A Colleyville Owner’s Perspective: Trust, Craftsmanship, and Weathering a Winter Storm

Jim Gulizia has called Colleyville home for almost two decades. Before he chose to renovated with Garabedian Properties, he walked through nearly 50 homes across the metroplex, researching builders and forming his wish list. This is his account of why he chose the Garabedian team, and how that decision held up through two of the most demanding tests a homeowner can face.

Finding a Custom Home Builder in Colleyville You Can Actually Trust

Jim did not arrive at his decision quickly, and he did not arrive at it alone. He gathered references from prior Owners, spoke directly with people who had already built with Mike Garabedian, and toured completed homes to judge the finished work. Each conversation and each property reinforced the same impression: consistent attention to detail, careful finish-outs, and a level of workmanship that held up across every home he had visited.

For Jim, the decision extended beyond Mike’s personality and integrity, though both mattered. Mike is a Certified Master Builder with 35-plus years of experience in North Texas, and that credential, paired with the visible quality of his completed homes, gave Jim the confidence to move forward. He also valued something less tangible: the entire team was accessible. Every Professional Partner working alongside Mike was someone Jim could speak with directly and trust equally.

“It’s important when considering hiring someone to help renovate your home to find a company that you can trust — a company with a good track record, a company who is able to provide you references that you can listen to.”

Reference checking and property tours require patience, and Jim was candid that trust is built through experience over time. The process worked because Garabedian Properties gave him the access and transparency needed to evaluate the team on his own terms.

Surviving the 2021 Texas Winter Storm: A Master Suite Flood Recovery

In February 2021, the winter storm many Texans still refer to as Snowmageddon knocked out power across the region for roughly a day, sometimes two. Jim’s home lost electricity long enough for the tankless water heaters, installed on the exterior of the house, to freeze solid. The pipes failed, and water flooded the master suite entirely, covering the bedroom, bathroom, and closet floors in roughly an inch of standing water. The walls sustained damage as well, and the full scope of the suite required renovation.

“It was a tremendous, big job. It took a few months to get it put together, but it was all done the right way. The communication, the planning was all communicated up front. There were no mysteries.”

Repairing a flood of that scale is a significant undertaking, and Jim’s project took a few months from start to finish. What stood out to him was not the size of the job but the way it was managed. Communication and planning happened up front, with no surprises along the way. Garabedian Properties also worked directly with Jim’s insurance company throughout the process, handling the coordination that so often falls back onto the homeowner.

“We ended up with an island in it that’s a little taller, which was even more convenient. I think it was an accident, but it was a good accident.”

One unplanned outcome turned into a genuine improvement. During the rebuild, the master closet ended up with a taller island than the original, adding functional storage Jim had not requested but was glad to receive. He described it plainly: an accident, and a good one.

Restoring a Complex Roof System After Storm Damage

Jim actually came to us before the freeze incident to restore a different home. A high-pitched, architecturally complicated roof had sustained both roof and gutter damage. The scope included standard asphalt shingles as well as several custom copper roof sections that required precise, individual fabrication and replacement.

A project of that complexity called for multiple specialized teams working in coordination, all orchestrated directly by Mike and the Garabedian team. Jim again pointed to communication as the deciding factor in how smoothly the work proceeded. Mike worked directly with the insurance company on this project as well, and Jim described the entire experience as straightforward, honest, and professional from start to finish. Once complete, the roof matched its original appearance exactly, a detail Jim noted with clear satisfaction.

Choosing a Builder Who Earns Trust Through Experience

Jim Gulizia’s experience reflects what Garabedian Properties believes about the building process: informed Owners make better decisions, and those decisions hold up when circumstances change unexpectedly. Whether the challenge is a once-in-a-generation winter storm or a complex custom roof system, the same principles apply. Direct communication, proven expertise, and a team Owners can trust at every level make the difference.

If you are considering a custom home or renovation in Colleyville, Southlake, Westlake, Keller, or the surrounding North Texas communities, we welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your project. Reach out to Garabedian Properties to start the conversation.