Former SMR VP starts home inspection business

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Lakewood Ranch Country Club resident Ron Masseo, the former vice president of development for Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, has launched his own home inspection business, Masseo Home Inspections. His wife, Therese, is serving as the company’s director of operations.

“This is my natural next step in the home building and development industry,” Ron Masseo said.

The Masseos’ newest business venture combines Ron’s nearly 20 years in the construction industry in Southwest Florida  — first as the owner of a site development and trucking company and then as a general contractor for a real estate development company in Naples. Ron Masseo moved to Lakewood Ranch about eight years ago to work for SMR, which he did until being laid off in March.

“I look at it as an opportunity,” he said. “When one door closes, another opens. I’m blessed to have what we have — great friends, a great network of support.”

Ron Masseo said he hunted for a job in the construction business for several months before finding one job posting — and it was one he wasn’t willing to take.

“It was in Dubai,” Ron Masseo said. “I didn’t want to relocate. I really love it here. I decided to reinvent myself.”

After doing some research and talking to friends, Ron Masseo said he realized there was a need for home inspection services in the area, especially with the number of short sales and foreclosures. He met with a friend in Naples with a home inspecting business and got the information he needed to move forward.

“That (meeting) kind of got my creative juices flowing,” Ron Masseo said. “I got excited about it.”

In May, the Masseos quietly started Masseo Home Inspections from their Lakewood Ranch Country Club home. Having had several months to finish up the Web site and formalize its process for conducting business, the company now is formally launching its home inspection services.

Ron Masseo said he already is conducting two to three home inspections a week just by word of mouth but plans to market the company more extensively now that everything is in place.

“Right now, I’m it,” Ron Masseo said. “You’re hiring me and my background and my reputation. I hope my qualifications in home building are what’s going to set me apart. My goal is to make this company the premiere home inspection company in Southwest Florida.”

Masseo holds a degree in civil engineering as well has his general contractor license, underground utility contractor license and excavation contractor license. He is also a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Ron Masseo said he plans to focus on the inspection of new homes and re-sales in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

For more details about Masseo Home Inspection, visit www.masseoinc.com.

Contact Pam McTeer at [email protected].

COMMUNITY SERVICE
In addition to starting up a new business, Ron Masseo remains involved in the community.  He currently serves on the board of directors for the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, the board for the Lakewood Ranch YMCA and the board of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Manatee program.

Juggling those commitments with time with his family and a start-up business has been challenging at times, but Ron Masseo said it has been worth the effort.