The Full Story
About
Humble beginnings sweeping up job sites to pay for school at Michigan State University. Quickly moved up to assistant superintendent within 3 years. After graduating MSU, the owner, Ian, never used his degree in advertising. Tried different fields but ultimately kept returning to construction and real estate. From being a licensed realtor in Nebraska to being a certified and top-rated home inspector with Amerispec all while enlisting in the US Army Reserves. In 2020 Ian moved back to his home state of Michigan and was back to work for a maintenance company. Within months was offered a partnership in the rapidly expanding business but he declined. All while doing home inspections and home repairs on the side. Later became a lead installer for an awning company with the reputation of being a go getter and firecracker. In 2022, Ian pursued his builders license and informed the company's owners, requesting some financial support. They not only offered a bonus to become licensed they aimed to have Ian become the Michigan based licensed builder for the company (as opposed to using a 3rd party). Unfortunately, that company rapidly downsized, Ian found a local remodeler and became the director of their sales department and within 6 months had broken the previous year's total sales. The ignition was primed, his own side work was in demand. Organically built over 3 years from 100% repeat and referral. Ian rebranded the home inspection business to GSD LLC. And took the leap to full time in mid 2023.
And we haven't stopped. Proud of our roots we still rely on repeat and referral business but have since branched out, in a way finally using that degree many years later. Outside of Home Shows, an old school a business card, and a handshake.
We don't aim to dominate the market by force but by service.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
Mahatma Ghandi
Mission
To be the industry standard and model for customer care and excellence in the home repair and renovation business.
"You Can Have Everything In Life You Want, If You Will Just Help Enough Other People Get What They Want.”
-Zig Ziglar
Vision
There is an inevitable shift of most companies like GSD to grow outside of that personal home repair which so many need at an affordable price. Quality handymen are hard to come by and there is an overflow of work.
We dream of building a branch that can maintain that quality at an affordable scale and providing that extra care for our neighbors. Those small fixes become bigger projects and remodels.
In time, we dream of being heavily involved in the community in unique ways like housing veterans and providing work to them. Or creating programs for those coming out of broken homes and systems that educate and raise productive citizens in a city that for too long has been the butt of jokes.
Rebuild Detroit and the surrounding area.
Charity
Giving Back. A message from the owner:
Volunteer work has always been instilled in me. So each year I make a significant contribution back to the community. Both with time and funding.
Gamers for Giving and LANfest are two such organizations that raise funds through a gaming community event. Last year we helped raise over 1.25 MILLION towards providing gaming systems for children's hospitals across the US.
With your hiring us, in time we will be able to broaden our contributions. In time, hiring veterans, building for habitat for humanity, perhaps one day providing housing and work to transition those willing to rebuild their lives into contributing members of our community.
We are gifted with two hands. One to uplift ourselves, the other to reach back and help lift others.