Today we’d like to introduce you to Karl Sakocius.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My wife and I were looking for a business to buy that was established, but that needed improvement. Up to that point in our careers, we had been helping to make other companies successful, and now it was time to do it for our own company. We looked at quite a few companies but the one that stuck out as a right fit for us was Air National Houston. Air National Houston AC and Heating was profitable, but their numbers were going down. We delved into why this was so and found the probable cause to be that the owners were mostly absentee because they moved to Florida and that was causing the quality of work and the customer service to suffer. We figured that what the company needed was attention and a plan to improve the customer experience. Upon purchasing the assets of the business, we found that the customer service was worse than we thought. It was not just a matter of following up with customer issues, but there was a blatant disregard for achieving quality service for the customers.
Not long after acquiring the assets, we found that while there were some great employees, there were also a few bad apples that were tarnishing the name of the company. We soon removed the employees that were not providing quality work, and created a focus on customer service and quality workmanship. To do this meant a change for the employees we acquired. We needed to break away from the old company reputation, but also continue to serve the customers from the old company. We called our company Air National Texas to distinguish us from the old Air National Houston. We are a new company and, while we were and are willing to help customers with the old company’s lack of customer care and lack of quality, we could not fix all the problems left by the old company.
When customers were having quality issues with the installs and service from the old company, we offered to fix the problems at our cost, which is a significant discount from market prices. Some customers appreciated the help, and others demanded that we fix the problems at our cost. I had to explain our situation many times to customers that the old company was out of business, and we only bought the assets from that company – not the company. If we were to fix all the issues that they left, we would not be able to stay in business, which would mean that we would not be able to help anyone with their issues.
It was a tumultuous first year at best and we were able to achieve our goal in turning the company around into a top-quality service company with excellent customer service. Our technicians are trained regularly on the latest HVAC technologies and customer service excellence. New procedures such as supervisor checks of the jobs, my personal involvement in any customer issue, and detailed procedures and checklists for the jobs has proved fruitful.
Comparing the old company and our company has significant contrast such as an A rating in BBB compared to an F rating from the old company; having 4 stars on Google reviews compared to 2.3 stars for the old company; and only A ratings on Angie’s List since have been in operation. We are not perfect, but we now are creating consistently happy customers because we do the job right and address any issue that the customer may have in a timely manner.
Our business is now doing well and we are even won an award from Goodman Manufacturing this year for exceeding our expected sales goal.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was a tumultuous first year at best and we were able to achieve our goal in turning the company around into a top-quality service company with excellent customer service. Our technicians are trained regularly on the latest HVAC technologies and customer service excellence. New procedures such as supervisor checks of the jobs, my personal involvement in any customer issue, and detailed procedures and checklists for the jobs has proved fruitful.
Comparing the old company and our company has significant contrast such as an A rating in BBB compared to an F rating from the old company; having 4 stars on Google reviews compared to 2.3 stars for the old company; and only A ratings on Angie’s List since we are in operation. We are not perfect, but we now are creating consistently happy customers because we do the job right and address any issue that the customer may have in a timely manner.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Air National Texas – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Air National of Texas is a full-service, professional, air conditioning and heating company, specializing in residential and small commercial repair and replacement. If you have some kind of concern or issue with your air temperature or quality we can take care of it. We are locally family owned and operated and made up of a dedicated professionals who strive for excellence. It’s important that our customers understand that we’re here to serve them and make sure they have every comfort they can get. We all know that the weather in Houston is hot and balmy in the summer and is cool and moist in the winter. Having your heating/cooling appliances in good working order is key to comfort.
Many of our staff members have over 20-years’ experience in the A/C industry, right here in Southeast Texas. We serve the greater Houston metropolitan area, with an emphasis on North Houston, Spring, Tomball, The Woodlands, Cypress, Magnolia, Humble, College Station, and Harris County as well as surrounding areas. Our technicians are fully licensed, tested, experienced, bonded, and qualified to respond quickly when you need it most.
Air National’s #1 priority is your satisfaction. We understand how important it is to have a comfortable home environment, including air quality, and when it is not comfortable, we need to fix your HVAC system to get it back to providing a pleasant environment for your family.
Our focus as a company is to be the very best of the best, expert experts at all aspects of:
Air Conditioning
Heating/Furnace Repair
Indoor Air Quality
Insulation
Energy/Cost Saving Maintenance Programs
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Going forward, we plan to add additional services such as refrigeration for small businesses and possibly generators for homes to assure power even during hurricanes and the occasional power outages that plague the Houston area. Long term, we plan to spread the business model to other parts of the city and franchise the business so that others can take advantage of the model we created.
Pricing:
- AC tune up and 30-point inspection including 1 pound of refrigerent – $79.
- Special outdoor coil cleaning and AC inspection and tune up – $189.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.airnationaltexas.com/
- Phone: 2812513143
- Email: info@airnationaltexas.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airnational/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/air-national-texas-spring-3
- Other: https://plus.google.com/+Airnationaltexas
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
