Articles
Harwood Builders: The right-sized company does things right
By Margaret Anne Fehr
Doing things right might seem to be a construction given, but ‘being’ the right company to match a homeowner’s needs is a rarer commodity.
Harwood Builders fills that important niche within the Winnipeg and Manitoba marketplace says Wayne Sage, company president. As a design/build company with over 65 years collective construction experience between Wayne Sage, Jeff Halstead, general foreman and Tony Lyons, finishing foreman, Harwood Builders has adopted a measured approach to its company’s expansion plans.
Wayne explains. “By right size, I mean that we’re a company that can take on a $1.5 million cottage project in Pelican Lake, for example, and turn around and take on a small renovation project that consists of removing a dividing wall and doing some re-flooring for those who have more limited renovations in mind.”
Besides the three key personnel of Wayne, Jeff and Tony, the company has an in-house crew of five skilled workers who handle jobs like tiling and cabinetry with only electrical and mechanical jobs subbed out. “What that does for both us and our clients is to maintain control on their projects. There’s no waiting for outside trades to show up or dealing with outside delays in scheduling that affects our jobs.”
“We are a design/build company that is well connected with the local design community. We are able to choose the designers according to the tastes of our customers. For example, if someone wants contemporary as opposed to country classic, we are able to draw on the talent resources to bring the project to life,” says Wayne.
“We are deliberately a company that limits our custom home production. We handle a set number of homes per year so that we can pay attention to each one and deliver the brand of quality, service, and craftsmanship that each of our projects and clients deserve.”
Harwood Builders brings the same degree of attention to detail to the home renovations projects they do. “We look first at the human side of the reno and then at the physical construction and finishing. It is imperative we understand WHY you want to renovate so we can design to achieve your desired results.”
Building cottages in out of the way places is another one of Harwood Builders’ fortes. “We know how you can get the most from natural sunlight morning, noon, and night. We know how to use the landscape to create harmony in your environment. And we know how to work in sometimes remote and challenging landscapes. But for all of our projects, quality control is an uppermost priority for us.”
“At Harwood Builders, we are committed to the highest standards in building and renovations excellence and stand behind everything we do with a ten year warranty on workmanship. Our business is built on that foundation and we continue to grow by developing quality long term relationships.”
Wayne refers to the customer testimonials on the Harwood Builders’ website www.harwoodbuilders.com that illustrate the kinds of service and products the company delivers. “It’s gratifying to receive those kinds of responses. It makes us realize that we are headed in the right direction.”