Almost every single month for the past 30 years, a dedicated team from Graham Builders has hosted a free educational seminar for the public called “Building Your Home For Life.”
The objective has never been about making sales. In fact, it took a year – almost to the day – for the award-winning design/build firm to make its first sale through the seminars.
When Danny Graham launched the seminars in 1995, his firm had only been open for a few years. “The idea to educate the public came about after Danny got into the industry and noticed that builders generally had bad reputations,” says Ryan Graham, vice-president of operations for the firm.
Three decades later, his company’s goals for the sessions are still the same. “As the originators of this type of seminar, we do our best to help people make informed decisions about remodeling, renovating, and building,” Graham says.
Great guidance and no sales pitch
In reviews and testimonials for Graham Builders, the seminars are often mentioned with great appreciation. “The presentation was very professional and very easy to understand,” reported Oahu homeowner Eric I. “The best part? We never felt any sales pressure. They walked us through the whole process, including financing and what to look for when choosing a builder.”
“Attended their seminar and found it to be wonderful,” wrote Jacquelyn V. of Honolulu. “So worth the time! Gained a lot of knowledge of what to consider and common pitfalls that homeowners make when looking to build or renovate. It was really good info.”
“We found it to be incredibly educational and informative,” said Honolulu homeowner Keoni V. “Gave great guidance. Not sales pushy at all. It was very worthwhile.”
Client Carly I. and her husband owned a property with level changes and difficult, sticky clay soil, and they had been having difficulty finding a contractor who was a good fit for their project. “My friend gave me a list of names that included Graham Builders,” she said. “Once my husband and I attended their seminar, we were sure that we wanted to build with them! My husband especially connected with Evan’s presentation on the importance of designing for the property. They took the time to educate us.”
Abundant information on how to get started
Client care manager Lenore Smith, who is part of the Graham Builders team, says people of all ages attend the monthly seminars. “Mostly couples — older couples, young couples – and sometimes parents who bring their adult kids, because all of them will be living in the home and contributing to design ideas and payments,” she comments. “The one thing our attendees all have in common: they want to build or remodel, but need information on how to get started.”
Some attendees return for a second session, Smith reports. “Sometimes they come back a month or even a year later, because they missed something the first time,” she says. “Sometimes they bring other guests. The food is awesome, of course, but they truly do enjoy it… and they learn a lot!”
“Folks should bring a list of questions and be prepared to listen for abundant information condensed from years of experience,” suggests Graham. “Also, bring a jacket – the room can be chilly for some people — an open mind, and an appetite!”
In 2025 the team of Graham Builders, one of Hawaii’s very first residential design/build firms and the only contractor in Hawaii to receive the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for ethics in small business, celebrated their 35th year of business. You’re cordially invited to attend Graham Builders’ FREE “Building Your Home for Life” seminar on March 7th, from 9–11 a.m. Register at grahambuilders.com or call 808/593-2808.