Local Company Focuses on Remodeling Homes

Michael Golembeiwski, the owner of Brecksville's All-American Remodeling & Design, prefers a hands-on approach when it comes to his projects.

“We do a minimal amount of subcontracting,” Golembiewski said. “We sub where we have to, but a majority of the work is done in-house by our skilled craftsmen.”

"I service my customers, and even if I'm not working there all day, I'm at least communicating and am on the job site just to make sure things are going smoothly," he continued.  "And if there are any bumps that come up, I handle them."

Golembiewski got into the home remodeling business about 25 years ago with his first company, which focused mostly on exterior painting and exterior work.

It was only after he opened All-American five years later that the business evolved into a full residential remodeling company.

“We handle all general construction, from the roof down to the concrete,” he said. “We’re kind of a one-stop shop.”

According to Golembiewski, his company typically does about 25 to 40 jobs per year, depending on the size of the project.

But 2011 has been so far proving to be a particularly busy year for Golembiewski, which he thinks is due, ironically enough, to the flagging economy.

He said that’s because most people aren’t looking to rehab newly purchased homes; they’re looking to improve what they already have and in the most cost-effective manner possible.

“Going bigger is not always better, and the days being house rich and cash poor are over,” he said. “I think people are watching their pocketbooks, but they’re being smarter about how they’re spending their money. Cheaper is not better, and I base my company on that.”

One customer who benefited from this principle was Kara DiSanza of Strongsville, who hired All-American in 2009 to remodel her kitchen.

“We were very satisfied,” DiSanza said. “Even on our first meetings, he was very professional. He’s not trying to push anything on you. He’s very budget conscious. He knew what money we had to work with and I felt that he really gave us a lot for the money we were able to spend.”

Another principle Golembiewski bases his company on is making sure potential customers are as educated as they possibly can be when it comes to hiring a contractor.

When choosing a contractor, Golembiewski says that potential customers should look out for red flags, like contractors who ask for large payments up front, who start out low on prices just to get business and who don’t provide references or paperwork.

One of the biggest resources potential customers have against disreputable contractors is the Better Business Bureau (All-American is an accredited member), which they can use to look up those companies to see what kind of complaints, if any, have been made against them.

“I really, really push the Better Business Bureau because if customers who are coming to me have done their homework, then they’re serious clients and they want quality craftsmanship for a reasonable price,” he said.