For Daniel Davenport, helping people is more than just a business model—it’s the foundation of Unlocked Inspections LLC, the St. Louis–based company he founded in 2022 after nearly a decade in the industry. His guiding question is simple but powerful: “How can I help?”

That question frames every client interaction and defines his approach to inspecting homes, which Daniel views as both a technical task and a deeply personal responsibility. “Helping people with providing as much information as possible to influence the biggest investment of their lives brings me immense satisfaction,” he says.

Daniel is no stranger to hard work—or reinvention. A St. Louis native who grew up in University City, he didn’t take a traditional path into his current career. Instead, he accumulated life experience in unexpected places, including the fine dining industry and the Bricklayers Union Local 1, where he completed a five-year apprenticeship and earned his Journeyman title—an accomplishment he remains proud of.

But the idea of home inspections took root after a negative personal experience. “The home inspector that I hired was unfriendly and in a hurry,” Daniel recalls. “Several major issues were missed by the inspector, and I ended up losing quite a bit of money… That experience really stuck with me, and I strive to give my clients the opposite experience that I had.”

He joined the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) in 2016 and began working for a national firm. Six years later, he launched Unlocked Inspections with a clear vision: to provide high-level service, personalized attention, and an unwavering commitment to client education.

While Daniel is a trained builder with thousands of inspections under his belt, he believes the real secret to his success lies in emotional intelligence and clear communication. “I specialize in emotional management and communication,” he explains. “Clients are extremely emotional during the process of purchasing a home with good reason. A huge part of my job is managing these emotions in a positive way.”

Daniel takes extra care when working with first-time homebuyers. “I really enjoy educating people about the home and the systems within, and first-time home buyers typically are more receptive to this information.”

He prides himself on making reports digestible, timely, and stress-reducing. “In every exchange… I strive to provide the information needed in a professional and approachable way,” he says. “I address difficult conversations in a timely and sensitive manner.”

Daniel’s background in the restaurant world taught him the value of relationships, something he brings to every interaction in his business today. He partners with local vendors like Alex Seligsohn at Spotlight Radon and Stan Leonard at Safe Flame to deliver a full suite of services, including radon, termite, gas and safety, and sewer lateral inspections.

He says that quality and consistency—not volume—are what sets Unlocked Inspections apart. “I am a full-time inspector with thousands of completed inspections, and retain a 5 star rating on Google and Spectora.com,” Daniel says. “I think building and maintaining a community is very important, and I deeply believe in the referral process as a way to connect good people together.”

The Davenport household is a busy one, but Daniel has learned how to prioritize what matters most. He credits new technology with helping him achieve a work-life balance that once felt impossible. “I almost left the industry due to the time I was spending on reports,” he says. Now, with on-site report writing software, “my nights and weekends are free so I can spend time with my family and friends.”

Daniel and his wife of sixteen years, Jessica, have two children, Elsie and Danny, both active in sports, arts, and music. As a family, they enjoy hiking, puzzling, traveling—especially to New Orleans—and rooting for STL City SC.

Looking ahead, Daniel’s goals are grounded in community. “Continue to build quality relationships and community,” he says. “To be able to rely on other inspectors when I need help, and to be able to provide support to other inspectors when I am in a position to do so is extremely gratifying.”

For Daniel, success isn’t about numbers. “I would define success in terms of balance,” he explains. “Because I have created the formula to achieve this balance, I consider myself extremely successful.”