Three companies that share their anniversaries with The Greater Lansing Business Monthly all focus on the concept of “home.” Michigan Property Inspection provides home inspections for buyers and sellers as well as remodeling and renovating for both commercial and residential customers; Mir’s Oriental Carpets offers rugs as works of art;  Courtyard by Marriott gives business and recreational travelers a home away from home. All began in 1987, and, like the magazine, have grown and flourished.

Paul Bossenbroek and his wife, Rebecca, operate Michigan Property Inspection. While Rebecca keeps the books and takes care of the office, Paul inspects homes both in the local area and throughout Michigan, from Harbor Springs to Detroit. Paul is a Master Inspector, recognized by the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). ASHI was founded in 1976 and is North America’s oldest and largest organization of home inspectors and provides professional education and training, products, services, marketing, public relations and advocacy. Bossenbroek is one of only 10 Master Inspectors in Michigan and the only one locally.

According to Bossenbroek, “It’s hard to estimate how many inspections I might do a week. Sometimes it will be 10, and sometimes it might be only two. Up until a few years ago, I was probably doing in excess of 500 a year. Now, with a relatively flat real estate market, the number is less, but I still keep busy.”

Rebecca added, “Paul is well respected by buyers and sellers alike. They know he is very thorough and exacting. When he inspects a home, customers know he has provided exceptional service because of his extensive training and years of experience as well as his own standards of excellence.”

Bossenbroek spent 10 years working as a builder before he entered the field of home inspections and brings that wealth of experience to his work in home inspection.

Bossenbroek estimates that he spends about three hours on each inspection, depending, of course, on the size and age of the home. A detailed report is e-mailed to the customer the next morning with a copy following by mail. In addition, he said, “I give customers my cell phone number and remain available to them as long as they need me to be. We make it a policy to service all customers 100 percent, no exceptions.”

With the downturn in the real estate market, Bossenbroek has expanded his business to include home remodeling, restoration and repair. Recent projects have included a deck, a bathroom remodeling and a full basement renovation. However, it is a policy both of his own company and of ASHI that he will not undertake work on homes he has inspected.

The Bossenbroeks estimate that his current work includes about 70 percent home inspection and 30 percent construction work.

A home is a major investment, probably the most expensive thing most people buy in their lifetimes. Michigan Property Inspection gives homeowners the security of knowing that the home they purchase has been painstakingly inspected, carefully examined and thoroughly evaluated.

Amy Mir is the office manager of a company founded by her father, Jasim Mir, which started in Okemos in 1987 and has since added branches in both Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. Mir’s Oriental Rugs brings American customers the artistry and craftsmanship of handmade rugs from such countries as Pakistan, India, China, Nepal and Armenia. An ancient art form, now beginning to die out, the intricate skills have been passed on from generation to generation for centuries.

Amy Mir said, “My father was born in Pakistan but came to this country to study engineering. He became a chemical engineer in Jackson where he worked for many years. His father, still in Pakistan, was designing and manufacturing handmade rugs. He would send them to my father to sell. When the company my father worked for in Jackson closed down, he opened this store as an outlet for the rugs his father continued to send him. We have been in business here for 20 years and opened a store in Ann Arbor 15 years ago and one in Grand Rapids 10 years ago. All have proven very successful.”

“My grandfather in Pakistan still designs and manufactures the rugs and sends them to us here. He creates both original designs and recreates antique rugs. Also, the people who hand make the rugs contribute their traditions and ideas. The term Oriental simply means that the rugs are handmade, it doesn’t refer to the place of its origin.”

Rug making is a cottage industry; the rug makers generally work in their own village and in their own homes. Each rug is painstakingly knotted by hand, using the finest sheep’s wool which has been washed, straightened and spun. It is then dyed in giant vats by master dyers and hung to dry. An average weaver can tie between 10,000 and 14,000 knots a day, amounting to only one to two inches of woven carpet. They often work together; it takes two weavers approximately five to six months to complete an 8 x 10 carpet of 250 knots per square inch. Rugs can also be made of silk.

The cost of the rug depends on its size and the number of knots per square inch. Amy Mir said that the most expensive rug she ever sold was over $20,000, but the store also carries very affordable sizes, styles and content. Rug designs are inspired by the culture of the rug makers, both ancient and modern. The natural world is represented by both the flora and fauna of the local environment; ancient stories are told and retold. Modern rug makers also draw inspiration from the art world with representations of Mondrian or Miro or from famous design periods such as art deco, Aubusson or arts and crafts. Colors vary, with reds and blues in the more traditional designs, but many other colors also available.

Amy Mir explained, “Buying a rug from us is more than just a decorative statement for your home; our rugs are heirlooms made to be passed down from generation to generation just as the art of the designer and the skill of the craftsperson has been passed on.”

The Courtyard by Marriott opened in 1987 as the Clubhouse Inn and is described by General Manager Nick Fischioni as “an oasis for the business traveler.” The Courtyard is currently owned and operated by Wickens Management, based in Lansing, who also own and operate similar properties in Brighton and Novi. Local management, combined with the worldwide resources of the Marriott chain of hotels, gives the facility a unique advantage in the area’s lodging marketplace.

According to Dave Stout, vice president of Wickens Management, “Our proximity to the state Capitol, Michigan State University and excellent sports and shopping opportunities keeps our 129 rooms filled with both business and recreational travelers. In fact, we run at over 70 percent capacity, much higher than the Michigan average of 52 percent. We understand and can be responsive to the area’s unique needs, and, at the same time, as part of the Marriott family, can take advantage of all the resources they have to offer.

“During the week, we are primarily home to business travelers. Weekends are busy with families who enjoy our indoor pool, whirlpool, fitness center, restaurants and local attractions.”

For the businessperson, the Courtyard offers quick access to the airport, the Capitol and MSU. Restaurants on-site or local restaurant delivery, valet dry cleaning, on-site laundry, meeting rooms and event planning assistance make the hotel particularly convenient for the busy business traveler. “We can provide whatever the business professional needs, either right here at the hotel or at a convenient distance,” Stout said.

On tap are both a renovation of all hotel rooms (scheduled at six-year intervals) and a complete makeover for the public areas such as the lounge, restaurants and lobby. Marriott has chosen this facility as one of the first to receive the room renovations and is going “above and beyond,” according to General Manager Fischioni.

Stout added, “The Marriott is encouraging us to explore all our options in the redesign of our public spaces. We are meeting with designers and looking at plans to open up the space with a great room and a two-story atrium as well as new meeting rooms and additional amenities for our business customers.” The renovations are planned for this summer.

Both Stout and Fischioni consider their core guests the best source of advertising and know that word of mouth serves them well in maintaining their reputation as a comfortable “home away from home.”