Rick Heagarty on the Craft of Home Improvement

Rick Heagarty has spent 25 years building a vertically integrated constellation of home improvement companies across Middle Tennessee — from civil engineering and land survey all the way through exterior remodeling and custom closet installation. In this conversation, Jeremy and Rick cover what drove each new business category, how Rick thinks about company culture and client selection, what's fueling the custom closet boom in Nashville right now, and what every homeowner should do before signing any remodeling contract.Whether you're a homeowner planning a project, an entrepreneur thinking about expansion, or simply curious about what 25 years in the construction industry teaches you — this episode delivers.Interview exerpt:Jeremy Rivera:  What are some of the trends happening in home improvement that you’re really excited about? What positive developments are you seeing?Rick Heagarty:  There are really three things. People look at us in Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area as an exteriors company. Curb appeal is super important. We use a lot of James Hardie fiber cement — lots of different colors, exterior ornamentals, shutters, columns, corbels — things that really dress up the outside of the house. We have a great design team. We think that doing visible exterior repairs have a high return on investment for home value, so stucco repair, painting, fixing gutters and re-sealing driveways is always aWhat You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy Rick built four companies instead of one — and how listening to customer pain points drove every expansion decisionWhat vertical integration looks like in practice for a Middle Tennessee home improvement businessHow Rick defines company culture — and why he thinks the Sam Walton "customer is always right" philosophy is wrongThe structural reason Nashville homes are running out of storage (it has to do with municipal setbacks and the bonus room replacing the attic)Why custom closets are the fastest-growing home improvement category in Middle Tennessee right nowHow to read a contractor bid, check references properly, and protect yourself before any project beginsWhat Rick means when he says a "no" from a homeowner just means "no right now"Podcast & Host:Unscripted Home Improvement Podcast — H&H ConstructionH&H Construction — Cookeville, TN