To Valpo resident and owner of Mr. Honey Can Do Construction Company, Brett Dahlgren, the phrase “no job is too small” is not only a slogan, but an important part of the way the company operates.
Dahlgren and his company have been doing home repairs for more than 15 years in Valpo, Hobart, Schererville, and Portage, but have also gone as far as Boone Grove in order to help those who need his services.
Dahlgren got his start working in a framing company almost 30 years ago. While working there, he would get calls to do small repairs in homes. Eventually, he started doing it on the side during evenings and weekends. It wasn’t until his wife asked him why he didn’t just do it full time that Dahlgren asked himself the million-dollar questions: what if he couldn’t provide for his family switching to doing home repairs full time? What if there wasn't enough work?
In 2006, Dahlgren decided to take a leap of faith and started his own construction company. Business was going well, but Dahlgren always had the fear of work running out. When the recession hit in 2008, the company was thankfully established enough that they survived relatively unscathed.
The company is composed of Dahlgren and his partner, someone he has worked alongside for almost 20 years, starting in the framing business together. Dahlgren believes the team works so well because both men have different strengths. His partner is more familiar with construction work, and Dahlgren knows more of the electric side of things, as his father was a union electrician.
Houses go through phases of change every 20 years. The same thing could be said about families; people raise their children in a house, then eventually the children grow up and move out, leaving them as “empty nesters” who then finally decide to do some remodeling in their home.
Dahlgren says these remodels usually start as small changes, then eventually move up to changing entire floor plans and structures. A family bathroom was once transformed into a bathroom for two older adults with bathtubs removed and safety rails installed. Dahlgren also recommends that his clients focus on changing and upgrading their homes with themselves in mind, not on potential future sales.
“Don’t do it for the next owners and don’t do it for resale, get something you're going to enjoy now,” said Dahlgren.
Dahlgren knows the importance of safety, and only hires extra help from people he’s worked with for many years.
“Anybody that I have come work with us is someone I would have in my own house,” said Dahlgren.
Dahlgren and his company only take on the jobs they know they can get done with the small crew. He credits this with the reason his company can get a job done in two weeks, instead of the months a typical remodeling can take.
“Normally you’d have five to 10 different contractors come in to do different jobs. We just keep plugging along the steps in the right order instead of having the homeowner open doors to strangers every day, we’re there every day,” said Dahlgren.
With the homeowner’s safety in mind, it's no surprise Dahlgren’s company is a big hit especially with the elderly.
“Little old ladies love us,” said Dahlgren.
Word of mouth from satisfied and repeat customers keeps the company busy and successful. One person turns into five people, who need a few lightbulbs changed to a whole kitchen remodel.
“I always tell people ‘Make a list’ so they know what they want to get fixed,” said Dahlgren.
Because of this, Dahlgren is affectionately known as “Santa” to some around the neighborhood. Dahlgren has no plans of stopping anytime soon, as he really enjoys what he does for the different communities he serves.
“I can do this for another 10 to 15 years,” said Dahlgren.