BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS - Upstate Contractor: Great Communication Is Key To Great Residential Projects

Counter to the stereotype of the vanishing contractor, Alex Georgy says his clients might even fuss that he’s giving them more information than they want.

“I'd rather communicate too much. Homeowners need to know what's happening. We’re going to have delays. Things will happen,” says Georgy, owner of Nexgen Contractors.

“Being honest with people is important ... Showing up when you say you're going to show up ... Telling people when you're going to arrive in the morning and when you're not. It’s just really, really important.”

Georgy, his partner, team and subcontractors remodel kitchens and bathrooms; add rooms, screened porches, sunrooms, decks, garages and roof overhangs; and create outdoor fireplaces and kitchens. They also tear apart homes and rebuild them.

“We can do anything in a home. There's nothing we don't do. We love doing remodels, getting a whole house and going in to open up walls,” Georgy says. “We can build a screen porch and turn it into something beautiful.”

Nexgen, which operates out of Simpsonville, has worked in residential construction throughout the Upstate. The Gower neighborhood off Laurens Road in Greenville is a frequent job site.

“They're older homes. And we go inside and gut them,” Georgy explains. One home was remodeled, inside and out. “So, it looks brand new,” he says.

During the final inspection, the inspector expressed his shock. “He couldn’t believe it. Seeing that reaction from an inspector … they don't usually show much emotion. That tells you it was really special.”

Once a subcontractor, Georgy enjoys the challenges of being a general contractor.

“You’re taking on the whole project instead of working on one piece. Now, I'm responsible – from the ground up,” he says.

“It’s enjoyable to watch things progress from start to finish, to see the outcome, to see the homeowner’s reaction to what I do.”

Steven Eby founded Nexgen Contractors LLC in 2008 after years in the building industry in Michigan.

Georgy was handling sales at Nexgen and working in his own business as a subcontractor when, a decade ago, Eby asked Georgy to take over the company.

“I was able to step into a company that had been around for years and keep the legacy going. It’s been very, very good. It was a great opportunity,” Georgy says.

“Steve is brilliant. The guy knows everything. To have him see me as someone who could take over his company … It meant a lot.”

Eby is still a partner in the firm and occasionally does commercial and custom home building.

Georgy has worked in construction in some capacity for most of his life, but taking over as a general contractor was different.

“This business is tough. My head is bald for a reason,” he says, joking. “I'm a very OCD guy about time management. That's my biggest stress in the business. You have weather. Materials are supposed to arrive in six weeks but don’t come for three months. As the homeowner, it must be difficult to understand.”

Georgy says no company will do a better job of keeping clients informed. “You’re going to know everything. You're not going to need to call me and ask why I haven't been to your house.”

That’s a skill he learned at his first job – as a Director of Operation for Wendy's, supervising 18 locations.

“I ran Wendy's for 15 years. I started there. I had three district managers, 18 general managers. I had to communicate. It’s part of me. It's natural for me. For many people, it's not natural, because that’s not what they were taught,” he says.

“When I tell people that I was at Wendy’s, they think being a contractor is a lot different. But management is management. The leadership is the same. You’re just managing something different,” he says.

“I was fortunate to have the right people in my life who taught me about time management, communication, how to deal with good things, bad things.”

Georgy says he learned about construction by working in construction. “I’m good with my hands. I'm a visual learner. I'm very big about trial and error, too.”

After leaving Wendy’s, he began taking on construction jobs with his dad, Gonzalo. He also got subcontracting work – and help – from Charles Pulcine of CAP Construction Inc. in Travelers Rest.

“Charlie taught me a lot about the general contractor’s business. He taught me to understand the building codes,” Georgy says.

Not long after, Georgy started working for Eby. “I didn’t realize how much I would learn from Steve. I was fortunate when I came into this business, to have these guys who were willing to teach me, willing to work with me,” Georgy says.

At 46 years old, he says that he learns something new every day.

“Michael George is our project manager. He helps run all of our jobs. If I don’t know something, he usually does. And if he doesn’t know, Steve knows,” Georgy says.

“If you’ve got the right people, you don’t have to know everything. My job isn’t being a specialist in everything. I understand what's supposed to be done and how it's supposed to be done and done correctly.”

Nexgen’s subcontractors have been with the company for more than a decade. “We work together as a team,” Georgy says. “They're good people.”

Dana Wood is the office manager and “a big part of the company’s success,” Georgy says. Carlos Lazano works with the project manager. Georgy’s wife, Nary, does the bookkeeping.

“I try to create a family atmosphere. I have a support system … from my family, friends and the office. I'm lucky to have the right people in my life – including homeowners,” Georgy says. “I did one job in Gower, and that homeowner told somebody. Now, we’ve done many jobs there. Word of mouth is the best advertisement.

“Nexgen is a great builder. We’re an honest company. We’re friendly. We’re going to give you what you want. We’re going to make your dreams come true. If you dream it, we can build it.”