Year in Review

As 2023 fades into the backdrop and 2024 presents itself with opportunity and challenge, we’re going to take a moment to share our gratitude for the year we had and what we accomplished. January is a good time to debrief, decompress, and prepare for the next chapter.

2023 was our third year in business as a home improvement, residential remodeling company. For the 3rd year in a row we continued to grow – not only increasing revenue, but number of customers, size of projects, and collaboration with other contractors. We focused on improving our skills and service, leveled up to take on bigger projects, and recognized the need for continued growth.

With over 70% of repeat customers and solely marketing on word-of-mouth for the last three years, HIRS has proven it ability to complete superior work and exceed customer expectations. With the increased demand in 2023 we contracted with six industry peers and took on one-part time office administrator. Painting, bedroom renovations, bathrooms, flooring, and doors dominated our project list. We ended the year strong and welcome 2024 not only with open arms, but hands on the wheel to drive the mission forward.

Year Ahead

In 2024 HIRS is on a mission to create a team (focused on hiring and training women), collaborate with partners in the industry, and grow as an operational model that surpasses standards, communicates effectively, and is focused on building and development. We’re looking at what it means to be a social organization – where the business seamlessly aligns with societal impact. We want to provide opportunity, help homeowners and communities thrive, and work towards common solutions that address larger issues such as affordable, alternative housing and labor shortages, specifically of women in the construction industry.

Over then next 12 months, the aim is to develop long-term connections, common goals, and collaborate with organizations, particularly woman-owned, who are dedicated to community development. We’ve met with and have been learning from a few of the following: International Institute of New England and Girls at Work out of Manchester, Backcountry Tiny Home Builders in Hampstead, Wild Abundance in North Carolina, and Buildher out of Nairobi. We are excited for new partnerships, opportunities for learning and growth, and pushing boundaries for women in construction. The year is just getting going and there’s lots to look forward to – more to come on that!

Our Team is Growing

We recently hired Cassandra Flanagan to join our team, working side by side and training on home improvement skills. Cassandra has a diverse background and is interested to learn as much as possible about residential remodeling and how to run and manage a small business. Cassandra will be working onsite to complete customer projects, as well as learning the administrative side of business operations. We’re excited to move into a capacity that has a teaching element where we can train individuals not only to complete customer projects, but provide long-term skills that they can carry into their personal lives and homes. Cassandra starts at the end of January.

Tiny and Alternative – A Housing Project

In the middle of 2023 – somewhere around July we acquired an 8x24’ trailer on which we decided to build a tiny house – on wheels! It took us most of last summer to figure out a building plan and with no special design program, but an expertise in PowerPoint – we finally drew up an interior and exterior plan… it only had about 82 revisions! Come fall and into winter, we jumped in and began building: we framed the walls and roof, sheathed it, installed 3 of 6 windows, installed the entryway door, and recently completed the installation of the metal roof. We don’t have an exact plan for this tiny home yet – whether it gets sold or used personally, but for now it’s a good test of marriage and we are mostly, enjoying the aspect of building something new and challenging.

Over the last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a tiny home building workshop at Backcountry Tiny Home Builders in Hampstead. What an incredible presentation and thorough workshop - it was well worth the time and cost and it was clear the owners love the industry and have the education and expertise to go with it. They shared as much information as possible, provided an entire binder of handouts, and set up practical exercises covering everything from design and codes to the trailer and framing, through the envelope and insulation to plumbing, electrical and HVAC. We are now better situated to continue on – though it was helpful to confirm and validate what we’re already done and built.

Stay tuned for our progress!

Van Upgrade

When I started the company in 2020 we weren’t really sure where things were going or how long this venture might last – so I purchased an old, rusty van to get us by. And it has more than gotten us by – it’s served us over 3 great years with minimum issue, but nowadays when I get in it – I wonder if I’m going to make it to the jobsite! We are looking to upgrade to a newer, used cargo van with a mid or high roof – a Ram Promaster, Ford Transit, or Sprinter style – let us know if you have any recommendations or insight. Who do we know that’s selling one?

Thank you for being a part of our journey – we’re fascinated to see where it goes and will continue to share our story and mission with the HIRS community. We’re going to aim to publish monthly updates throughout 2024!

The Origins

Home Improvement and Renovation Services (HIRS), is a woman-owned, family operated business offering residential remodeling and repairs across southern New Hampshire. HIRS improves interior and exterior spaces, offering reliable, and professional service with superior home knowledge, and over 65 years of combined expertise across the team. HIRS was founded in 2020 and is still marketed solely by word-of-mouth referrals and references.

The company was established organically and has grown to serve a variety of repeat and new customers. The company offers a multitude of residential services from bedroom renovations to kitchen and bath, to flooring, doors, and windows, to paint, finish work, and custom carpentry. The success of HIRS is attributed to the quality service and a higher standard of communication, attention to detail, dependability, and integrity across all projects.

Looking Back to Step Forward