We recently caught up with CCPIA® member Tony Christoforou, who shared how his long-standing commercial property inspection services have grown into something bigger and better through collaboration and a commitment to learning from every job and client.
About Tony Christoforou
- Company: Senior Commercial Property Inspection Inspector at Certified Commercial Property Inspections
- Location: Based in Long Island, New York, serving all five boroughs, upstate New York, and portions of New Jersey.
- Number of Years in Business: 23 years
- Qualifications: CCPIA® Certified Commercial Property Inspector, State of New York Licensed Home Inspector, InterNACHI® Certified Professional Inspector®
Member Spotlight Video and Podcast Episode
When host Rob Claus sat down with Tony, the conversation revealed what it really means to deliver better commercial property inspection services. You’ll hear Tony’s stories and lessons from the field, how he collaborates with other inspection entrepreneurs and environmental professionals, and how he pays it forward through mentorship. Tune in to the full episode below, or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and other podcast platforms.
Transitioning from Residential to Commercial
Tony reflects on mentoring a residential inspector through their first 15,000-sq-ft commercial job:
“They hadn’t done much with commercial, so I said, ‘Why don’t you take it on? If you can’t do it, call us. I’ll help.’ He called back with a 15,000-square-foot property and asked, ‘How do I price it? How do I deal with it?’”
He explains that transitioning to commercial property inspections required adapting his business strategies and shifting focus, both during the inspection and in the report, toward the bigger picture and what matters most to each client.
Why Partnership Works
Tony shared the story of teaming up with Dov Herman, a fellow inspection business owner with a second-generation company based in Brooklyn. Like Tony, Dov is an entrepreneur, and now a co-founder in their commercial joint venture.
“He’s always been after me on the residential end to join forces, but commercial felt like a clean slate. Even though we have different approaches, it was a way to combine forces. I have a clientele that’s hard for him to break into, and he has a clientele that’s hard for me to break into.
“Between the two of us and the years we have behind us, it’s been a great mesh. We’ve always bounced ideas off each other—even back in residential—like, ‘Hey, is your phone ringing? Because mine’s dead,’ or, ‘How would you handle this situation?’
“Even after all these years, you still want a sounding board. And now with commercial, it’s even more important—figuring out what services to offer, how deep to go on fire safety or accessibility. It’s been invaluable.”
Expanding into Environmental Services
Tony explains how what started as a value-add by partnering with a qualified environmental engineering firm quickly grew into a core offering.
“We figured we’d offer Phase I ESAs as an add-on, but then thought, why not promote them on their own? We created a separate business and the services feed each other. Sometimes a Phase I leads to a full inspection, and sometimes it’s the other way around.
The field work is us. We do it physically while we’re doing your property inspection. And, that has been a selling point.”
By performing both inspections and environmental assessments during the same site visit, they’ve created a smooth experience that’s been especially appealing to their client base.
Unlocking New Clients Segments
Tony shares how inspecting a nursing facility owned by a group of nuns led him to a new type of client: property owners interested in long-term planning instead of just buyers involved in transactions.
“They owned both properties already, they just wanted to know what they have to invest in going forward. We inspected both buildings, did a 10-year cost projection, worked around their schedule. No rush, no pressure, that’s the kind of client we really enjoy working with.”
From this experience, he gained a new client segment and began offering services that help property owners understand what needs to be fixed, how to maintain their buildings, and what upgrades may be coming.
Talking Price and Value
Pricing is always a hot topic. Tony explains that he has dealt with price haggling from both residential and commercial clients. But because he understands the value of his services and how pricing works in the commercial space, he feels confident standing firm with a take-it-or-leave-it approach.
“In residential, you’re haggling over $100. In commercial, it could be thousands. We might quote six or eight thousand for a job, and the client might say, ‘Another inspector said he could do it for fifteen hundred.’ But I know he’s not offering the same thing. I can explain to the client exactly what’s involved to get them what they need.”
Advice from Tony
Tony’s growth is driven by more than demand. His strategic mindset is opening doors to new client segments and a wider variety of commercial spaces. Here’s his take on what keeps him engaged:
“Every inspection’s different. Every scope is different. That’s what I love about commercial—it’s not cookie cutter. You’re always learning, always adapting, and always meeting someone new.”
Tony leaves us with this final takeaway for inspectors thinking about making the jump:
“You have a network willing to help. Jump in.”
Explore Tony Christoforou’s Inspection Services
Tune in to other episodes on YouTube, or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and other podcast platforms.