Growing 50% Stronger: How Clark Builders Turned a Family Business into a Thriving Team with Houzz Pro

Brian Clark launched Clark Builders in 2012 after years in the trades, starting out with his father and taking on smaller projects. Brian is deaf—he reads lips, speaks well, and relies on text messaging—so as demand grew, communication and coordination became a bigger lift.

Heidi, then a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom with no formal business background, stepped in to help with clients, estimates, and paperwork from a desk in their living room.

Success brought a new problem: everything lived in people’s heads, texts, and paper notes. By 2020, dinner time had turned into business hours and the team needed separation, structure, and a single source of truth.

They moved into an office and started hiring, but the core challenge remained: with demand rising, Clark Builders needed a platform to centralize communication, estimating, job details, and client updates so the whole team—and their clients—could stay aligned.

Heidi adopted Houzz Pro at a pivotal moment — just as the company was starting to scale. “We kind of grew together,” she says. “The more we needed, the more Houzz Pro delivered."

Houzz Pro quickly became the backbone of Clark Builders’ operations. Heidi uses it daily for Estimates, Invoices, Change Orders, Job Costing, and sharing information with clients through the Dashboard. “Every morning I open my email, open Houzz Pro, and start my day,” she says. “It’s our source of truth.”

With her team fully onboarded, the software now drives accountability and transparency across all projects. “I told everyone — this isn’t a request, it’s a requirement. Stop writing notes on paper. Put everything in Houzz Pro so everyone has access.”

The platform also transformed how clients experience their remodels. Through Houzz Pro’s Client Dashboard, homeowners can track progress, review daily logs, and see photos of every stage of construction. “Offering clients a dashboard sets us apart,” Heidi says. “They love seeing updates and knowing exactly where things stand.”

Heidi leverages Selection Boards to present materials and finishes in a polished, visual format. “Clients feel more confident and in control when they can see everything laid out,” she explains.

Heidi’s favorite part? The ongoing relationship with the Houzz Pro team. “They listen. When new features roll out, I get excited. It’s like Christmas morning when I log in and see something new.”

Since adopting Houzz Pro, Clark Builders has experienced remarkable growth — expanding from a home-based operation to a full-fledged construction firm with nine employees and a new, larger office.

Heidi estimates that business has grown by 50–60%, with project sizes increasing at the same time. “We went from simple handyman work to full-scale additions” she says. “We look more professional, and clients notice that.”

Financial performance has improved dramatically as well. By tracking costs directly through Estimates, Invoices, and Budgeting, Clark Builders increased its gross profit margin from 10% to 34%: “We finally understand the numbers behind every job,” Heidi says. “Houzz Pro made it possible to see exactly where our profit comes from—and protect it.”

The company also reports significant time savings and better financial control through Houzz Pro’s Budgeting feature. “The Budget tool has been a game changer,” Heidi says. “It keeps our estimates, invoices, and actual costs perfectly aligned, so we always know exactly where each project stands.”

Beyond numbers, the change has been deeply personal. “I had no business background,” Heidi reflects. “I was a homeschool mom who just wanted to help my husband. Now I’m running a company, managing a team, and changing people’s lives through their homes. I feel blessed.”

Heidi credits Houzz Pro for helping Clark Builders build credibility and trust. “It’s made us look professional and reliable. Our clients see how organized we are, and that turns one-time projects into lifelong relationships.” Without Houzz Pro, “we’d be lost. Houzz Pro is central to everything — our clients, our processes, our way of working. It’s part of who we are now.”

Heidi and Brian’s goal is to become the remodeling company in town. “When people think about adding a room or remodeling their kitchen, I want Clark Builders to be the first name they think of,” she says, and with Houzz Pro we know we can get there.