Honest Pricing and Hard Work Paying Off for Worth Exteriors & Interiors
Eye-to-eye contact, offering honest costs, keeping a worksite clean, it’s all part of this company’s culture. Des Moines is taking notice.
Working with a contractor should be all about trust, yet too often a home remodel leads to surprises that have nothing to do with a snazzy smart appliance or upgraded flooring. Many contractors make a surprise out of the final invoice, adding new expenses and cost changes that were not shared in the initial estimate. Chris Worthington, founder of Worth Exteriors & Interiors, believes there’s a better way: make the final cost equal to or less than the estimate, every time. Worthington also believes the trust his customers have in his company is a direct byproduct of the good faith Worth employees have in each other.
“Des Moines is really a small town,” adds the company founder. “You run into a lot of people you never thought you’d see again. Whether you’re at the grocery store, in church or on the street, you always want to be able to look someone in the eye and check in on your project.”
Worth Exteriors & Interiors is a second-generation company,” says Worthington. “My dad was a homebuilder and I started on job sites doing whatever he asked me to do when I was 12-years old. He took the time to explain framing and finishing techniques to me and I really took an interest in it. I’ve never lost sight of the value in blue collar work and I respect my employees greatly for what they give to our clients every day.”
Worthington believes in treating his employees like family! “We always look for people who fit with the company,” the Worth CEO continues, “because we think of this as a community. Our kids are friends, we share afternoon cookouts and many of our workers are related to each other, they have a connection to the people who work on their crews which brings a work ethic and additional character to the project.”
Worth Exterior employees enjoy access to a company retreat space in southern Iowa. The compound, with its manmade fishing and swimming ponds, four wheelers and large firepit, can easily accommodate up to 20 people, though this number has been known to expand with tents and campers on the property. The family atmosphere infuses the culture back in the office as well. When someone needs a hand she can count on her co-workers, they are there for each other and that support goes a long way in building an extended family at work says Amy Paige, Lead Designer
“We were at a siding conference in Texas recently and other company execs were shocked at how long we keep our employees,” adds Kelly O’Riley, Executive Vice President. “Chris has always emphasized a family environment, we take company trips in the winter and there is always time to take care of something personal if it comes up. As a result, most of our employees have worked with us for fifteen to eighteen years. Other execs were certainly surprised to learn about the retreat area, bonuses, trips and other benefits. You establish trust with every single employee, a confidence that is then passed along by everyone to our clientsThe clients clearly appreciate the work, from siding and roofing to their new interior remodel unit specializing in kitchens and bathrooms. In fact, Worth has been asked to conduct projects as far away as Austin, Texas and Lake of the Ozarks by clients who’ve contracted earlier projects in Iowa. When a homeowner flies in his contractors from far away it says a ton about the trust and excellent workmanship of that company.
We have had numerous compliments on the quality of the workmanship and the beauty of the new deck and roof. Important to any customer is that with all the different projects – it did not cost one penny more than what we had agreed upon. That is an item that sometimes is rare in business today. -Llyod and Nanette
“During my siding replacement, the men worked quickly and carefully, and I can see the quality of their workmanship and the materials used. I also appreciate how well they cleaned up every evening.” -Milt
Paige and O’Riley are instrumental in building the new interior design department. Worth Exteriors has always specialized in 4-Season rooms so adding kitchen and bath remodels was a natural transition. In fact, the company has often done inside work before upon request, they just haven’t advertised it, preferring to let referrals do the talking. The timing couldn’t be better for the new enterprise. The Real Estate editor at the Dallas Morning News wrote recently that, as the housing market cools, homeowners are turning their attention to remodeling their present residence.
“We have seen a huge growth in three and four-season rooms here, given you can only spend about two weeks outside in Iowa,” laughs Worthington, “All the different remodeling shows now emphasize these type of rooms, the idea of creating a new space in the home you live in now. Amy has a passion for design and it really fits well into our programs. She uses a program called “Hover” to show people exactly what the project will look like while they are seated at their kitchen table. It’s really impressive.”
All three individuals believe the company philosophy bodes very well for the future. The sales team charges 10% consistently over cost while maintaining an open accounting book with every client. This transparency allows the client to “be the boss” of their own project, to spend money only when they want to do so.
Specializing
- Windows & Doors
- Painting
- Decks
- Siding
- Roofing
- Kitchens
“We never ballpark costs,” concludes O’Riley. “We bid a custom number for each project and that price comes with no surprises. We do everything we can to avoid change orders. In short, we try to embody ‘Iowa Nice.’”
Worth Exteriors & Interiors’ Iowa Nice philosophy extends to the company’s frequent charity contributions. Employees frequently participate in Habitat for Humanity projects and donate money and time to St. Jude’s, where company members recently built a gazebo roof.
If you’re looking for honesty with an old fashioned work ethic and a company who takes pride in exceeding clients’ expectations Worth Exteriors & Interiors are the company you should call.
Get a quote here.