ACKARD OPEN HOUSE MIXES TRADITIONAL AND MODERN
Homes across the street from one another have designs that are as different as can be
One of Edmonton’s top renovation companies is holding an open house, but it isn’t your typical oneand-done offering. In fact, it’s more of a block party. Ackard Contractors Ltd. will showcase two spec builds across the street from one another, located at 10506-135 Street and 10511-135 Street in Glenora, on March 11 and 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sitting down with Richard and Valerie Plamondon — who make up half of Ackard’s ownership team, along with Aquilino and Maryanne Naccarato — you can feel their excitement for the business and its ever-growing list of renovation projects.
“We had initially bought one project on one side of the street, then a year later the second one came on the market,” said Richard. “The main reason we built the second one was to build them at the same time — one in the traditional style, one in the modern contemporary style.”
The two homes couldn’t be more different. The traditional home features large front gables, wainscotting, coffered ceilings, and an open family and living room. The modern contemporary home has a more sleek design and formidable curb appeal, with a double deck system in the back.
One deck opens to a large mud room with built-in cabinets, while the other deck opens to the kitchen.
“About 10 years ago the market started switching from traditional homes to more modern styles, and clients that we had done major renos or even new homes for, we lost them,” Richard said.
“They didn’t think we could do it. We had done it, but our website and awards didn’t indicate that we could do it. We had something to prove, and I think we’ve done that.”
SETTING A HIGH BAR
Ackard Contractors Ltd. has operated since 1982, when journeyman carpenters Richard and Aquilino founded the company. They’ve been joined in the business by their spouses, Valerie and Maryanne, developing Ackard into one of the Edmonton’s most reputable and decorated home renovators.
“The expectation is pretty high, and that’s good, because it makes our team even better,” said Richard. “You would be amazed how many clients we’ve gotten that have been friends of people that we did a job for, and they say ‘if you can please them — I know they’re good friends of mine — but you got out of there and they’re not complaining about you guys? Where do we sign?’ ”
Expectations continue to rise as Ackard’s award case fills up. The company was named Renovator of the Year at the 2016 Canadian Home Builders’ Association — Edmonton Region Awards of Excellence in Housing, capturing the title for the first time since 2012. The company currently has four nominations for thus year’s version of the awards, held on March 26. With 35 years of experience in the Edmonton area, Ackard’s owners know how to navigate market trends and respond to customer demand.
“When the housing market slows down typically the renovation market picks up, but it doesn’t pick up those large-scale projects,” said Richard. “Usually you don’t see the second-story additions or bigger additions. Instead, you end up with people saying ‘I need to change, I’m tired of my old bathroom or kitchen on the main floor, so let’s redo that.’ They spend up to 100, 200, up to $300,000 dollars, depending on their taste, and that’s usually what happens. People typically won’t do the addition at the same time, which would bump it up to 400 or $500,000. But what we found in the last recession is that the larger projects are still there. A lot of people that have money to spend in mature areas are taking advantages of the current market conditions.”
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Ackard uses a two-phase process to begin any renovation project, in an attempt to dissuade people from pilfering its designs. The first phase involves an assessment of the home, getting a rough estimate of dimensions and possibilities moving forward, including as-built drawings, even for smaller projects like bathrooms. The second phase actually moves to drawing up the contracts, including as detailed a cost analysis as possible.
“One thing we strive to have is for each client to feel like theirs is the only project we’re doing. With our growth in the last two or three years that’s been tougher to do, but that’s always the goal,” said Richard, who notes that keeping clients informed is just as important as keeping your promises. “Communication is the key to everything. Sometimes the renovation process can take two or three years, because there are so many decisions to be made, and sometimes people just aren’t ready to move forward, but we follow up with them to make sure they stay informed.”
Advancements in 3-D rendering have also streamlined the renovation process, allowing clients to see — sometimes in painstakingly accurate detail — what the finished product looks like.
“People are so visual, it really helps for them to see the rendering and know exactly how it’s going to look,” said Richard. “It’s great for people, after it’s done, to hold the rendering up against a picture of the finished product, and they can’t tell the difference.”
Today, Ackard employs a staff of roughly 45 people, tackling projects of any size. The company has its own design team and showroom, and expanded cabinet and electrical divisions have increased workflow capabilities and efficiency.
“We would have nothing without our staff,” said Richard. “We have excellent people working for us who do a great job, and we’re excited to show people what we have to offer.”