From Corporate Sales to Construction Success: Troy Aylesworth’s Journey with Truss Design Build
Troy Aylesworth is the owner of Truss Design Build in West Seattle, Washington. He didn’t start out in construction. Instead, he worked in corporate sales for many years. Troy was always curious about how houses were built and wanted to learn more.
He started investing in real estate and began remodeling his own properties. When his corporate job ended in 2008, Troy decided to try construction full-time. He got his first jobs through Craigslist and then connected with Home Depot, where he did bathrooms and kitchens for their customers.
Working on bathrooms taught Troy all the basic trades. He learned plumbing, electrical, drywall, and tile work. As he gained experience, he started using other lead sources, like HomeAdvisor and Thumbtack, to find more clients.
"I love turning an idea into reality for my clients, and that’s something I never knew I could do until I tried." ~ Troy Aylesworth
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Troy noticed more people needed home offices and extra space. He began doing full basement remodels, adding bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas. This helped him grow his business and take on bigger projects.
Recently, Troy started his own company called Truss Design Build. He moved all his systems to Houzz, which made estimating and change orders much easier. Troy likes working with Houzz because their clients usually want higher-end, more detailed projects.
Troy’s background in sales helped him build strong relationships with his customers. He enjoys turning ideas into real spaces and feels proud of the work he does. Troy also learned a lot from his dad, who taught him basic building skills and the importance of figuring things out on his own.
He also worked with friends in the industry to learn more about finish work and large remodels. Troy believes in always learning and isn’t afraid to ask for help or research new skills. He also values the support of other contractors and friends who helped him along the way.
Troy’s business grew through both referrals and paid leads. He says that return clients and referrals are important, but using marketing platforms like Houzz, HomeAdvisor, and Thumbtack helped him reach more people. He thinks actively marketing the business is the best way to keep growing.
Troy’s journey shows that it’s possible to switch careers and succeed in construction. He believes that building strong relationships, always learning, and smart marketing are the keys to success. Troy is excited to see how far he can take Truss Design Build in the future.
Topics Discussed
Career Transition:
How Troy moved from corporate sales to building a successful construction business.Learning by Doing:
Troy’s approach to teaching himself construction skills through hands-on experience and research.Importance of Relationships:
Why building strong client relationships has been key to Troy’s business growth.Leveraging Lead Sources:
How Troy used platforms like Home Depot, Houzz, HomeAdvisor, and Thumbtack to generate leads.Adapting During COVID-19:
How the pandemic shifted client needs and led to more basement and home office remodels.Starting Truss Design Build:
The reasons behind launching a new company and moving business systems to Houzz.Marketing for Contractors:
Why Troy believes active marketing is essential for scaling a remodeling business.
