This month we celebrate Nip Tuck Remodeling’s 13th anniversary on November 15, as well as the birthday of Nip Tuck’s owner and founder April Bettinger on November 30. We thought it would be a great time to sit down with April and talk about her company, the industry, and the future of design-build remodeling.
That April Bettinger and Nip Tuck Remodeling have been showered with awards and accolades over the years for producing some of Eastside’s most incredible remodeling magic comes as no surprise. Her father was a master homebuilder, whose custom, high-quality homes provided a strong foundation for her approach to business.
Q: What do you think has made your business so successful over the past 13 years?
April Bettinger: The simple answer is happiness, guaranteed. Right? So, we make a promise to our clients and we keep it. We endeavor to make them happy by being on time, on budget, on purpose. But what goes on behind the scenes is where the magic happens. How are we able to keep those promises? Really, it all comes down to communication, from the minute we first meet a client until the remodel is completed.
Q: How has the industry changed since you first started?
There have been some great changes in terms of technology and the ways in which we can keep our clients informed about the progress of their homes. But there have been challenges, too. The pandemic definitely complicated the process a lot. But we were already starting to see rising costs and supply chain issues – both of which can complicate any design-build remodeling project, even in the best of circumstances. And of course, there’s always weather. We have had more snow in the last few years, which can sometimes make it unsafe for our teams to get to project sites or work on remodeling projects.
Q: How has Nip Tuck changed?
We’ve grown so much. In fact, we grew so much over a relatively brief period of time that I had to shift my business strategy in order to continue delivering the high-quality remodeling projects I wanted Nip Tuck to be known for. In the beginning, I worked out of my home office and hired external contractors for each step. Now, I have an internal team of designers, project managers, construction managers, and an operations manager, which means we have a consistent team of people available for every project – people I trust to do some of the heavy lifting so that I can focus on industry advocacy, Nip Tuck Cares projects, and working more closely with clients. It was a big step for me to let go of some of the control, but I’ve learned that letting go is the only way to really grow.
Q: How is the industry changing?
One very positive change is the number of women in the construction industry, many of whom are taking on leadership roles and continuing to change the industry from within. When I first opened Nip Tuck 13 years ago, I was one of the only women running a design-build remodeling company. Now, half of my own team are women. And last month, I was a guest speaker at the inaugural Women in Residential+Commercial Construction Conference (WIR+CC) in Nashville. There, more than 300 women came together to talk about everything from strengthening our businesses to creating more opportunities for women in the industry. I am very proud to have been a part of that.
Q: What do you love most about your work?
I love watching people fall in love with their homes again. As a homeowner, you don’t realize how much energy is siphoned from you when you’re immersed in an environment that you’re unhappy with. After remodeling, everything changes:, our clients are proud of their homes, they invite friends and family over, they’re excited about hosting holidays, and they feel pampered and deserving of a nice home.
Q: What do you do to wind down when you’re not working?
I love to hike and travel with my partner, Baer, and my two dogs, Lucy and our new puppy, Mongo.
April Bettinger is an active member of the Board of Directors of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. She is also a member of many national organizations, including the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), and Remodelers Advantage. She holds the designations of Certified Graduate Associate, Certified Graduate Remodeler, and Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist through the NAHB. Learn more about April and Nip Tuck Remodeling.
