There are many contractors that know how to build a home… but is that the best measurement of a great builder? Is that enought to make a happy client?
We receive industry wide referrals not just from happy clients, but from appraisers, inspectors, bankers, realtors and other professionals in the industry for our quality workmanship, reputable building practices and honorable character.
Happy Client
“Wirtanen Inc. built not one, but two homes, for us in Alaska! Both were excellent and very well-loved. We’ve since moved to the Lower 48 and are now in the process of building our 3rd house, and I sure wish Wirtanen Inc. could be here to General the project for us!! You guys are fabulous, patient, and efficient. I immensely appreciated the time and effort you put into our houses to make sure everything was just how we wanted it! If I could put this into one sentence, I’d have to say, ‘Hire Wirtanen Inc. to build your dream home and you’ll be Satisfied’!” Jennifer and Ken
Happy Realtor/Client
“As a REALTOR®, I have a little bit different perspective when it comes to home building. I have worked with many builders here in the Valley and when we decided we would build ourselves, we wanted the best! Working with The Wirtanen Crew was a fantastic experience. They were always so happy to have us at the job site, happy to listen to our concerns, happy to work with our changes and it made a big difference in our experience. They have fantastic follow through and they are always willing to go the extra mile. Our home is beautiful. Our home is extremely energy efficient. We would do it all over again. Thanks Steven, Grant and Arliss. You guys really are the best!”
Dody Kettler, REALTOR®, ABR, CRS, GRI, ePro. #1 Producer for Prudential in Wasilla in 2011, #1 Producer for Prudential in Wasilla in 2010, Sales Associate of the Year for Prudential in Wasilla 2010. 1907-232-7331
**Comments from Wirtanen Inc: If you ever need a good agent, call Dody Kettler (907-232-7331). An excellent agent. I can guarantee she will treat you right.
Happy Client
“Hi Steven,
Thanks for the great pictures. I finally wrote a testimonial(attached), though I feel like words cannot describe our appreciation for such a wonderful experience. Thank you for all you have done for us and building our beautiful home. We love making memories in it and we’re excited for our first Christmas here. I hope that you all enjoy the holiday season.Thanks again!”
“In midst of graduating college and planning a wedding, Wirtanen Inc. made building our house seem like a breeze. Steven and Grant along with the other men were straightforward and extremely easy to work with. The men listened to our desires and communicated throughout the entire process. The men were patient and knowledgeable while guiding us through this unfamiliar course. Our home reflects our vision balanced with impeccable skill. The craftsmanship and detail of our home continues to impress us. We would also like to thank Wirtanen for being compassionate and only offering the best product. Because we are on fuel oil, our house wasn’t going to meet the desired energy rating and Steven personally took extra time and resources to make sure that our house met the 5* plus rating. The entire experience was remarkable and we would recommend Wirtanen Inc. to not only first time builders like us but also anyone who wants a quality home”
Dylan and Jeanell Hodges
Happy Client
“Steven, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your crew for our wonderful new home. When we first started looking for a builder, we searched long and hard asking friends, contractors and other homeowners about their experiences with local builders’ quality and service; to our surprise we where unable to find anyone who had anything negative to say about Wirtanen Custom Homes. From our first contact to final completion we have been very happy throughout the process. You and your employees exhibit professionalism and quality of work that exceeded all of our expectations. Once again thank you for not only building our house but for building us a home! Dave and Jen
Happy Employee/Client
“Perhaps I’m biased to write a referral for Wirtanen Custom Homes, as I am a current employee. Either way I would like to express my gratitude towards both Steven and Grant for their time and guidance in building my first home.
If there is one thing that I should mention, it is that Steven has a keen and observant eye in this market with an uncanny ability to bring Custom Homes in under budget and still have a happy client base. With so many builders today cutting product and construction quality, Wirtanen Inc. has found a niche in the market that allows for affordable quality, which is a huge advantage over other builders. In closing, I would like to say that I feel Wirtanen Inc has the potential to satisfy any customer no matter the circumstances. Also, as part of the team at Wirtanen Inc., I would like to also express my own desire to take part in building your new home. We take pride in providing an energy efficient custom home that fits your needs.” Garret Stewart
Happy Client
“I would like to mention that your crew did an excellent job lowering the door. My brother has been a sheetrocker for about 30 years and he commented on what a good job they did related to the interior walls around the door. There is no repair work that needs to be done. They did a very clean job that will easily be covered with the door trim. I would like to add that we are very pleased with the work you have been doing! It is a very professional job, it is progressing well, and we are so happy to see progress each week. Thanks again for the fine work your crew is providing!” Lou
Happy Banker
“To Whom it May Concern: As a mortgage lender in Alaska, I have had the pleasure of working with Wirtanen Inc. on behalf of borrowers who contracted with Mr. Steven Wirtanen and his company for the construction of their homes. Having been a lender for almost 25 years, I have had the opportunity to work with the majority of the builders in the area. Some builders were competent, honest and delivered a quality product and some did not. Wirtanen Inc. is among the most ethical and competent companies with which I have ever worked. Over the past two years I have done numerous transactions with Wirtanen Inc. and without exception, every one was positive. Mr. Wirtanen’s clients are not only satisfied with the finished product (his homes are functional, beautiful, full of craftsmanship not often seen and extremely energy efficient using green technologies most builders skip), but also with the process during the term of construction. Those facts alone set Wirtanen apart from the majority of builders. If you have any questions about Steven Wirtanen or Wirtanen Inc., please do not hesitate to contact me at (907) 352-8302.” Sincerely, Roberta M. Rawcliffe CMPS Alaska USA Mortgage Company
Happy Client
“You guys have been so patient and helpful with someone new to this process, and have spent a lot of time with me. I cannot remember who it was who initially referred me to you, but all I was looking for was a good, solid carpenter. I had no idea that folks considered you one of the best builders! You guys are very diligent, polite and superb communicators who reply to e-mails/phone calls, if not the same day, the very next day. Another admirable thing is that you strive to keep a clean work-site. It shows respect for another persons property”
Kris Spencer
Happy Clients
“We are very happy that we contracted with Wirtanen to build our home. Because of our experience, we continue to recommend Wirtanen to others. From initial contact through final inspection, Wirtanen was professional and approachable. We looked at several options including remodeling and new construction and truly appreciate the ease of communication, honesty, and patience from both Steven and Grant throughout the entire process. In addition, we were impressed with the friendliness, cleanliness, and trustworthiness of the Wirtanen crew and subcontractors. All of the people involved with Wirtanen made for the overall quality of the home and the excellent experience of building. We admire Wirtanen for their standard of quality work and quality relationships in the industry.
Thank you!” Jeff and Monica
Happy Clients
“Wirtanen builds to custom fit your needs!
After accepting a job in the MatSu in 2007, we could not wait to search for a home and move out of Anchorage. To our surprise, we were not excited with the homes that were for sale on the market. In 2008, we decided to rent and shortly after that purchase our beautiful 5 acres near Hatcher Pass. We had been renting for 2 years with no progress on our land except for one bad experience with another potential builder. In the fall of 2009, we had our beautiful son, Zak and soon discovered that our small rental (500 sq ft with ladder to loft) was not ideal for our family consisting of Jeff, myself, Zak and two big dogs. Jeff was driving around the Matsu and saw Wirtanen signs near houses that were recently built. We were unsure if a ‘Custom Home’ builder would be willing to work with us because of our small, less than 2000 sq ft house plan. We were under the impression that a ‘Custom Home’ Builder built mansions with multiple garages, etc. After speaking with Steven on the phone and meeting him in person we were extremely impressed. We were excited that they could build our house within our budget, with the quality that we desired. And Wirtanen was an experienced, local, family run business that employed their staff year round. In January we signed our contract, and we were in our house in June of 2010! Thanks Wirtanen Clan!
Mia, Jeff, Zak, Mack and Cess
Happy Clients
“About a year ago my wife and I decided to start home shopping. We realized quickly that finding a home in our price range that fit our needs was going to take time and patience. Our search turned up a very short list of homes, most of which were inadequate due to size, age, or price. As a result, we decided to research local home builders. We were slightly nervous about this because of our inexperience and limited budget.
After a few calls to area builders, we decided to visit Wirtanen Inc., up on Lazy Mountain…
Long story short: After a couple meetings with Steven and a trip to the bank, we were on our way to a new home. We have been in our new place for three months now. A day has yet to pass that we are not consciously thankful for the comfortable, efficient, unique and beautiful home that Steven, Grant and the crew built for us. As I reflect, the comfort started the moment we walked into Steven’s design office, and continued through the land search, building and closing process. Because of Wirtanen’s obvious desire to meet our needs, we actually felt like friends were building our home. The value in their product is rooted in Wirtanen’s true commitment and pride in making the building process as stress free, affordable and simple as possible for the client. I urge anyone entering the housing market to call Steven and talk about it. He is a man of his word. You will immediately feel at home! Thank you so much Steven, Grant, and crew! -The Nelius Family
Happy Commercial Contractor
“To Whom it May Concern:
Wirtanen scored the highest rating of our 2010 subcontractors. At the conclusion of our projects I have my project staff include a subcontract performance review and Wirtanen’s performance exemplified above average marks on all categories. We use the subcontractor performance summaries to aid in the choosing of future subcontractors on projects we bid, thus it is critical for the team to itemize strengths and weaknesses that may prove valuable in evaluating future subcontractors.
Wirtanen’s team on our Fort Yukon Airport Project did an impressive job of meeting the contract demands. We were thoroughly impressed with the planning and execution of Steven and Grant. They completed their portion of the work nearly 4 weeks ahead of schedule and we received comments from the owner that they had never seen a building contractor perform so well on a SREB before.
Critical to all remote Alaskan work is a sound understanding of the phases and tasks and hand to complete a project. Furthermore, a contractor must be able to plan, communicate, and execute in order to build a prosperous and viable business in this market. Wirtanen possesses all of these quintessential skills, and they top it all off with excellent owner and prime contractor relations.
Cruz Construction considers Wirtanen a valuable member of their construction team, and we look forward to building many more successful projects with them. I would highly recommend their services as a credible custom residential and commercial contractor” Jeff D. Miller, General Manager at Cruz Construction, Inc.
Happy Client
“You folks are the best. The deck is perfect, and you were highly considerate of me and my spouse throughout this job. I remember the work you did on my floor and ceiling last winter, when you had to bring in a scaffold to do the repair work, andleft the house cleaner than when you arrived! Thanks again, you Wirtanen folks are A number One!” Tim Brady
Happy Clients
“We just wanted to take a minute to say thank you for the beautiful home you have built for our family. We are so happy with our choices and your work. You, Grant and your team have managed to capture the very essence of what we have been dreaming about for years and build it for us. You took our idea and turned it from an idea in our head; to a concept; to a design; and finally what you see on our land. It was truly an amazing thing for us to witness. The homebuilding process was as you promised: exciting, fun and without any hidden surprises. You and Grant placed the utmost importance on our satisfaction throughout the entire building process. We want to acknowledge that while you may have had many projects going on concurrently with ours – you always made us feel like our house was very important and special. Thank you. We especially loved the way we were always encouraged to express our questions, thoughts and make changes right up to the end. Wirtanen Custom Homes has made this process as easy as possible for us and we could not be happier. We had no shortage of builders to choose from in the valley – but chose Wirtanen because you are interested in building a home, not a structure, not a place to stay, not a house – but a home to raise our family in. If any families are thinking about going with Wirtanen Custom Homes we would be very proud to show them our home – your quality! Thank you all for the hard work you have done for our family.” Yours in Building; Mike, Darlene and the troops!
Happy Clients
“We are so happy with Wirtanen Inc. and everyone they work with. The Wirtanen family and all the subs are all nice and friendly and know exactly what they are doing. The whole building process has been very easy and pain free. Our house was totally custom designed for us and our lot. Plus they were always there to suggest little details that improved our home even more. In the end, we wound up with a custom home for a great price. If I we were to build again we would definitely use Wirtanen Inc.! They are the best!” Scott and Heidi Dial
Happy Clients
“If you plan on having ANY work done on your home, be it building a new home or an addition, or, as was our case, rebuilding after a fire, Wirtanen Inc. is the company to call! Wirtanen Inc is kind, courteous and honest! The Wirtanen team know their crafts well and are perfectionists at each task. They surpassed all that we hoped for – we couldn’t be happier! We found that any questions or concerns were responed to with lightening fast speed! Easy to contact and easy to speak to! Don’t be fooled by their youthful appearances! They really do have the knowledge and ability to do anything that may be required to build your dream home! We highly reccomend the Wirtanen Company!! They ROCK!!!!” -John and Suz Troutner
Happy Clients
“Dear Steven and Staff: In this day of fast paced business dealings and poor service, it is only on the rare occasion that I feel I must take the time to stop and write a letter to thank someone for a job exceptionally well done. This is one of those moments. From the moment my husband and I first contacted Wirtanen Inc regarding a possible construction project, we felt comfortable and confident the job would be done right. When the project finally began, it was a joy to watch the skill with with the construction crew performed it’s duties and completed the work. When it comes to “customer service”, Wirtanen Inc takes the prize – professional, honest, trustworthy and competitively priced. Once again, Thank You for a job well done!” -Sincerely, Corinne and Rick Reintjes
Happy Clients
“We recently moved up from Texas and knew what kind of home we wanted built. We met with several different builders, some of them were real shady, and some of them just weren’t “getting” what we wanted and were trying to force us into what they wanted. I met with Steven Wirtanen, and at first I was like wow he is way too young to know what he is talking about. Out of all the builders we met with, he listened to what we wanted. He always listened to every idea and concern I had, and was right there giving me imput and advise. We are truly happy in our new home and the experience with Wirtanen was a very enjoyable. No complaints what so ever!!! We truly recommend Wirtanen Inc.” Tonja and Ernie Fernandez
Happy Clients
“We have been thrilled with the attention to detail, craftsmanship, and flexibility Wirtanen offers during the construction process. We were able to build our dream home and completely customize the house to our needs. We highly recommend Wirtanen Inc. to anyone looking to build a new home.” John and Jennifer Strause
Happy Client
“Hi Steven and Grant. I got a chance to drive out yesterday after work to see the final project. It looked Great! The risers were just the right height for comfort in walking down and then up. The visual platform design is very unique and the side trim indention on the railing shows a lovely accent. We made a few changes as the project progressed and I appreciate Grant and the guys for accommodating. The dock turned out great! I know we discussed options many times. We have enjoyed and appreciated doing business with you. I feel that you were very expedient, accommodating and professional. Thanks again – we will definitely recommend your services.” Most Sincerely, Carla Hostetter, Blodgett Lake
Happy Clients
“Wirtanen Custom Home builders were awesome! They quoted us the best price and followed through to maintain within the allotted budget. Also, the quality of workmanship surpassed our expectations. Wirtanens framed and enclosed the house within the contracted time. Furthermore, they customized the framing to our needs and accommodated our last minute changes to the house plan. We are happy with the final product. The Quality and Durability in the framing is evident from the house withstanding the rugged and fierce Alaska weather. Also, the Wirtanens were helpful when we called them for advice in future remodel or additions to the current house. Finally, Wirtanens were great to follow up after completing the house. We would not hesitate to rehire Wirtanens for future building needs” The Thomas’
Happy Clients
“Before Charlie and I began to think about building our home, we were invited to dinner at some close friends of ours. Upon arriving at their new home, I immediately became envious of their beautiful house that had been built by Wirtanen Inc. Every detail of their house was absolutely wonderful. I loved the layout, the colors and most of all, the pine floors. A year later, my oldest son and his wife had a house built by a local construction company. After witnessing many disappointments from their experience, I knew that when it came time for our home to be built, I would be a very picky customer. So we called Wirtanen Inc.. From the day the Wirtanen’s arrived to the day they departed, it was a wonderful experience. They felt like part of our family, and the finish product was a house beyond my dreams! “ Charlie and Cheryl Hansen
Happy Clients
“Our experience with Wirtanen Inc. in building our Alaskan dream home was positive, rewarding and stress-free. From the moment we contacted them via email through the final walk-through, their friendly and honest team delivered exactly what they promised. No hidden costs and a well built, custom home that is uniquely ours, that’s the Wirtanen way. We couldn’t be happier.” Sincerely, Angie and Garth Buresh
Happy Clients
“We couldn’t have been happier having Wirtanens build our new home two summers ago. They were able to draw up the plans we had in mind, were always prompt and on time, and we had the flexibility of choosing the colors and furnishings, including custom cabinets, that we wanted. The workmanship was also great. I had anticipated that choosing a custom builder would increase the cost, but, in actuality, it was somewhat less because we paid only for what we got. Since then, we have recommended them to several other people.” Wallace and Janette Riehle
Happy Client
“At first glance, you might have concern by the young man that you are about to place your trust in for your new project. Not to worry. You will learn in a matter of minutes although he is young, he is very sharp, very experienced. Equally important he is also honest, always respectful, and a perfectionist with a can-do attitude. The same can be said for the entire Wirtanen building crew.This family run business is not to be overlooked, they are the real deal. They worked with my wife and I to design and construct a sizeable and complex addition to our existing home, and did an excellent job. I would recommend them for any project, large or small and would not hesitate to work with them again.” -Ken Peltier
Happy Client
“Communication with the Wirtanen organization, whether on the job site with the project manager, or when calling the office, when you picked up the phone and you wanted to talk to someone, you had a live person who was aware of your project! Communication was awesome…the best!” John and Debbie Drennan
Happy Clients
“One thing I liked about the way Wirtanen’s ran their business was that they were very cohesive. Everybody knew in what order the other groups should follow and how quickly they should follow. I’ve done a lot of construction in my Subway Stores, and there are times when subcontractors don’t work well together. We set a timeline and they were right on it, even with the changes that we made – they were right on target. I watched them through the whole building process. I was here every day watching them work. What impressed me the most was the quality of workmanship, the quality of the job they did.” – Al Haynes
Happy Clients
“During the time we were looking for a builder, anytime we met with Wirtanen Inc., I just had a really good feeling about them. They were real people. So, ultimately we just followed what was comfortable, what felt right, and decided to go with them to build our home. It was exciting to learn that Wirtanen Inc did so much with wood and their wood trim work, because we really wanted to live in that type home. Wirtanen Inc. also used spray-foam insulation which is very energy efficient, and our actual home design was efficient as well in terms of actual use of space. It was awesome. The jobsite was clean. They really shine as craftsmen… Having this home built was like living a dream – watching it come true step, by step, by step.” – Grant Hunicke and Debbie Larijani
Happy Client
“Far too often as we got through our very busy days, we neglect to acknowledge those who have made a significant effort to provide a superior service. We have thought many times about expressing our gratitude and just seem to have been “too busy” to stop and get it done. Your survey was just the prompt I needed to make this long overdue acknowledgement. Will and I have lived in our new home for almost a year. We are so thankful to have found you! We had spent countless hours looking at homes and were getting more and more frustrated. Then, we took one last drive through the Farm Loop area of Palmer and came upon your construction site. The home under construction was exactly what we were looking for – the quality of the finish materials and the attention to detail is not easily found in our real estate market – especially at this price range. I have been a mortgage professional for over fifteen years. During this time I have worked with many professional builders and seen many real estate transactions transpire. We have been so impressed with the professionalism and supreme competency of you and your work crews. The finished product is exactly as you presented it would be, and the transaction was a breeze. Will and I are happy to recommend you to others and make our home available for your prospective buyers to visit. We couldn’t be happier with the home you have built for us.” With sincere and heartfelt regards – William and Tammy Gray
Happy Client
“We were told ‘you’re going to have buyer’s remorse! You will be lucky if you’re married when you’re done building’ …..NONE! – We had none of that! I hesitate to say it, but the whole process was easy. We had the kind of experience building our house that people say you could never have. We got exactly what we asked for: We gave Wirtanens the specs and they built it. They build it when they said they would, for the amount they said they would. I think I went through more hassle buying my last car then having this house built. It sounds so… lame, but it was easier than buying a car!” Rob and Jodie
Happy Clients
“This was our first home, so everything was new. Wirtanen Inc dealt with us very ethically and honestly – We still talk about what a good experience we had. I don’t think you could ever eliminate all frustration, but Wirtanen Inc has very good customer service! We feel the price we paid was very fair, expecially considering all the changes we made at cost plus instant equity. We couldn’t be more pleased with the final product. We would highly recommend Wirtanen Inc to anyone building a home or remodel and would gladly share our positive experience.” Ryan and Sarah Staten
Happy Clients
“Our home is beautiful! We have never dealt with business people we found as trustworthy as the Wirtanen’s. We were picking out countertops and flooring from out of state, and the Wirtanen’s were VERY patient and helpfull with the process that was far from easy! We thought we got a good deal on our home when we bought it, but now that we have lived here a while, we realize that we got a GREAT deal! We would be happy to provided a glowing recommendation at any time!” Joshua and Terry Clayton