Breaking the Stereotypes

Breaking the Stereotypes

W ho says that you have to be a man to be a home inspector? Or that millennials can’t be responsible business owners? Not Brigette Malik. This 28-year-old entrepreneur is breaking stereotypes. As owner of a The Inspection Boys franchise in Nassau County, New York, this woman is running a thriving business that has been traditionally dominated by men.

“I come from a family of contractors, so it was a no-brainer for me,” she says. Malik got her start working as a home inspector for insurance companies. She loved the work, but found it difficult going it alone. She looked at franchising as a way to own a business with a built-in support system and was drawn to The Inspection Boys for its large territories and innovative marketing. “I got a gigantic territory that I can grow into,” she says.

Malik enjoys advising potential home buyers and helping them avoid pitfalls. “It’s very rewarding work,” Malik says. As a new mother, Malik is happy that her business can be run from home, and she can book jobs around her schedule.

As far as being a woman in a male-dominated industry, Malik has it figured out. “I am as capable as any man. My training prepared me for the work. While some folks don’t expect a young woman to be a home inspector, they quickly realize that I know what I am doing.” For more information, visit www.theinspectionboys.com.