Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Azarelo.
Hi Jessica, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I didn’t choose the attic life, the attic life chose me! For 16 years I worked in residential lending and banking and had worked my way up to as high as a VP. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d meet someone that would make me realize I was truly unhealthy and happy in my life which ultimately led me to QUIT my career with no backup plan. I took time to study with this coach to focus on my health and happiness.
At the age of 33, I figured out who I was!! I was the healthiest and happiest at that point and believe it or not was homeless. During that time I was recruited into the Insulation industry but a man who was a great businessman but was just that… A businessman, not a building science man.
After about a year of working for him, I stumbled across a training a few hours away. I asked for permission to go and initially, I was given the ok. 2 days before the training my boss changed his mind and saw it as a threat and fired me. That training changed my life. 4 months later Attic Queen, LLC was officially a business!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a business owner in the insulation/home performance industry in one of the hottest states in the country is not an easy business, especially when your focus is the hardest part of working in an attic. I specialize in removing old insulation and air sealing which takes a long time to do VS most companies just blowing on top of the old insulation, dead animal bodies, urine, feces, mold, and whatever else is up there to hide those unwanted treasures.
Trying to find workers who can handle 140-160+ degrees in tight, disgusting spaces is not an easy task. Also during this time, I broke my back almost forcing me to shut my business. I saw it as an opportunity to allow my body to heal but focus on growing my business. Getting out of the attic and behind the desk, what I was used to for my whole adult life has allowed me to build my brand and focus on expanding.
I realize that even if I didn’t break my back maybe my lifespan, I can impact a few thousand attics. If I can tell others my story and show them how to start a business from nothing that is much in demand and very profitable doing something that makes a difference to the country it’s a win/win. How many people are working in corporate America and it’s sucking their soul out of them. I know a lot of people who are working 40-60 hours a week not seeing their family and barely making ends meet.
When I first started my business, I wasn’t doing a ton of jobs but it wasn’t uncommon for me to work 1 day a week and profit $800-2000 in 1 DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Imagine what that would do for someone. What would they do with their free time? Spend it with family? Travel? Some people haven’t found their purpose in life. This was my purpose. I was literally helping families live in a healthier environment, cutting their electric bills and making their homes more comfortable. To me, there’s no price for comfort!!!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Attic Queen LLC?
4/15/21 Attic Queen, LLC was officially started. It is a home performance company focusing on making homes healthier and more efficient. We specialize in removing insulation, mostly old and dirty that have rodents that created nests, leaving tons of urine and feces, pest companies and homeowners have used poisons that have killed them up there leaving those bodies to rot away.
Insulation also gets removed due to mold or water damage or the occupants being allergic/sensitive to the product that is installed. After removing the insulation, we then sanitize the attic. At that point, we have the opportunity to air seal which on average homes are losing 20-30% of their energy through the penetrations on their ceiling.
That saves the homeowner money, helps with comfort stopping the hot attic air from coming through the penetrations and into the living space as well as helps improve the indoor air quality as the air sealing doesn’t allow the air to transfer through into the living space. Once that is done there may be some other detail work needed to make it more efficient and then the final step is to reinsulate the attic space.
What sets us apart is that we offer a service that literally saves people money as well as saves their health AND helps reduce the carbon footprint since the home is not using as much energy anymore. Most other companies want to take the easy route and just blow over the old stuff and that is not the correct thing to do. Imagine a boat with holes. The water will come in. Same thing with air!! Plug the holes first and then insulate!!
I am most proud of the fact that I used all of my own content and went live on Facebook during estimates to educate people on what was going on. When I was working for the company that recruited me into the industry they were spending about $15k a month on marketing and advertising. I offered to manage their Facebook page for $400/mo and use our own organic content instead of stock photos. He told me that was a waste of money.
I’m not even a full 3 years in business and this month just reached over $ 1 million in closed business. I have spent less than $5k in 3 years in marketing/advertisement which included building a website, wrapping 1 box truck, and then boosting ads on Facebook and that is it! I don’t have a marketing or advertising background and basically just did what I could when I could.
Being a business owner that would have to do everything from answering the phone, doing the site inspections, sending the estimates, speaking with the clients, scheduling the jobs/estimates, ordering the materials, doing the jobs, collecting the payments, managing the social media was so overwhelming ESPECIALLY because of how physically demanding and dangerous the job is.
There was just something about a woman rocking bright red lipstick taking selfies with dead rats in attics that caught people’s attention and it caught from there. When I showed up to do the work it impressed a lot of people because no matter what I never stopped until the job was finished.
I want readers to know that this is probably one of the worst jobs on the planet but it is so important for people to understand that your house could be affecting their health. Over 400 million people googled “Is my house making me sick”. I solved that problem. Again, when I broke my back in November of 2022 my life changed forever but I figured out a way to continue to successfully run my business.
After having life-changing surgery in February, I had to shut my business down for 2 months but came back stronger than ever, just in a different form. Behind a desk! 2024 will be the year I speak more and help others become successful while together we save lives and the planet!
What matters most to you?
Health and happiness. If you are not healthy you truly can’t be happy. If you’re not happy then nothing else matters. Finding something that moves you, that gives you a purpose!!!!!! Doing what you say you’ll do is extremely important. Having integrity is key!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.atticqueen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atticqueen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtticQueenOfficial/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-azarelo-20205271
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/attic_queen
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AtticQueen1
