BC Business
Jawaid Celani began renovating properties as a 21-year-old student in the summer break before his final year of university. That was 1992. And the entrepreneurial seed had been planted.
Three years later, Celani officially launched West Coast Renovations after deciding to get serious. Fast forward 16 years and his Coquitlam-based construction company is rapidly becoming Greater Vancouver’s go-to firm for renovation-seekers.
A proud RenoMark member of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, West Coast has steadily grown in stature and reputation, delivering exceptional work on schedule and within budget. “We guarantee every project is completed on time and on budget,” says Celani, the now 40-year-old president of West Coast, which specializes in residential, commercial and custom designed renovations.
Giving his clients the best renovation experience possible has been Celani’s philosophy from the outset – and the vast majority of West Coast’s business comes from repeat-customers and client referrals.
“We really focus on our existing clients,” says Celani. “Once they engage our services, they’ll be a client for life. We’ve built a bustling network of contacts, based on loyalty and trust. Each has their own network, and each of those their own. Referrals are our biggest market.”
And the secret of Celani’s success when it comes to customer relations? Going retro. “We’re having success in the modern world doing things the old-fashioned way; spending quality time with our clients and building friendships as much as business relationships,” he says.
A stand-out service also helps. Two of West Coast’s best features are its fixed-price contracts and no-limit warranties. “If the project goes over-budget, we’ll always cover the difference,” assures Celani. “And our work is 100% guaranteed. If anything goes wrong, we’ll come back and fix it. I’ve always instilled in my team the need to go above-and-beyond for our customers.”
West Coast tackles projects across the Lower Mainland, and as far as Whistler and Vancouver Island. Current projects include the complete remodeling of a home in Coquitlam’s Westwood Plateau district – the firm’s fourth job for the client – a main floor extension and upgrade for a repeat-client in East Vancouver, and the complete renovation of a 12th-floor waterfront condo in Yaletown.
Celani and his team currently juggle up to six projects. The ambitious Vancouverite plans to keep expanding the company – Seattle and Alberta are potential locations. But developing the company’s brand is his primary focus.
“I want us to be the Coca-Cola of the construction world,” he enthuses. “We want to say, ‘Hey Vancouver, here we are! Remember the face.’ We want to get to the point where, when people are thinking of renovating, our name is one of the first that springs to mind.”
Celani oversees everything himself and is an energetic handson face of the company. Just as in the early days, he takes care of all the budgeting, quality control and marketing. But he’s now also assisted by two project coordinators in the day-to-day running of affairs – and the trio’s project-managing has become so polished that several architectural, engineering and building firms have courted their services.
“We’re also shifting our focus towards custom-home building,” Celani says. “We want to give people exactly what they’re looking for. Some of the feedback from home shows is that nobody really listens. We want to offer that sought-after ear.”
West Coast prides itself on using eco-friendly products and recycling whenever possible. “We’re keen to produce greener buildings and make homes more energy-efficient,” says Celani.
“We’re also going to take two weeks off each year (starting in 2012), to help those less fortunate renovate. We want to give something back to the community.”
To learn more about West Coast Renovations and its services, visit: www.westcoastrenovations.com or e-mail: contact@westcoastrenovations.com.