising a family and one raising me after they were grown. It was transformational. As Mary Kay said – we could have it all, just not all at the same time. And here I am.
Question. If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask?
Answer. What sets us apart from other inspection companies. At the end of the inspection I always ask “do you have any other questions for us?” Most often the answer is no, you already answered them. At that point I know we have done our job well. We have answered questions they didn’t even know they had.
Question. I would ask: ‘What do you want every client to understand before choosing a property inspector?
Answer. ‘ My answer is that an inspector’s experience, education, references and communication style matter. You are not simply buying a report; you are choosing the person who will help you understand one of the biggest decisions you may ever make.
