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Inside About Your Home
BEST CONTRACTOR and BEST HOMEBUILDER
REMBRANDT HOMES
330-699-1608
About readers gave Rembrandt Homes double honors as Best Homebuilder and Best Contractor.
Owner Steve Miller said his business thrives on referrals and customer satisfaction, with the goal “to make sure people who use us today will use us again.”
It seems to be working.
In the seven years since he bought the business, the company has grown each year.
Many of the votes in each both categories named Miller specifically.
While he focuses primarily on new construction, with the downturn in the economy, he has added room additions and basement finishing to his offerings.
He said that being a “no-niche builder” is another thing that separates him from his competitors.
That means they will build a high-end, custom home that costs $750,000 or a more modest version at $200,000, he explained.
Clients can bring their plans or visions, and he will work alongside them and an independent drafter to put their ideas on paper.
“We have built homes from drawings on napkins,” he said with a laugh.
Rembrandt is affiliated with the Northeast Ohio Green Building Initiative, a voluntary residential green-building certification program, and has built three green-certified homes.
“We go above and beyond the standard requirements,” he said, even if it is not a green-certified home. “We always focus on energy efficiency.”
BEST OUTDOOR BEAUTIFICATION SPECIALIST (landscaper)
1651 55th St. NE, Plain Township
330-499-9857
With the company’s 70 years in business, it is not surprising that About readers chose Rice’s Nursery as their favorite landscaper.
But when we say landscapers, we don’t mean just grass and shrubbery.
Hiring Rice’s, says President Brian Rice, is like getting an interior decorator for the outside of your home.
Rice says he has licensed landscape architects on staff, which takes Rice’s to a whole other level of design over other places.
Add to that a talented production staff and “we not only can dream it up, but we can build it and make it come alive,” said Rice.
Rice said his staff’s work — whether it be pergolas, outdoor kitchens, patios or living landscapes — always amazes him.
“What it comes down to is our people. We have the best people in the business, whether it’s the retail end, the landscaping and lawn maintenance — mowing and pruning — or doing the design/build,” he said. We have the most talented people in Stark County.
Rice acknowledged that Rice’s is sometimes touted as the more-expensive choice for a landscaping firm in the area.
“Once customers experience us, they realize we are a good value for their money,” he said.
Rice said he and his brother Kevin are the third generation to operate the business.
That, he said, makes them work that much harder to maintain their reputation and evolve with the times.
“We are a family business of 125 family members,” he said of his employees. “Without them, we’d be nowhere.”
BEST SERVICE FOR MAKING YOUR HOME SQUEAKY CLEAN
INTEGRITY GROUP SERVICES
Louisville: 330-875-5377
Canton: 330-704-2302
When our readers want their home — or business — to sparkle, they vote Integrity Group Services of Louisville as the business to call.
Co-owner Ken Giebel said his clients know that he and his staff of 12 strive to do a great job.
“Personally, I’m very active in making sure our clients are happy,” he said. “They know they can call me day or night.”
Giebel, who owns the service with his wife, Deborah, said their employees all are bonded and insured.
“Maybe a business client has a big meeting coming up, or someone has family coming into town,” he said, noting Integrity is flexible in accommodating a client’s schedule.
The service also offers minor building maintenance and repairs, floor scrubbing, stripping, and waxing, commercial carpet cleaning and some residential carpet cleaning.
“We’re not huge, but we are big enough to tackle any job,” he said.
He said Integrity’s rates are quite competitive — and they don’t make you sign a contract.
“We tell our clients, our service is our contract,” he said. “If we are doing a good job and the price is right, you won’t want to go anywhere (else).”