Back in the 1990s, Dave Stephens was a Saanich Police officer who did renovations on his days off to help put his three boys through hockey. Through that experience, building and renovating homes became his passion and in 1998, he and wife Lisa founded the business that would become LIDA Construction.
The experience also opened his eyes to the need for transparency, integrity and a commitment to client service in the industry.
“I wanted to raise the bar in construction,” Dave says. “We have the privilege of working with families to create a home they love and that works for them, and we take that privilege seriously.”
Fast-forward 25 years and LIDA received the Custom Home Builder of the Year Award from the Canadian Home Builders Association-B.C.’s prestigious Georgie Awards.
From the start, LIDA Construction has been built upon a foundation of trust.
“We’ve been able to achieve that by staying true to our core values: we are committed to excellence; we’re team players; and we do what we say we’re going to do,” Dave says.
For customers, that translates into a well-organized, proven process highlighting transparency, clear communication and commitment to customer satisfaction. LIDA’s cloud-based project management software provides homeowners complete access to their entire project, including budget, schedule, communication and construction documents, for example, while having in-house design and construction teams working together ensures a seamless experience from start to finish.
“Whether we’re renovating a 1913 heritage home for today’s family or building someone’s custom dream home, the process is guided by the same principles,” Dave notes.
Essential education
In an industry evolving as quickly as home-building, ongoing education is key. And for Dave and the LIDA team, that education extends beyond the latest innovations and construction best practices, to business and personal development for both himself and his team.
He also believes in giving back to the community, and to the industry as a whole, serving as past-president and current director of Canadian Home Builders Association of Vancouver Island, as well as past-president and current member of National Association of Home Builders’ Cornerstones Builder 20 Group. Dave also undertakes speaking engagements, interviews and support for other builders wanting to improve their business.
“I enjoy sharing the skills and expertise I’ve gained over the years. After all, helping other home builders and renovators improve is good for all of us in the industry,” Dave says.
Hard work pays off
For the LIDA team, hard work is rewarded with a positive, people-first environment, fun team-building activities and annual core value awards, not to mention a collective resume filled with accolades.
In addition to the Georgie Award, Dave was named Business Person of the Year 2023 from Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and the team has earned 14 other awards from the Canadian Home Builders Association’s VIBE awards, including multiple nods as Builder of the Year.
To learn how the LIDA Construction team can make your home dreams come true, visit lidahomes.ca