With October being Women’s Business Month, we knew we had to celebrate Tiffani and introduce her to our community. Tiffani’s strength and tenacity to strike out on her own at only 30 years old, with two daughters of her own (seven and under!) should be something that we all strive to emulate in our own paths of life. The care and diligence she takes in her paperwork tells me all I needed to know about the care and diligence she must take with each of her clients and their homes; it is hard to be around Tiffani and not feel that she is focusing on just you and is truly invested in helping you. It is with great pleasure that we introduce you all to Tiffani Furrow, of Tiffani Furrow Home Inspections.
What is your area of expertise?
Training home inspectors to become home inspectors. Older homes and first-time homebuyers are my favorites. There are lots of anxieties and moving pieces in buying a home, so inspecting is a strongly communicative job. It’s important to tell why something is a hazard. You want to convey information to the client in a “non-alarmist” way because clients and agents want inspectors who can explain. This is an area that suits my personality very well and I have completed over 1,700 home inspections to date.
What impact do you want to have? Personally/professionally?
I love charity and I am fortunate enough to be able to donate and support those causes that are close to my heart. I am an ambassador for St. Jude’s for the DMV, all inspections for military are 10% off, and 5% goes to Hero’s Bridge (last year this was $1k). Even if my donation from that percentage does not reach $1,000 this year, I will still donate that as the minimum; it is just too close to the heart for me not to. I am the oldest of three girls and my younger sister is a veteran.
Favorite free time activity?
I love anime. My favorite shows to watch are Full Metal Alchemist, Demon Slayer, and 86. I am an Aquarius and an avid music lover, the louder the better! I spend a lot of time on the road for work, so I need my music to get me moving and keep me going. I love rock, metal, and heavy metal.
Mantra?
“Start becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
How do you maintain a balanced life? Challenges faced as family and work both collide?
That’s a hard one! One of the biggest things that my husband and I do is divide and conquer in the arena of parenting and work. My husband makes me coffee every morning, so I wake up with coffee ready for me. I will get my workout in and then get breakfast and the kids going. My husband handles all the doctor’s appointments and dental appointments for our daughters so that I can have more flexibility with my work, scheduling clients, and travel time.
Who helped you most in your career?
My husband Shawn is my biggest supporter! He is absolutely my rock and I could not do it without him. He grounds me while keeping me aloft and I know I am so lucky to have met my person when we were in high school. We went to Ferrum together for two years, and then we both attended Virginia Tech for our remaining two years. Once Shawn got his current job at Lockheed Martin, we moved here and began putting down roots.
What has been your most significant barrier?
If I wasn’t a confident person, that would be one—confidence. When I worked for others, the ceiling of pay was a barrier. As my own boss and running my own business, there is no ceiling.
Any patterns you’ve noticed over the years about women and work and things they could be doing better to advance their careers?
Women still victimize themselves, creating our own ceilings. Women that are willing to break through, they find a way to start understanding their own self-worth and where their contributions are to family and societal dynamics/structure.
Advice for the next generation?
You are not going to know if you fail or not if you don’t try. The worst thing you can do is not try.
Any foreshadowing from your childhood that you’d become an entrepreneur?
For the first ten years of my life, I actually grew up in Trinidad and Tobago and I loved it there with my family. After that, we moved to the States and my parents owned a subcontracting company that installed ATMs all along the East Coast. We traveled a lot and I learned and saw so much of the world that probably shaped me more than maybe I thought, looking at where I am now. I have been a General Manager for Zoes Kitchen and spent about five years working for other home inspection companies before I felt it was the right time to strike out on my own. The lessons I learned and the experience I gained under other great inspectors has helped me become successful today.
Do you swear by a morning routine or daily schedule?
I am a consistent wake-up and out of bed at 5:30AM girl. I cycle in the mornings, as long as I don’t have far to travel for the day, shower, get breakfast and the kids ready, take them to school, and then get to work. Then back at the end of the day for activities with my husband and children!
If you could go back and tell your younger self anything business related, what would it be?
Start sooner! Do not wait! If I could go back and start again, the only thing I would do differently is begin my entrepreneurial career sooner.
What has been your biggest source of pride during your career?
That’s a hard one! I’m not sure, but probably training other home inspectors and seeing them accomplish their goals. I love seeing people succeed and being able to effectively communicate and teach information to other driven individuals fulfills a large part of me. I want my two young daughters to grow up knowing that they can be their own boss, that they can be a leader in a male dominated industry. Did you know only 10% of all home inspectors are female? When I was at Donofrio, I was their first ever female home inspector.
What has your first year been like?
It’s been great in all the good and crazy ways! I love the flexibility and being my own boss is definitely the best perk. I have to have control over my own schedule and being a home inspector gives me the freedom and ability to do that, while also making sure everyone moves into a structurally safe and sound home.