When we started this small renovation business many years ago, we did it for all the same reasons others become entrepreneurs – to make a living, just like most contracting companies do. In time, it grew to be much bigger than that; it became about people, about building relationships and providing families and individuals in the Ottawa region with something of value. It became a desire to give just a little more than what we receive. I guess we found some sort of higher satisfaction knowing that we did something right. As a psychologist would say “on a Maslow’s pyramid of needs, we found our Self-Actualization.”
One knows the work one does is no longer work is when one seeks the satisfaction of it more than financial reward. When a cold phone call turns into a warm welcome to their home. When a stranger yesterday is a phone contact today and a phone call with them starts not about what we can do for them, but about their family; then you know it’s more than a job. You know they are more than a customer.
Besides pride in working with great customers, we take our business very seriously. We are very careful when hiring new personnel and rarely need to do so as most of our people have been with us for a long time. We feel it is a huge responsibility to hire a worker and provide for his/her livelihood. So, the wellbeing of our staff is of extreme importance to us. With that in mind, we try to create an atmosphere where our staff will enjoy going to work each day.
When you look around for a home improvement company, you think about many factors besides your budget and your design goals. After all, who would you want to invite into your home to renovate your bathroom? A grumpy underpaid worker, or someone who is looking forward to going to work each day, mastering their craft in a fulfilling career?
Our work environment is fun, fulfilling and it’s healthy. Respect from a contractor to a client and from a client to a contractor is paramount to us.
We are very old school, but only in our values and commitment to relationships. We strongly believe that leaders are not just titles and roles; the role of a leader is to lead. If you talk to any of our crew members, they will tell you that often an owner of the company will help take out the garbage, sweep the floor, or deliver materials. Our workers are paid the same as the owners of the company. We are proud to be a company where everyone who works hard earns a good living. It is a tremendous joy to see your workers buy a house, become a father, be free to take their daughter to school, and enjoy a work-life balance. We have been very privileged to witness this several times and that assures us that we are on the right track.
None of this would have happened if not for the hard work of everyone in this team and the trust of our customers, and for that, we are grateful to no end.
In all our dealings with you, our customers, above all, we want to be fair and honest. That sometimes means that we say what not everyone wants to hear, but we always want to be open and transparent. We know from our experience that this is the only way for people to be on the same page and to have trust.
We have also been privileged to serve local Ottawa Lowe’s and Rona stores as their main bathroom and kitchen installers for a decade and counting. It has been a very healthy relationship and partnership. We have met many wonderful people through these years and continue to do so to this moment.
Here are some of our team members and some words briefly describing their lives and characters.