The newly established Beyond Housing Community Chamber is an innovative network of trusted partners from the trades and related industries who share a deep commitment to community, service, and collaboration.
Together, these companies are building a network that strengthens businesses by strengthening the community itself.
Unlike the many existing business networks that focus on lead generation for their members, the Community Chamber is a purpose-driven alliance for those who believe in doing well by doing good—companies that measure success not only in profit, but in the positive impact they make on their employees, customers, and community.
Those values are the reason Air Force retiree Julian Andes of Plus Ultra Home Inspections joined the Community Chamber as an inaugural member. “In the military, it’s all about service before self and helping other people,” he said. “The way Beyond Housing operates feels similar to the way Air Force members serve the nation.”
Andes’ 15-year career in military construction prepared him well for entrepreneurship within the inspection field. He spent the two years before his official retirement in 2025 preparing and prototyping. He earned the necessary licenses for Illinois and connected with homeowners in his personal and professional networks to get the word out.
Demand grew so quickly that by mid-2026 Plus Ultra Home Inspections employed three additional inspectors plus an administrative assistant.
“In the military, it’s all about service before self and helping other people. The way Beyond Housing operates feels similar.”
Entrepreneurship inspired by service
Andes credits the company’s rapid expansion to the service model he established from the start. He emphasizes transparent communication, skillful and thorough inspections, and post-inspection support. “A lot of times, once inspectors finish their report, that’s it—you can never reach them again,” Andes said. “We are open for post-inspection briefings and feedback. If they want a briefing about our findings the same day, we’ll do that.”
Plus Ultra Home Inspections offers 90-day warranties to ensure buyers and sellers know that when they close on a property, they have support. Another selling point: free re-inspections after repairs have been completed. “When the seller or the tenant fixes something based on our report, we will come back and double-check if it’s repaired correctly,” Andes said.
Like many servicemembers, Andes has experienced quick-turnaround, sight-unseen home purchases due to impending moves across the country or around the world. In Andes’ own case, he moved his wife and two children from Japan to Illinois without ever having seen their home in person.
“Come to find out, our air conditioning was going bad, and there were no findings about it in the report. I don’t want anyone else to experience that,” he said. “Nobody needs that level of stress.”
Anchored to St. Louis after a global career
Andes was born in the Philippines, grew up in Georgia surrounded by military families, and has worked all over the world. Before being stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, he had lived in Japan for 13 years. During that time, he and his wife, met, got married, and had two children.
“It was kind of tough moving here because they’re all Japanese,” he said. “But the Midwest has been a good fit for our family. Now I really love this place, and that’s why I decided to start our businesses here.”
In addition Plus Ultra Home Inspections, Andes has also established another fast-growing company, Chameleon Commercial Building Inspections, for projects such as retail stores, office buildings, schools, multi-family apartments, churches, and hotels.
After gaining a toehold in the Metro East, Andes’ companies expanded to Missouri, which was relatively easy because the state does not regulate the home inspection profession. However, Andes maintains the same quality standards regardless of geographic location, and word spread rapidly. “Now we reach all the way to Columbia, Missouri, because of our reviews and client feedback,” he said.
Noting that customers are often nervous about having inspections done, Andes and his team go out of their way to communicate their findings with care.
“We have backgrounds in construction, so we don’t scare people for little stuff,” he explained. “A lot of times in the home inspection industry, the inspectors are known for breaking the deal, right? Like, ‘Hey, your roof is bad.’ But it could have been just a damaged shingle or something else easy to repair. That’s where we have an advantage, because we go straight to the facts and pinpoint significant issues that really matter.”
“When I saw what Beyond Housing was trying to do, changing the whole environment for the better, I was all for it.”
With his trained professional eye, Andes sees potential where others might see rundown housing stock or troubled communities—including the 24:1 footprint in North St. Louis County. He is excited to join the Beyond Housing Community Chamber and looks forward to connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs.
“I can picture that if we have people who take care of their neighborhoods, this area will flourish,” he said. “When I saw what Beyond Housing was trying to do, changing the whole environment for the better, I was all for it.”
