Home-repair firm's genesis was owner's notice of job layoff
Dire economic times often end jobs. Jason Gray used the opportunity to start a business to help homeowners also feeling the economic pinch.
Gray's Do It All is a locally owned home-repair and improvement business. They build fences and decks; install tile, hardwood and laminate floors; paint; complete interior and exterior repairs; and pressure-wash vinyl siding, gutters and concrete.
In December 2000, Gray's family moved to the Madison area for his job as a contract process engineer. Last year, the company "notified all employees that the plant will shut down by the end of 2010. In preparation of my termination date, I started this home-repair business," Gray said.
Mike McQueeney and Walter Adams are helping by assisting with quotes, advertising, sharing specialty equipment and manpower.
"Mike has been my engineering manager (since 2000) and actually is in the same boat I'm in. He'll soon be out of a job," Gray said.
Adams worked in technical sales more than 25 years until a layoff last year "when our area was finally affected by the down economy. While job-hunting, he's been working with me to help make ends meet for his family," Gray said. Adams is an all-around do-it-yourselfer, capable of exterior renovations or industrial automation design.
Gray also maintains rental property. The crew has managed and repaired McQueeney's rental property for 10 years.
'Curb appeal'
One service distinguishing Gray's business from competitors is meetingwith prospective homebuyers/sellers to create a to-do list of repairs or upgrades.
Gray offers ideas to clients about increasing their homes' value and "curb appeal." All estimates are free.
"I do my best to provide better-quality work for lower prices than larger companies," Gray said. He runs the business from his home.
For privacy fences, larger companies "typically charge $12 to $16 per foot. I use better wood, nails, gate hardware and more support posts for a stronger fence but only charge $11 per foot," Gray said.
If customers can't afford the fence, Gray lets them work on his crew to offset costs.
"Growing up, my family didn't have much money. If something broke, we fixed it ourselves. This taught me most of what I needed to know for the part-time job I had in college, maintaining rental property," he said.
Gray believes this business will succeed "because my colleagues and I are honest and hardworking." He's proud that most work results from referrals and repeat customers.
Gray grew up in Fayetteville, N.C., and attended North Carolina State University. His wife, Carmon, works at First Family Mortgage. Their children are Savanna, who attends Monrovia Middle School, and Kyle, an Endeavor Elementary student.
Gray's Do It All is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 655-4504, e-mail jason@graysdoitall.com or visit graysdoitall.com.