Epic Entrepreneurs

Crawl Spaces Aren’t Fun, But Getting Good Reviews Are — with Howard Jones

• Bill Gilliland

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Emergencies don’t wait for office hours, and neither does Howard Jones. As the owner-operator of Healthy Home Environmental, he steps into flooded rooms and damp crawl spaces with a simple promise: fast response, straight talk, and work done the right way. We explore what that looks like behind the scenes—where planning, education, and trust separate real pros from rushed jobs.

Howard explains why there’s no such thing as an ironclad mold guarantee and why honest post-job testing is the only responsible way to talk about spore counts. He lays out the operational playbook that keeps clients calm and projects on track: staging materials ahead of time, moving quickly to prevent microbial growth, and staying personally involved on site. Instead of pouring money into ads, he invests in relationships with realtors, homeowners, and adjusters. That network, built over decades, powers a steady flow of referrals and five-star reviews without the hype.

We also get real about leadership and lifestyle. Hiring for punctuality and grit, Howard leads by example and isn’t afraid to crawl where the work demands. He shares why staying small by design helps maintain quality, how a single bad job can dent years of goodwill, and what it takes to keep boundaries when the phone never stops ringing. There’s heart here, too—family as inspiration, pride in a son’s successes, and the quiet discipline of showing up even when it’s hard.

If you care about building a service business that lasts, you’ll find practical lessons on reputation management, client education, moisture and mold best practices, and the power of doing the simple things well. Subscribe, share this with a fellow owner, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find stories that cut through the noise.

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Thanks for listening. Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!

Bill

SPEAKER_01:

All righty, welcome to this week's episode of Epic Entrepreneurs. I am Cliff McCray, filling in for Bill Gimelan with your local business training and coaching firm, Action Coach Business Growth Partners. I'm excited to have Howard Jones with Healthy Home Environmental as the focus for our Epic Entrepreneurs podcast episode today. So, Howard, please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about yourself and your company and what you do for the community.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh hi, my name is Howard Jones. I'm the district project manager and uh owner operator of Healthy Home Environmental. Uh we do uh water damage, flood damage, mold remediation, uh crawl space encapsulations. Um we have 24-hour response. Uh we, you know, we we we're gonna be there with a uh very educated and common sense approach to uh any issues that you might have when it comes to uh water and mold.

SPEAKER_01:

Perfect, perfect. Any guarantees involved?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh well, you know, with with uh with the work as far as mold, as far as guarantees, uh, we can do testing after uh the job has been completed, and that will give you some empirical data to say that you know that will give you what the spore counts are at that particular time. The thing about mold is mold is an evolving issue because I could clean it and theoretically you could have an issue the next day, and then the spore counts are gonna change, of course. So uh the if anyone is telling you they can give you an ironclad guarantee, they're they're pulling your leg because it is all mold is definitely it's gonna be contingent on conditions because uh again, conditions can change from day to day.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, perfect. All right. So if you had to start your business from square one tomorrow, what would you do differently? Man, uh that's a good one, huh?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that is a good one. I I I don't know if uh if I would do anything different. Uh, I worked for another company for a number of years, and um I really realized that you know, even though it it's not uh, I mean, it's it's mold, water, damage, it's a people business. And uh having personal relationships with realtors and homeowners and insurance adjusters uh have really propelled me forward in uh being an entrepreneur.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm sorry, could you go ahead and repeat that again? Yeah, kind of cut out there for a second.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh I said uh it's it's really uh trying to cultivate personal relationships with not only homeowners but uh realtors and uh insurance adjusters. Uh that's that is a primary uh concept that needs to be cultivated if you're gonna have a successful business in this business.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, perfect. All right. So, what have your biggest learnings been as an owner and employer since you started your business?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh every job uh is different. Um, and you're you're really only known for your last job. Um, and so that's why I try to take uh every job as if it's gonna be my my first job, and and I'm trying to make a a uh a lasting impression no matter how many jobs I've done.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, okay. So so basically, you know, you you treat every job like you know, like like your life depends on little guests, as you're saying.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, because it really does. Uh because uh I mean, I could have a thousand great jobs that nothing went wrong, and I could have one bad job when that could literally tear you down.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, and especially how word of mouth gets out these days, Google reviews, stuff.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it exactly, exactly. And I I really don't do a lot of um advertising uh just because of my I've been doing this for 20 plus years, and so the relationships that I cultivated uh during those 20 years have really propelled me. So I really don't do a lot of um advertising. It's just word of mouth uh from people who have been happy with the work that I've done, telling other people about it when they are confronted with a similar situation.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. That's a great way to run business, yeah. So, what are some common misconceptions about running a business and how do you address them?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh, that it's uh that it's all peaches and cream. Uh, I mean, everything falls on you. You either get it done or you don't get it done. Um I I I don't think anyone would really think that running a business is easy. Um but it can be a little bit more challenging when you're on your own business because uh everything is on your shoulders. So if I don't get out there and get work done, then you know the money isn't coming in, and then you know, you're in trouble.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, okay. What have you attributed to your growth so far in your business?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh a common sense approach in treating people uh the way that they should be treated. Uh there's a lot of room for uh mistreatment, especially in the the mold industry, because uh there are a lot of variables that if you just don't know, you just don't know. And so you can be taken advantage of uh because of that lack of knowledge.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

So so really being knowledgeable about what you're doing and all that and and just just treating people fairly.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

So how do you balance your personal life with the demands of running a business?

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, it's not easy, but you just have to uh I guess you know, you have to be good at scheduling. Uh I have uh, you know, my my my family, and and family is a very, very important to me. Uh, but then again, you know, you you have there's things that you just have to take care of. And so uh they're very supportive of me and what I do. And so you you can't be in two places at one time. So you have to just try to prioritize this best you can.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. And speaking of family, you know, I don't, you know, obviously we've we've talked before about your son. Would you like to give him a quick shout out on what he does?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh sure would. Uh Hayden Jones, uh sophomore linebacker from the University of Alabama, roll tied. Uh uh, he is a uh great player. He's he's from obviously he's from Asheville. He went to Christ school. Uh he was an under armor all American. Uh, and now he's uh a linebacker for the University of Alabama.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome. Yeah, so um and now as far as you know keeping your balance, balancing your personal life with the demands of running a business, how do you handle vacations?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh I don't I don't even know what that is. Oh uh it it it is very hard again. If if you're if you're running your own business, if you're not here or there, uh then you you're you're not there. And so uh it's very hard to try to schedule something like that because like I mean, if literally if when and if I just go to football games down in uh Tuscaloosa, my phone will start blowing up of people wanting to contact me and wanting to see me. It's almost like they have a sixth sense of knowing I'm trying to get out of town and trying to get a little me time, and so it it's really hard to do that.

SPEAKER_01:

How long does that drive typically take?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh about six and a half, seven hours, depending on traffic in Atlanta. Uh, you have to go through, you don't have to go through Atlanta, but that's a that's the shortest route. Uh and if you don't get there at uh uh you know any time before two or three o'clock, it starts to get you know kind of hectic going through Atlanta.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh yeah. I feel like Atlanta's always pretty busy.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, it it really I mean at no time is there not traffic, but it's just that if you can get there early enough, the traffic isn't as bad.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. Okay, perfect. So you know what qualities you said you do have some employees. What qualities do you look for in employees and how do you foster a positive and productive work environment?

SPEAKER_02:

Um hard working, uh punctual, um dependable. Uh we I I run a tight ship, but it's laid back at the same time. Uh, I wouldn't ask them to do anything that I wouldn't do myself. Um, I'm generally on every job site uh at some point um to answer questions or to you know try to uh uh talk to the guys about what needs to be done today and uh you know how how the job is coming along. Um really again, it's just uh treating them as as if like I would want to be treated as a as an employee of someone.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. And make sure they actually enjoy coming to work every day, right?

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, I don't I don't know if they actually enjoy it. Uh I I don't know many people who actually, you know, if they can look at their job and just say, man, I really love doing it. But uh in in life, you know, some things just have to be just have to get done. And uh we do a lot of work in crawl spaces, and crawl spaces for the you know, for the most part, are not fun places to be. But if that's the job, then let's go ahead and do it and do it well and then get done with it and go to the next one.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, no, understood. All right, so we'll move on next to the quick fire round. So basically, what I'm gonna do, I'm going to say one word, and you basically give me the first thing that comes to your mind, the first thought that comes to your mind when I say this word in regards to running your business.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

Education.

SPEAKER_02:

Pivotal.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. Any more thoughts on it? It doesn't, you don't have to do that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I mean, what especially uh the mold and water damage? I I think that there's a lot more that goes into it uh than than most people think. Uh knowing uh what to do and when to do it and uh is is very I mean you have to be educated in and knowing what you're doing if you want to do the job the right way.

SPEAKER_00:

Planning.

SPEAKER_02:

What was that again?

SPEAKER_00:

Planning.

SPEAKER_02:

Planning. Uh first word, that's necessary. Planning is necessary because when you're trying to put schedules together, uh, when you're trying to get everything ordered, uh, so that you're not waiting around and and kind of twiddling your thumb, that's a very, very huge part. You have to have you have to have to be on your toes when you're planning this what I do.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, and especially you got people waiting on you and waiting for you.

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly. Time time is time is of the essence. And so with water damage, especially uh, because the the water damage can turn into different things if if you're not you know attacking it uh as aggressively and and as quickly as you can from the beginning.

SPEAKER_01:

Inspiration.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh my mother. My mother. Uh she is a great woman. Um I I really can't say enough about her.

SPEAKER_01:

So yeah, no, I I'm with you on that. I I I'm the same way. Everything I do is in regards to my mom. She, you know, she did the most she could do with what we had growing up you know back in the day. And you know, I I thank her for the work ethic she instilled in me.

SPEAKER_02:

So exactly. That is, I I couldn't have said it any better myself. That's exactly she's my inspiration. And and my and my uh three sons, my my family, all my family, really.

SPEAKER_01:

Commitment.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh man, first word. I've got so many words coming commitment. Uh it's hard uh sometimes to be totally uh committed. Um but it's something that you have to do. I mean, just uh like I said, there's sometimes I I don't want to be crawling in crawl spaces every day, but I'm committed to to making my business a success, so that you have to do it. Uh so it's hard, but it's just uh it's a necessary thing. You either either do it all the way or don't do it all.

SPEAKER_01:

Agreed, agreed. So, what words of advice would you offer to other business owners who are looking to grow?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, if you find success, just keep doing what you're doing. Uh uh, I I think that it might not find you when you want it to, but if you keep plugging along, uh then good things happen to you if you're if you're doing the right thing. Uh, I mean, because there's been times where business has gotten slow and you're wondering, okay, this is all on me, and then all of a sudden, you know, jobs that I looked at months ago are calling, and then all of a sudden I'm in a scheduling conflict because I have too much going on. So you just have to just just keep plugging along and and good things are happened.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, okay. And anything in particular you'd like to highlight?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh I mean, if if you have any water damage or or mold issues, uh just uh give me a call. I I do a lot of talking on the phone, uh, answering questions, and not necessarily even looking for you know to get a job out of it, uh, because a lot of people are just seeking information from someone that they can trust. And so uh I I'm I'm hopefully that's a uh something that I can give them.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. Now, what's the next big thing for a healthy home environmental?

SPEAKER_02:

The next job. The next job is the next big thing. Uh I don't uh necessarily think I'm gonna uh have to uh expand. I would rather stay small and do and have my hands in in everything than to get too big and to let it almost get away from me, if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, okay. All right, perfect. And lastly, what's the best way for someone to get in contact with you?

SPEAKER_02:

The best way is to actually call or text me. I'm a I answer the phone. I actually answer the phone. And if you text me, I really get back to you uh as quickly as possible. So uh you can get contact me at uh 828-606-2685. That's 828-606-2685 and text at that number, and I will get back to you.

SPEAKER_01:

And I can personally attest he does answer his phone. He's he's wonderful. All right, well, thank you, Mr. Jones. Fantastic. I really appreciate you coming on today, and thank you for being a part of the community and all you're doing.

SPEAKER_02:

I appreciate you for having me. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, we certainly wish you continued success and happy 2026.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, thank you. Roll time.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, thank you.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, bye bye.