A Peek at Granite Peaks
- Jodi Brunner
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Article and photos by Mallory Leonard
Originally from Beekmantown, New York, Darren Sponable found his way to the SUNY Institute of Technology (now known as SUNY Polytechnic Institute) in Utica for his undergraduate work. He grew up tinkering, taking things apart, figuring out how they worked, and then putting them back together, so studying mechanical engineering and minoring in math was a natural path for him.
After graduation, Sponable spent seven years working as an engineer in the Syracuse area before transitioning to a field service position in near-by Amsterdam. He and his wife enjoyed remodeling their homes in both central New York cities, but with a new baby, he no longer wanted to travel. “I didn’t want to return to an office as an engineer,” he explained. “I liked the idea of working for myself and staying in the residential area.
That’s when Sponable found home inspection. “We were in the recovery room a few hours after my wife gave birth when I signed up for a New York State home inspector licensing course,” he recounted with a chuckle. A few months later, the couple found themselves settling in the North Country.
One month after their arrival back home, Sponable received his license in the mail and Granite Peaks Home Inspections began in November of 2022. Since starting down the home inspection path, Sponable has earned his New York State Home Inspector License, NYS Mold Assessor License, and has become an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector.
Granite Peaks Home Inspections began as, and remains, a client-focused and detail-oriented operation. Purchasing a home can be one of the biggest decisions a person will make, and so Sponable puts clients at ease with thorough and easy to understand reports delivered within 48 hours of inspection. Some have even been received by clients as quickly as the same day. “Everyone is unique and has their own priorities when seeking a home inspection,” Sponable stated. “I try to make sure the client understands the report they receive. I encourage them to be there for the inspection if they’d like, and I make sure to answer any questions during the final walkthrough and after they receive the report.”
Communication with the owner and the listing agent is important, especially when something comes up during an inspection. Sometimes aspects of an inspection cannot be completed due to liability or inaccessibility. “I did an inspection once where someone had an electric boiler and the breakers for the boiler were turned off. I asked the property manager and listing agent if I could turn the breakers on. The answer was yes,” Sponable recounted, “but before I turned anything on, I got in, looked at the system and realized that all the water had been drained out of the boiler and the heat system because the owner had scheduled it for service. If I had turned the breakers on and tested it could have damaged the unit and I would have been responsible for the fix.” Sponable stressed that doing your due diligence as an inspector is critically important, and he always leaves a home exactly as he finds it.
When asked what could set Granite Peaks Home Inspections apart from others, Sponable said, “It’s my business model. I do one inspection a day, and when a client hires me, they hire me for the day. I don’t care how long the inspection takes, or how long the walkthrough and questions take. I will spend as much time as they need so they feel confident.” Some inspectors may commit to multiple inspections a day, which can lead to rushed client interactions and delayed turnaround times. “I never want to be the one people are waiting on. I want to do my inspection, get the report completed and then get home to my family,” he emphasized.
Family plays a big part in Sponable’s business model. “I don’t want to be the parent who’s not paying attention — the one that’s not making it to a sporting event or can’t make it to a play.” He makes sure to respect family time, letting clients know that he will call them back if he’s unavailable at the time of their call due to family commitments. Setting the expectation and business model in this way protects work-life balance and projects his priorities to his clientele.
Granite Peaks Home Inspections is able to operate anywhere in New York State, but Sponable’s focus centers mainly in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties and the surrounding areas. When asked what he likes best about working in the North Country, he said, “It’s that small town feel. In bigger areas people feel rushed, life is faster. In this area, it’s slower-paced and client interactions have a more personal feel.”
Sponable does more than just home inspections, and it’s not only home buyers who are contacting him for services. He is able to provide testing for radon, water and air quality, septic dyes, mold assessment, and well-flow testing, with more services on the horizon. He is also certified to conduct inspections not only for residential homes, but also for multi-family units, apartment buildings and commercial spaces as well.
Although the bulk of his referrals come from realtors, networking and his history in the North Country have created great opportunities for Sponable. His father used to own a plumbing business, and many people know him via his father. “People will ask me if I’m related to him, or to my uncle, or my brother when they hear my last name,” he smiled. “If there’s a Sponable in our area, we’re related.” That’s the great part about our area — everybody knows everybody.” Granite Peaks Home Inspections has grown each year, and, between year one and year two, the number of inspections completed nearly doubled.
Granite Peaks Home Inspections presents a stunning logo that is unique and easily recognizable, setting it apart from other mountain-themed images used in our region. One of the challenges Sponable faces as a one-man operation is marketing. Finding the time to create online content while tending to his clients and his family has proven to be a challenge and something he’d never had to focus on until he started his own business. “It’s been a challenge,” he observed.
Granite Peaks Home Inspections’ Facebook page boasts educational content and stunning local landscapes captured from rooftops while he was on the job. One post even captures him with his young daughter on his lap sitting at the computer, completing an inspection report.
It’s safe to say Sponable’s marketing is right on brand, and he’s managed to paint a clear picture of his business, client priorities and a family-oriented business model. “I want to be as thorough for my clients as I can be so they can make the best decision for them and their family. It’s all about the home and the family,” he concluded.
Granite Peaks Home Inspections
PO Box 2203
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 223-9920