By+ Shelly M. Kurz
Anyone
who has ever thought about remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, or maybe
adding on a whole new room edition, has probably stared fear and
anxiety right in the face. Doubts about choosing the right contractor
or concerns about how disruptive the project will be, how costs will be
controlled and how the end result will turn out keep many from moving
forward with the project. Fears like these are often the only reason
some homeowners never take the plunge from remodeling dreams to dream
home reality. Scott Peacock, owner of Peacock and Company, along with a
crew that he demands be “house broke,” understands this well. “I know
how unnerving it is to homeowners to have people working in their
house. That’s why I’m all about quality. I don’t want my name on
anything that’s bad or that people have problems with.” Rest assured,
this promise of quality isn’t one that stands on shaky ground. Since
1984, Scott Peacock and his professional staff have built one of this
area’s top remodeling companies on a strong foundation that’s supported
by years of experience, uncompromising quality workmanship and a
customer service motto that’s never a nonchalant “whatever,” but
instead, an earnest “whatever it takes.”
When Scott started the business 25 years ago, details were just as
important then as they are now. Many of the early projects involved
sunrooms that were actually built like the rest of the home instead of
having the typical “added-on” look. “It was real important, down to the
last detail both on the interior and the exterior, that everything
matched. We went to great lengths back then and we still do today to
make sure everything goes together,” claims Scott. “We work with a
multitude of suppliers to help match what builders have been using for
the last half century.” Today, Peacock and Company takes great pride in
continuing their tradition of offering seamless room additions as well
as impeccable kitchen, bathroom and general remodeling.
Peacock and Company operates a little different than many remodeling
companies. Instead of relying on the sometimes erratic availability of
subcontractors to complete construction, Scott believes it’s best to
have his own employees so that he can better guarantee consistency in
service and quality. “We do hire subs for the mechanicals like plumbing
and electric but the guys who do the construction work are employees
with full benefit packages,” says Scott. People are held accountable
and expectations for employees are high. Not only do they answer to
Scott, but their customers, who provide a “report card” by completing a
series of questions about their experience once the project is
completed, also hold them accountable. “We’ve got a great team here,”
says Scott. “We respect one another and help each other out and the
lines of communication are always open.” This kind of teamwork enables
Peacock and Company to live up to their promise of starting when they
say they’ll start and finishing on time, too.
When it comes to a remodeling job, no one likes surprises—not the
contractor and especially not the homeowner. To alleviate unnecessary
headaches and extra costs once a project is in process, a detailed
proposal is written so everyone is in agreement and knows what to
expect. “We itemize every detail so there aren’t any questions or
surprises once we get into the process. Everything must be defined in
the proposal,” claims Scott. To further reduce the anxiety that many
homeowners may still feel, Scott stands behind every job with a
warranty that guarantees complete customer satisfaction.
A company doesn’t remain competitive in the remodeling business if it
doesn’t have creative vision and the ability to keep up with new and
changing technology. “That’s part of the fun of this business,” says
Scott. “The new gadgets blow my mind!” One of the biggest changes in
the remodeling industry today is the fact that homeowners have many
more resources available to learn about new products and services. The
Internet, along with television networks such as HGTV, have made a
positive impact by opening new doors to creativity and showcasing
what’s available now and how it can make homes and lives better. Scott
says he’s most amazed by how incredibly creative homeowners are today
in completely designing their own project. Although Peacock and Company
has its own design staff available to customers, most people know
exactly what they want before they even hire a contractor. “I’m seeing
new products and ideas everyday from our customers,” says Scott. “And
we’ll search until we find whatever they want.” In addition to custom
product orders, Peacock and Company carries a very distinctive custom
kitchen line, a wide variety of countertops and such reputable brand
names as Pella and Kohler.
After 25 years in business, Scott Peacock is still as excited about
being in the remodeling industry as he was in the beginning. He jumps
in with both feet everyday to meet new challenges, design unique
projects and fulfill customers’ creative requests for both function and
innovation. Taking so much pride in a job well done, Scott says his
best reward is a happy customer. Remodeling allows a homeowner to have
their dream home under their same old roof, not to mention the fact
that it increases a home’s value while eliminating the headaches that
go along with building a brand new home or moving to a different one.
“And it also allows people to stay put in the neighborhood they love,”
adds Scott. Speaking of neighborhoods, Scott enjoys spending time in
his when he’s not working. “I have a big yard with two ponds, a
waterfall and a 60 foot stream between them. I really love yard work as
well as tinkering in my shop at home.” And if time allows, a round of
golf or a good book makes for a relaxing diversion in the busy life of
Scott Peacock.
