Check Out Hannah Klausing’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Klausing

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my business in early 2020 – I was 21 years old. I had just purchased my first home and was working for a general contractor in the area.

I had a lot of passion for the home remodeling industry to begin with. Owning a home, making it my own (and the joy that came with that) influenced me to want to do it for others. I watched closely and analyzed how other local contractors were approaching remodels with homeowners – and it sparked further interest. I thought to myself, “I can do this… and I can do it better.”

And just like that – “REP General Contracting” was born. It stands for “Reliable, Experienced and Professional” General Contracting.

I listened closely to my community, clients and friends – and I took notes. Most people simply wanted a contractor that they could truly trust. They wanted HELP with design – not just told to “go find their own materials”. They wanted someone who could make the process easier, not harder than it needed to be. Most importantly – they wanted someone who cared deeply about their reputation – and I could offer them that.

Over the last five years, my business has grown exponentially. We’ve accumulated a larger staff, several company vehicles and a brick-and-mortar shop in Fairfield, OH.

Our reputation stands strong with a 5/5 star rating across Google and Facebook, and A+ rating with the BBB and I was voted City of Fairfield’s Woman Owned Business of the Year in 2022.

Most recently, I was invited to do a segment with John Materese outlining how to pick a quality contractor – and how to weed out the bad ones. This segment was aired nationally and gained quite a bit of traction for us.

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?
Being a female in a male-dominated industry has been nothing short of a challenge. Like with any business, you have to build a strong foundation for yourself. This means demonstrating consistency in your industry and showing up. You WILL make mistakes and you WILL feel hopeless at times – but that is where you grow the most. I found myself venturing outside of my comfort zone more often than not – and that is what led to some of my greatest opportunities in this business. Not being afraid to say “hey, I’ll try it!” – and failing. After failure, I developed a way of finding purpose in those lessons and using them to elevate me in the trades. I bounced back from those mistakes with more knowledge and a better understanding of what NOT to do.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in bathroom, kitchen and basement remodels – but we can take on almost all aspects of residential remodeling.

We set ourselves apart from the competition because we assist in not only the labor of the project itself – but we plan, budget and design the job every step of the way with the homeowners. Sometimes, the most our client has to do is tell us what “style” they’re going for, and how much they want to spend – and we take it from there.

Quality comes first for us – and our motto is “if they aren’t ready to give us 5 stars, we aren’t done yet”. Before we leave a client’s home, we make sure they’re satisfied – every time.

I would say that I am most proud of the team and network I have developed over the last five years. When you are an entrepreneur, you are solely responsible for carving the path of your career and success. The biggest asset you have are the ones you choose to invest in along that journey. Being “rich” is far more than what is reflected in your bank account – and has far more to do with what you represent to those around you. Being able to pick up my phone and call a friend who is a doctor, a lawyer, a real estate agent, an inspector, a news anchor… and knowing they’ll answer with “Hannah! So good to hear from you.” is more valuable than most realize.

You truly GET what you put into your network – and that means showing up for others as well. Being someone who answers the call, keeps commitments and delivers when asked will come with respect and admiration from others – and usually, the same in return.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
A lot of people ask me how I have accomplished so much at so young… and I love to answer this question.

I moved out on my own at 16, coming from a chaotic, turbulent home life and quite a bit of baggage to carry with me. I knew at a young age that based on what I had already seen – life was all about “choices”.

Disciplining yourself to chase your dreams is hard… but going home everyday to a life you aren’t happy with is also hard. You have to PICK your hard.

The reason that most people don’t push themselves outside of their comfort zone is because of one thing – fear. They’re afraid of what could happen if they try.

My fear? I was afraid of what I could become if I DIDN’T try – because I saw firsthand, my entire life, what that looks like.

So, pick your hard… and TRY. 😊

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theindustryreps.com/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/REPGENERALCONTRACTING/