Tim Piendel

Why did you start GreatHouse Remodeling?

I have always loved to build things. When I decided to start my own business, it was felt natural to choose home remodeling as an industry. I always loved problem-solving and what better problem to solve than helping our customers find out ways to make their homes work better for them and their families!

How have you tried to make GreatHouse Remodeling different?

When I founded GreatHouse back in 2003, I wanted to do it on my own terms. I had worked in corporate America before and I was tired of how much of a toll that environment took on my family life. I wouldn’t have that be the case in my own company.

I wanted to prioritize work/life balance for myself and my team. It was important to me that the business not take away from family life. That became an important filter through which we put everything when it came to defining how GreatHouse operated.

We would not work nights and weekends, and doing so would allow our team to recharge and spend time with those who we love. We would only take local jobs within a 15-mile radius, that way our team isn’t spending hours a day stuck in traffic. With traffic being a major problem in the metro-Atlanta area, having a short commute gives our employees the chance to get home faster and means that we can better serve our clients. 

What do you want GreatHouse Remodeling to be known for?

We’re a design-built business. Taking a tailor-made approach demonstrates the care and attention to detail that we put into our projects. We have spent the last 18 years building a reputation so that we’re known to our customers for our high-quality work.

As a business, I want us to be known as a great place for our employees to work. A place where they can do work that they’re proud of, with a structured environment that sets them up to succeed, but where they can also have fun working. It’s really important to me that our workplace is an enjoyable atmosphere. You’re here 5 out of the 7 days of the week, if you don’t enjoy it, that’d be awful!

What does your ideal employee look like?

Above all, someone with integrity. It’s really important that for our team to share our values.

We’re looking for go-getters. Someone who is eager to get started and get things done. We work in a dynamic environment, it’s important that our team members be self-starters who can take initiative and be willing to pitch in when needed instead of waiting around to be told what to do. We want people who aren’t afraid to make mistakes, but who do own up to it when they do and learn from those experiences.