In the near future, Ready for Good will be launching reliable, affordable main line sewer inspections for homeowners, realtors, and property professionals.

Why in the world are we doing that?

For three years, we’ve been able to provide job readiness training through our nonprofit furniture store, where youth gain their first or second job, develop soft skills, and mature through the guidance of positive adult mentors. But while this experience builds confidence and responsibility, it rarely leads directly to a living-wage career.

The reality is, many of the youth we serve struggle to finish high school, less than 5% complete college, and most don’t have the kind of family support that helps with getting a first apartment, navigating vehicle repairs, or finding steady, good-paying work. That led us to ask:

What kind of business could we start that trains youth for real, sustainable careers—without requiring a 4-year degree—and that’s practical, learnable, and pays well?

Sewer scope inspections checked every box.

It’s a niche service with growing demand, it pays a living wage, and it’s relatively straightforward to learn and teach. Most importantly, it gives youth a real shot at financial independence—and that’s why we’re launching this second enterprise.

This mission is what sets us apart. Every inspection will support our youth training initiative, Sewer Inspections for Good, affectionately known as “Sewer Rats.”

We don’t mind a little dirt, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We chose the name ‘Sewer Rats’ because you'll see some on the job from time to time, in the pipes—and because there’s something kind of awesome about turning the grossest, grittiest work into an opportunity for dignity, mentorship, and skill-building.

Through this program, we will train 2-3 youth each year in a 6–12 month paid apprenticeship, offering hands-on experience, mentorship, and a pathway into a skilled, high-demand trade.

At launch, our founder Dr. Addison Shockley will personally lead all inspections and have youth shadowing him who are learning the trade.

Addison is already InterNACHI certified, trained by local inspectors with over 30 years of experience, and mentored by Michael Wicklund, one of the original pioneers of sewer scope inspections in the U.S. He'll use the industry’s highest-quality cameras and equipment and provide beautiful, easy-to-read reports, delivered within 24 hours of the job being completed to your email. Our reports will include clear, high-resolution video and images, plus expert recommendations—so buyers, agents, and sellers know exactly what’s going on underground.

What's it cost? We’ll match any competitor’s price, which tends to be $150 in Lawrence and $200 in KC/Topeka.

And because we’re a nonprofit, all proceeds go directly to our mission of youth mentorship and job training. That means your inspection dollars go further when you choose us: you get peace of mind about your sewer line and help a young person build a better future.

Right now, we're pulling together the final pieces of the enterprise setup. We're very close to launching soon!

Questions? email inspections@readyforgoodks.org.

Thanks!