If Brant Nielsen had a superpower, it would be x-ray vision.
Brant Nielsen doesn’t look at things so much as he sees through them. Walk through a seemingly perfect bathroom or kitchen remodel with him and he will spot and correct flaws that no other person would notice.
To call him a perfectionist would be an understatement. He brings this intensity and dedication to everything he does. He’s a shady contractor’s worst nightmare, but for a customer buying or selling a home, Brant’s insights are invaluable.
He walks into a home and within seconds, he appraises the necessity of renovation. He then weighs it against the potential costs to answer the burning question, “To renovate or not?”
To some, his speed and accuracy may look like the machinations of a savant, but it’s really the product of decades of learned experience.
Brant started in the construction business at the tender age of 16. He describes himself as a skinny little runt who could outwork every guy on the worksite. Though a little less skinny, Brant now heads a company that outworks every competitor in the Annapolis region. One so successful, it now sports a fancy name, spiffy new logo and five divisions:
NDG Remodeling, NDG Kitchen & Bath, NDG Roofing, NDG Paint and the real estate division NDG Home Team.
Brant explains the logic of his decision thus: “Customers are looking or searching for specialized offerings. A customer wanting to build their dream kitchen or bathroom doesn’t search for a General Contractor. They look for a kitchen or bath specialist. Our decision reflects our depth of experience in every facet of construction. After many, many years, we’ve achieved a level of mastery and have strong relationships with the best sub-contractors in the business. This is our way of showcasing to customers that we deliver any construction service at the highest level. We started our Real Estate Division based on decades of experience buying, renovating and selling homes in good markets and bad.”
A cynic might dismiss Brant’s decision as an expedient revenue stream to fleece real estate sellers when they are most likely to believe that renovation might work to their advantage in extracting a higher price from a credulous buyer.
Nothing could be further from the truth. As Brant has observed, ”I’ve noticed that everyone who’s bought or sold a home has a horror story to share. We believe we can give customers a better experience.”
He has countless examples to share,
“A friend of mine selling his home interviewed several realtors. Virtually everyone told him the house would never sell without a $50,000 bathroom renovation. I understand the motivation of realtors, but to be honest, most don’t have our experience or knowledge of renovation.
He showed the house what seemed close to 70 times. One potential buyer commented on the bathroom. He eventually sold the house without the renovation and spared himself some expensive advice.
Most sellers don’t get the impartial advice they need. In most cases, I tell my customers a renovation isn’t going to get them a better price. And I’ll spare them the hassle of showing their home 70 times!
Nowadays, especially in the current market, I am loathe to suggest major renovation.”
Counterintuitive as this approach may sound, it’s a savvy business practice. “Given the choice between a quick profit and a long term relationship, I’d choose the long term relationship. One way or another, I’ll earn their business because I’ve made the effort to earn their trust. Everything we do is about building relationships based on trust and transparency. The way I see it, we’re not in the construction business, we’re in the customer service business.” It’s not an idle claim, it’s a promise that translates into a meaningful operational process. And his customers are taking notice and recognizing the value of Brant’s vision.
“Other contractors tried to fit us into a formula that was convenient for their crew, not for us.” An NDG customer explains, “Brant’s approach was diametrically opposite. ‘What do you need?’ He asked us, ‘How can we make the vision you’ve created with your architect, come to life.
Not surprisingly, Brant pays attention to everything his employees say, too.
A new associate commented on his management style, “He wants everyone to get on board. He genuinely listens and wants to draw on the different experiences everybody can bring to the table. He’s unique, a visionary and a perfectionist which makes him an odd duck.”
An odd duck?
“Yeah,” she says, “The combination of visionary and perfectionist is odd. The two don’t seem to mesh well. It’s rare because perfectionists spend so much time managing minute detail, they lose sight of the bigger picture. Brant manages to shift from micro to macro thinking with startling ease. One minute, he’s pointing out how wood samples don’t match or how there’s not enough gap between a refrigerator and a cabinet, the next he’s explaining his plans for the future.”
He’s sanguine about NDG’s success in 2021 and is bullish about the company’s future, but his optimism is grounded in commonsense and the deep philosophical reflection that informs his unique vision.
“Our challenge going forward,” he points out, “is to grow right, not fast. We are at the point where we can swiftly turn the dial up and increase our revenue. But, we can’t compromise our standards for the sake of profit. If we grow too fast, we’ll have to hire fast. And the wrong people can compromise our culture. We must hire for attitude and core values. Aptitude we can teach.”
Listening to Brant Nielsen talk about business is like watching him work. Immediately, you get the sense that he can and will nail it.
www.NDG.Solutions | (833) 634-6683
The NDG Home Team is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Taylor Properties. Taylor Properties is licensed in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania and abides by equal housing opportunity laws.
