the industry for 20. About two years ago, Wayne started thinking about retirement, and he approached Jeff about taking over the company. A little while later, they brought Trevor in on the discussion. “We talked about it, and Wayne said he wasn’t going to sell to anyone but us,” Jeff recalls. “He actually had other offers for more money, but we were the ones he trusted. He knew we shared the same values. We would live up to the reputation he had worked so hard to earn.” When Jeff and Trevor took over, their goal was to grow the company – and over the past year, they have successfully done that. From a personnel perspective, they recently added a second designer and three more carpenters, bringing their direct team to about 19 people total. They have also increased their volume of work, as this year is shaping up to be one of the company’s busiest ever. Meanwhile, from a project perspective, Harwood Design Builders these days focuses on higher-end renovations and additions, with the occasional kitchen renovation to fill the time between bigger jobs. According to Jeff, clients with those larger-scale jobs tend to choose Harwood for a few major reasons. One of those reasons is their in-house design capabilities. “Our clients work with our inhouse designers on every step of the project,” Jeff explains. “When we first go and measure the house, the designer usually comes with us. That’s extremely helpful.” By getting to know the client so SEPTEMBER 2023
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