Garry Builders was founded by Gary and Gwen Greanya in 1989. Co-owner and daughter Arin Brubaker joined the family business in 2000.
After 10 years in business, Gwen became ill and passed away from cancer in the span of three months. “During such a personal crisis, we couldn’t hire outside help, and so I stepped in” explains Arin. I grew up in construction and would pitch in when needed, so it was a natural solution. At the time, one of the homes we had under construction was for a couple in St. Albert. Their support for our personal situation was incredible and when we finished that house, they installed a plaque on the front in honour of my mother. It was a lovely gesture that exemplifies the important personal relationships we develop with our clients.”
That personal connection is just one reasons why Garry Builders is so successful in St. Albert. The company lives up to its motto of building homes and relationships.
“We work hard to build trust with our clients and to elevate the reputation of general contractors through open communication, our commitment to quality, and our willingness to take on one-of-a-kind projects,” says Arin. “We are a small company and our clients communicate directly with us, not different departments or answering services.”
Garry Builders encourages clients to focus on what makes a house a home, not on the trends.
“A home that is custom designed or renovated makes the lives of the residents so much better. I absolutely love hearing how we have improved the lives of our clients. This has been particularly rewarding during COVID-19, when we are all spending so much time at home. Living through lockdown in a home built with intention is easier. We want each homeowner to take the time to reflect on what is really important. Filter out the latest trends, what your neighbours have, and budgets that aren’t your own. See the possibility in your own needs.”
One of the needs that Garry Builders accommodates is aging-in-place, which includes elements designed for future limited-mobility living. Low maintenance finishes, fewer or no stairs, wide hallways and doorframes are some examples that are easy to incorporate. They also see younger homeowners wanting options that drive long-term independence, such as rental and garage suites.
Garry Builders is active in the community supporting a wide variety of charities such as MS Bike, the Terry Fox Run, and Habitat for Humanity, and this year launched its own Pay It Forward initiative to support local healthcare workers.
“We are about building relationships; people are the heart of it all. Because we build for real people, everything else is captured: value for the budget, quality for the environment, and planning for the future,” says Arin. Our commitment is in tailoring an environment to suit the people living in it. This looks different every time, but it starts with custom blueprints. We allow time and offer guidance for making careful selections. Through it all we are accessible with open communication. With more than 30 years in the custom home business, nothing fazes us anymore, from the smallest request to the grandest vision.”
She concludes, “In a market that sees ups and downs like Alberta does, Garry Builders is incredibly proud to have succeeded for over 30 years.”
Learn more at https://garrybuilders.ca/
