Leo W. Lantz, CR, CKBR, UDCP, CGR, CAPS
Leo Lantz Construction, Inc.
Leo Lantz Construction is a national award-winning contractor company based in Glen Allen, Va. The company has been recognized repeatedly locally at the NARI Central Virginia CotY Awards and the Home Building Association of Richmond Remodeling Excellence Awards. Lantz has received a Customer Service Excellence Award and GuildMaster Award from Guild Quality and been voted Richmond’s Best Remodeling Company for 2015 and 2016 by the Readers of the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Q: What are the top three things you look for from a LBM supplier?
A: We look for punctuality, accuracy, and product quality.
Q: Describe your best lumber/building materials vendor and why they are the best.
A: Our millwork provider, E.H. Lail Millwork in North Chesterfield, Va., has a wide range of stocking millwork inventory and quality product offerings. They are big enough to service our needs, but not too big to lose that personal touch.
Q: When was the last time you changed vendors and why?
A: Our company is a Wellborn Cabinet dealer and our vendor starting selling cabinets as well. I had to stop sending clients there because I did not want to have customers getting confused by looking at multiple cabinet lines.
Q: When and why would you accept a meeting from a new supplier/vendor?
A: I am a strong supporter of the Home Building Association of Richmond and NARI Central Virginia. If the vendor is not a member of one of these groups that supports our industry then I will not meet with them. Membership in one of these groups is the “golden key” that gets you in the door.
Q: What do you wish LBM suppliers understood about your business?
A: They need to know that quality and accuracy are extremely important. It’s a whole lot easier to do something right the first time than to do it over. Don’t send me subpar materials.
Q: What products (if any) do you buy installed?
A: We do not buy installed products.
Q: What is the number one problem that keeps you up at night?
A: Right now it is “How in the world are we going to maintain this pace without burning ourselves out?”
Q: What do you see as your biggest opportunity?
A: We purchased our building a little over a year ago and a planned showroom expansion will really boost sales.
