Guildmember Spotlight: Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling

November 9th, 2017 by

Lauren Wallace

Name: Cale Kliethermes

Title: Owner

Years with GuildQuality: 5

When was Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling founded and what exactly does your company do/specialize in?

Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling was founded in 1976 by my father, Dan Kliethermes. He started the company out of a necessity to take care of his family and a desire to work for himself. It first started out as a small handyman type company, but over the last 41 years we’ve done a lot of remodeling and we’ve built a lot of homes. Today, our specialty is design/build remodeling and custom home construction.

What was the inspiration for starting Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling?

I grew up working in the field, and I would say that I didn’t have much choice! By the time I was in high school, I knew that I loved working on homes. I loved seeing buildings take shape, new spaces being discovered, and peoples’ lives being changed for the better. When I bought the company a couple years back, it was to be able to carry on that same love.

How has your company changed over the last 5 years?

We have really pushed ourselves to grow beyond where we thought the market would allow us. We have pushed our designs, and therefore our clients, to allow their ideas to expand to possibilities they didn’t know were possible.

When it comes to the success of your business, what’s most important to you?

Taking care of people is the most important thing. Without this, there really is nothing. The phrase, happy clients & happy employees, is the cornerstone of our company and we take it to heart every day.

What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about your industry or line of work?

We get to work with folks on what is often their most prized possession, their home. Therefore, this can be a very emotional experience. We create a plan to remodel someone’s space, and when the day comes, we show up and start tearing up their home! They trust that we are going to put it back together even better than it was before, but this can be a scary thing for a client. My favorite thing to hear is “I never knew it could or would be THIS GOOD”.

Who do you admire most in your industry and why?

I admire my dad most of all. He created an opportunity out of nothing. He saw that he wanted more, so he created a company out of that desire. Once he knew that he needed help in different areas, he sought out people he believed could help him out. He created systems and processes that take care of our clients and our employees. Most importantly, he has done all of this with God in the forefront of every decision.

When it comes to the success of the business, what do you think is most important and why?

Integrity. It means doing the right thing when no one is looking, and having the courage to stand by your beliefs and actions, no matter the outcome. Without integrity, it is very difficult to have a team (or company) follow you. Without integrity, you will not have repeat business and referral clients. With integrity, people want to support you, they want to be part of your team, and they want to work with you. This makes for a successful company and therefore successful projects.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Who was it from, and how did their advice impact you/how you ran your business?

“You don’t have to make the perfect decision right now. Make the best one you can make, and then re-evaluate.” This was from the Marine Corps, and although it’s a little different when you’re getting shot at, the same principles apply. What they were trying to get through to us, was that not deciding is the worst decision you can make. We will all make mistakes, but it’s what we do with those mistakes that matter. Keep moving forward and make the next decision.

Which new or existing industry trends do you believe will be the most popular next year, and which existing trends do you believe will become less popular?

I’m sure that white cabinets and quartz countertops will still be popular, but every time I try to guess what’s coming or going, I find that I really have no clue! I hope that people still want brilliant designs and want to use fantastic products!

When/how were you introduced to GuildQuality, and why did you become a Guildmember?

I was introduced to GuildQuality through Remodelers Advantage around seven or eight years ago. We started working with GuildQuality five years ago because we wanted our clients to know that we took their opinions to heart. We really wanted their honest feedback, and we felt this was the best way to accomplish that.

What do you like or value most about GuildQuality?

I like that our clients can give honest feedback in a safe, comfortable way.

How has GuildQuality directly impacted your business?

We were already doing in-house surveys before GuildQuality, but unless we were sitting there, they didn’t always get done. Now our time is freed up and we can get great feedback from our clients that we can share with others.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to spend time with my wife and four kids (aged 17, 10, & twins of 17 months).

If money were no object, what would you be doing with your time?

I would still be doing this, except I’d only have a general manager and I’d be traveling more!