Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Grzymala.
Hi Andy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in Baltimore didn’t offer much opportunity in terms of a future or education. I made the decision to join the Navy straight out of high school. This offered me an education in electronics (communication and navigational equipment) where I attended “A” school in Pensacola, FL. I ended being stationed in Japan for the remainder of my contract. After a few years bouncing around the Pacific and participating in Operation Enduring Freedom on an aircraft carrier (CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk), I made the decision to return to the US.
When returning to the US, I had nowhere to go. I had a good friend whom I met in the navy (James) who offered up his home until I figured something out. Luckily I was able land a gig in the offshore oil and gas industry. I worked on pipe lay barges, semi semi-submersibles, and drill ships for the next decade. I moved up from Electronic Technician to Chief Electronic Technician in that time frame. I met some really great people who gave me the knowledge and encouragement to grow. I didn’t only learn more about troubleshooting but also grew as a person. One person I like to thank specifically was my immediate supervisor, Wayne. He and I worked on different vessels and he groomed me to be the person I am today. Guidance, direction and even some tough love. I ultimately stopped working in this industry due to the time away from home, but it did afford me the time to return to school to get my B.S. in Computer Science where I graduated Summa Cum Laude. By this time in my personal life, I had found my wife, my soul mate. As I continued to better myself and still try to figure out where I belonged was a challenge. My wife Karla constantly provided encouragement with whatever direction I went. This encouragement helped me stay sane as my walk wasn’t going to be easy after finishing school. I worked in IT for a short period of time but quickly became bored, I took a role with a startup in Austin where we were expected to wear many hats which kept me on my toes.
Over time, this role also ended up not being a good fit. This is when I experimented with going on my own. I ran a pilot of my own business (now known as “Handy Andy”). I did this for three months to see what the needs were in my community, what the overhead would be, and most importantly if it was something that would keep me engaged and challenged. The pilot was a success. After making TWO posts in our community Facebook group stating what I do and how I can help, I was bombarded with requests. It was a little overwhelming as I didn’t expect so much need (or should I say support) from my community. THIS is another HUGE thanks to my community here in Round Rock, Siena. They have been THE core of my business. After three months, I was still skeptical and took a role in home building as a construction manager, quickly realized the home building scene wasn’t for me. My work ethic didn’t align with their ways of operation. I learned a lot and met a ton of great individuals but this helped me realize a common theme, I needed to run my own business. I picked up Handy Andy again (I had kept it as a “side hustle”) and went full time. Woodwork is also a passion, so we also opened “Grz Studios”. This time it was real, LLC filed, Insurance purchased, and I was fired up to get this going. Handy Andy has been official since February of 2021 and hasn’t showed signs of slowing down. Grz Studios has stayed more of a side business, but ultimately, woodworking is my passion.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting my own business has been what I made it. I feel like it could have been a much smoother road, but there is certainly a learning curve. There is NO checklist of what you need to do to make it work. We have had several successful friends who have provided guidance and direction to keep me on track. Then there are obstacles of when things don’t go as planned for a job, how do I handle those, How do I internally process them and not let it get the best of me? The one thing that has part of me continuing moving forward is my wife Karla. Every day she will know if it was good or bad day. She has always listened and provided support and encouragement along with realistic solutions. Working on my own, I have no one to discuss day to day operations with, so Karla has always been that person. While she has never performed any “handyman” type work, I’m confident she could easily do everything I do and more. She is truly the backbone of this little business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Handy Andy is a service for your home. I offer preventative maintenances such as dryer vent cleans to repairs and replacements of most items in the home (Fixtures, Fans, Faucets, Lights, Hang TVs, Basic plumbing and Electrical). Handyman is a pretty vague term, so I try to post weekly on our Facebook page sharing the variety of services I offer.
What sets me apart from others, I focus on hard start times, not time windows. If I say I’ll be there at 1PM, I’ll be there. If for some unforeseen reason I’m delayed, I’ll also communicate that to you. Communication has been my number one priority. Along with that is also transparency. I provide estimates upfront, but I’ll also share if there are variables that may affect pricing. I’ve always hated when a contractor visits my home, then they hand a me a bill that is 5X what I expected. I do everything I can to avoid that. I also encourage people to reach out directly about any home problems they have. If it’s something they can solve themselves, I offer free guidance. I don’t want to go to a home and charge a fee if it’s something the homeowner can do on their own and save themselves some cash and time (i.e., resetting the garbage disposal or replacing a battery in the smoke detector). Lastly, I truly care about the customer’s home. It’s the largest investment most of us make. I want the customer to feel comfortable with me in their home and trust me as I take on whatever project we agreed to. I always engage in conversation, answer any questions and of course offer advice if requested. I always provide alternatives if available, share pros and cons of each choice. I want the homeowner to be fully confident in their choice to have me take care of their home.
What matters most to you?
Trust. This goes a long way. Maintaining transparency and clear communication has always been the key. If there is a hiccup in a job, I’m always clear about it. I take pride in my work, but sometimes something may not go according to plan. I’ll be the first person to explain what is going on and what I’ll do to rectify it. I’ve had homeowners hand me the keys to their homes to take care of a job. I am so appreciative when someone trusts me with their home to that extent. I treat the home as if it were my own, I’ll give the pets in the home a little attention as if they are my own. If I see something that needs to be brought to the homeowner’s attention, I’ll take care of it or minimally inform them. I truly value the trust that people put in me to access their homes, especially when they are unavailable.
Contact Info:
- Email: andy@handyandyrr.com
- Website: handyandyrr.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HandyAndyRR/
Image Credits
Karlaraphail.com
