About BHC
My father was a carpenter.
He passed away when I was 9 years old.
However in that time, I spent every minute he allowed, working on something with him.
Me and Dad, side by side, with hammers in hands. I enjoyed him, I enjoyed doing what he did. I treasure those moments.
All of this began with him leaving me the tools and the chance to use them.
I think of him often and wonder if he is proud of my work. I hope so.
He passed away when I was 9 years old.
However in that time, I spent every minute he allowed, working on something with him.
Me and Dad, side by side, with hammers in hands. I enjoyed him, I enjoyed doing what he did. I treasure those moments.
All of this began with him leaving me the tools and the chance to use them.
I think of him often and wonder if he is proud of my work. I hope so.
I'm 37 years old now, and over half of that time I've spent building homes and doing construction work. I've only had 2 other jobs in my life besides working for myself. One was working in a family owned restaurant. While working there I met a contractor when I was 17 and started working for him. At 21 years old I found I was having my first child so I began to build my first home on my own. A year later I decided to build a spec house on weekends and after hours. I needed a contractors license so, I was working in the day and reading, studying in the evening taking off work and going to classes. I was the youngest in my class and had several men tell me how hard it was and how many times they had already tried.
I was nervous but it was too late to turn back. After months of preparation, I passed the exam! After a couple more months of red tape and paperwork I applied to officially become licensed by the state. I'll never forget getting the official license in the mail. I was able to build my first spec house now. About 6 weeks before it was finished I sold it. Soon, someone else wanted a house built and asked me to do it. I said yeah but it would be on the weekends and after hours because I still had a full time job. They agreed. I was spending countless hours on the phone with my grandfather talking to him and wanting to go out on a limb and try working for myself but scared to...because I just built my house, and had a son so the security of a job was good for me, or so we thought. Around May of that year my boss informed me he was closing up the company and moving, so there I was all these thoughts on my mind...and a license in my hand...and a job I was about to lose whether I liked it or not ...so I just went for it! And so the building began. In July of 2007 (not the best time to enter the construction business), I officially formed the company. I was 23 years old and eager to get to work. It was a lot of work to be able to work for free sometimes and there are still days that have their moments... but I love building. I love starting with a blank canvas and creating something that was just a thought on a piece of paper. Having someone come to us and ask us if we could do this or that and being able to look at it and say yes we can, is a great feeling. I love watching the excitement build in a person as their new home is being constructed. It's more than just a job to us, it's a relationship built with a client...understanding it's usually the biggest investment most will ever make...or is everything they've worked their lives for. Knowing they are trusting us with this dream is truly an honor. Every home we build is a unique and special job we take seriously, with professionalism, and yes a love of our craft. It's much more than bringing a blueprint to life. It's building a 'home'." - Bob Haepp |