05/05/2026
🌟 Spotlight Series🌟
We love highlighting the amazing professionals who make our local real estate community so great. Know someone we should feature next? Drop their name in the comments—we’d love to spotlight them!
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Name & Company: Wayne Zillmer, Up North Inspections LLC
What do you do in the real estate world? Home Inspector
How long have you been in the industry? Started the business in 2022
How did you end up working in this industry? My background education was technical, mixed with 30 years of manufacturing experience. It became time to move into something new, still utilizing my skillsets and interests, but serving customers in my surrounding community. My wife did spend some time as a real estate agent, after serving in the navy for 20 years. As an agent, she would work with home inspectors and encouraged me that it would be something I would do well with if I was ready to step away from my long run in manufacturing. I was ready and have really enjoyed the change.
What do you enjoy most about helping people buy or sell property? Most often I work with buyers interested in buying a property, a home. I enjoy helping them see details about the property that can help them make a more informed decision. This is usually a client’s largest purchase, I want to help them understand better and reduce potential for unexpected things to show up after they move into their home. I tell them, I look at findings from an inspection as a ‘can do’ situation….I know there is a seller that wants to sell….I know there is a buyer that wants to buy. I usually spend much less time with my clients than a real estate agent, but I enjoy that the time we talk is talking about important aspects of their purchase and how it can help them move forward with their agent with less stress. Buying a home is stressful no matter what, but if a buyer can work with people that help bring that stress down, it’s better for everyone. I most enjoy first time home buyers, helping them understand things about their home, things they need to maintain and just better understand their home.
Best piece of advice for someone buying their first property? I really believe great advice when you are buying a property is to hire a home inspector. More than that though, spend a little time talking with people you are going to work with for your home purchase. Before you commit, be comfortable with your agent and your home inspector. The skillsets of an inspector, tools used, report writing skills are all important, but more importantly if you can find an inspector with good people skills along with the rest, it is very valuable. There are a lot of dynamics that go on sometimes with real estate transactions. An inspector is involved for a short time, often not aware of some of those dynamics like a real estate agent would be. An agent may be working for weeks or months with clients. You want an inspector that communicates well with clients, buyer’s agents, seller’s agents, sometimes the neighbors or other people involved.
Favorite local restaurant or coffee spot? While Cedar Lodge is my favorite place to eat in Rusk County, I do enjoy the number of choices. If we feel like Mexican food, some Chinese carry-out, or just a good Family Restaurant, we have them all nearby. A new one we are growing very fond of is Grumpy’s in Conrath. I really like that Grumpy’s has a full salad bar.
Favorite thing to do in our area when you’re not working? It is hard to have one favorite, but I usually always have something I like doing during all the seasons. I do enjoy hunting, fishing, spending time in and on the water on nice summer days. Riding some snowmobile trails in the winter is something I like to do also.
Fun fact about you that most people don’t know? The creative side of me enjoys chainsaw carving.
