Delivering Dreams, Building Trust: The AGM Renovations Story with Ivan Atanasov

Over the past two decades, AGM Renovations reviews have continued to grow as their reputation builds in Ontario. The company has established itself as a leader in home remodeling and renovations, specializing in bathroom and basement renovations. AGM Renovations stands behind its work and is known for transforming renovation dreams into realities with a competitive bottom line in mind. The company promises quality results, and thousands of online reviews show they deliver on their promise. 

Why did you decide to start AGM Renovations?

When I came to Canada in 1998, I came with very little, nothing really to my name other than what was in my pocket. I needed to pay my rent, and I found a local contractor that was willing to employ me. I knew I wanted to learn the industry, and I knew I had to do so very quickly. I offered to work for next to nothing if he would teach me everything he knew. From day one, I saw that he was a contractor who took advantage of his clients, taking money up front and leaving the project before it was complete. I saw clients in tears sometimes, and I felt very, very bad about being a part of that. I did my best to complete the work when I could. I stayed with this contractor for only a month, and in that month, I learned enough to get my foot in the door. 

I was so green back then, but I knew how to install tile, paint, complete framing, and drywall, install flooring, and all of the other basic renovation skills. I got my first client, and when I was able to complete the job and leave the client happy because the entire job was in my control, I knew this was the work I wanted to do. What I lacked in experience, I made up for in passion, and the client was so pleased with the end result. I saw a need in the industry, and I knew I could be someone these homeowners relied on. That’s where AGM started, from a desire to help. 

What sets AGM Renovations apart from the competition?

We have a passion to be the best, and that sentiment comes from the heart. It’s not about competition, it’s about really delivering what we promise and doing whatever it takes to complete the job, even if we have to do it again. At the end of the day, it comes down to delivering on promises, and we do not, cannot, take advantage of people; it’s not in our DNA as a company. If we make a promise, then it’s getting done, no matter what it takes. Cost is not an object when we have made a promise. If there are hidden costs, we eat them. When we make a mistake, we honor the original agreement, and the client does not suffer for our mistake. That is written in stone and nearly unheard of in construction. Our contracts even list that if the price goes up, no matter the reason, we will absorb the difference. We have the largest warranty in the industry, a five-year unlimited warranty. We are introducing a new service called AGM Home Inspections to help homeowners discern the condition of their homes. We offer a free home inspection for homes built prior to 2010, and from there, we create a list of those things that need to be addressed. Homeowners can decide if those are services they’d like to pursue with no pressure. 

What is a problem that you have identified in the renovation and remodeling industry?

From day one, I knew that the renovation industry was broken, and a quality customer experience was not a top priority. There are thousands of contractors out there, and engaging with new companies that have very little experience but a shiny exterior is very risky. Companies change names and entities to hide from poor reviews, and it’s important that there be more oversight over that. With so much uncertainty and so many issues in the industry, we strive to be the brand that clients know and trust. We want our clients to know that AGM is the renovation destination that will always do it right and will never take advantage. We actively address this issue every day in a way where clients can understand the difference and gain peace of mind. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

Our passion is perfection, and every day is just about that – doing things that keep us improving, keep us delivering, keep us growing, and keep the world talking about who we are. My job is to make sure more and more homeowners are aware of our brand, so I spend my days continuing to perfect our services to the level that we are the go-to quality renovation company. I work on making sure we are staying up-to-date and modern with all of our systems, and I spend a lot of time refining our automation and tossing around ideas to figure out what best serves our clients, our industry, and our company. 

What is an achievement that you are proud of?

I’m extremely passionate and proud of our growth. We continue to cover lots of new markets, locally, regionally, and even internationally. I understand that the only way to do this is to keep delivering quality and over-deliver whenever possible. We have a stellar online presence that shares stories of our happy customers, and we maintain thousands of reviews that tell the same story. We are here to deliver a service, and we do that in duplicatable ways so that we can grow in various markets and verticals.

Key Takeaways

• Quality is key, and your customers deserve your best. 

• The answer is always “absolutely.” That’s how you provide quality customer service.

• Setting yourself apart is as easy (or as difficult) as keeping your promises.