Meet Our Team
Solid Ground is a certified, licensed home inspection company that educates buyers and sellers on the condition of their home, top to bottom – inside and out. Established by Stephen and Erika Houmard in January 2006, our Solid Ground team has conducted over 9,000 home inspections in 20 years -- now that's a lot of houses!
After operating as a single-inspector company for a few years, Steve and Erika expanded Solid Ground into a multi-inspector company for about ten years based on increased demand for our unique, interactive style of home inspecting. However, team changed dynamics as our beloved inspectors either retired, moved or started their own companies and now we focus on Stephen's seasoned expertise as we serve the needs of home buyers, home sellers and real estate agents throughout the Charleston and surrounding areas. In fact, you're just as likely to see Stephen in Summerville as in Mt. Pleasant or on James Island. Beyond metro Charleston, we'll easily travel from Kiawah Island to Awendaw to Moncks Corner and every place in between to inspect the home you're buying or selling.
Stephen Houmard
Owner, Certified Home Inspector
With 20 years as a home inspector under his belt, Stephen brings not only his technical expertise but his humor with him to (just about) every inspection and has a natural ability to connect with home buyers and sellers from all walks of life. If you're especially nervous about your big purchase or are the detail-oriented, analytical type who just has to know why the outlet doesn't work, Stephen's humor and knowledge will help put you at ease so you can learn what you need to from your home inspection.
While living in Atlanta, Stephen and Erika (and mostly Steve) renovated a 1950 traditional home and a 1920 arts and crafts bungalow both from the ground up. It was from this work that we realized Steve had a true talent for understanding how a house, and all its major
systems, work together and that this knowledge would translate well into a career as a home inspector. From buying and selling the homes we renovated, we fully understand how important the home inspection is and have factored our learnings into the inspection service we offer today.
Interestingly, Stephen actually started his career in nursing and spent ten years in the medical field. During this time, he honed his analytical and systems-thinking skills, utilized a scientific approach to diagnose problems and developed his wonderful ability to convey conditions to patients in a manner that was both educational and comforting.
When not inspecting, you can catch Steve working on various house projects for his James Island home, out fishing or at the beach with his wife. His son Michael graduated from high school in 2021 and went right into Marines boot camp (same weekend!) Three months later, Mike earned the title 'U.S. Marine' (fall 2021) -- Steve was so proud! Now, Michael is married to a lovely girl and is a Seargant in the Marine Corps based at nearby Parris Island where you can find Steve and Mike fishing from time to time in beautiful Beaufort, SC.
Stephen is a Certified Home Inspector through the American Society of Home Inspections (ASHI) and is licensed as a Residential Building Inspector by the State of South Carolina #2046. For more information about ASHI, please visit them at www.ashi.org. Additionally, Stephen is Infrared-Certified trained in the use of thermal imaging for residential homes, is a Certified Remote (drone) Pilot and certified in the use of sewer scopes for underground sewer line inspections as well. In 2024, Stephen became a Fortified Evaluator for the Fortified Program through the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS).
Erika Houmard
Owner, Business & Scheduling Manager
As co-owner of Solid Ground Inspections, Erika is often the first friendly voice our clients hear when they call. She manages scheduling, oversees the day-to-day business operations, and works behind the scenes to ensure every client enjoys a smooth, convenient, and professional inspection experience from the first phone call through the final report and beyond.
Together, Erika and Steve have spent more than 20 years building Solid Ground Inspections. During that time, they grew the company from a single-inspector firm to a successful multi-inspector company before intentionally returning to a boutique, owner-operated business. Today, they enjoy providing the personalized service and attention to detail that comes from working directly with every client.
Erika is passionate about understanding what home buyers, home sellers, and real estate professionals value most in a home inspection. She continually looks for ways to improve the customer experience, streamline the inspection process, and introduce new services and technology that benefit both clients and Realtors.
Before Solid Ground, Erika spent more than 12 years in corporate marketing and business development with both Coca-Cola USA Foodservice and United Parcel Service (UPS) world headquarters in Atlanta. That experience continues to influence the company's commitment to outstanding customer service, innovation, and building lasting relationships with clients and industry professionals.
We take home inspections seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously :) This fun illustration really captures who Solid Ground is -- a family-owned and operated business featuring a husband-and-wife team who are dedicated professionals, but who you'll also see out and about on the weekend enjoying all that Charleston has to offer when we’re not in inspection mode . . . .
