E.J. Jaxtimer has long been associated with some of the most beautiful homes on Cape Cod. Over the last 30 years, the owner of E.J. Jaxtimer Builders, Inc. in Hyannis, Massachusetts, has designed, renovated and constructed hundreds of homes on this famous tourist and travel destination. Why, then, would one of his divisions be operating Walker Mowers and providing top-notch mowing and maintenance services on many of his properties?
“I had been designing and building homes for about 15 years when a customer of mine asked if I could maintain her landscape,” Jaxtimer explains. “It never occurred to me to offer landscape design, installation and maintenance services, but the idea made sense.”
Indeed it did. Already a stickler for detail and providing impeccable service, if Jaxtimer could pull it off, E.J. Jaxtimer Builders would be the only company on the Cape to provide a truly one-stop service—to design and build a home, and then provide nearly any interior and/or exterior service imaginable.
Seventeen years later, E.J. Jaxtimer’s landscape division is nearly as well known as its construction and millwork arms. Three landscape maintenance crews, an enhancement crew and a color/installation crew can be seen throughout the year in bright red trucks with enclosed trailers tending the properties designed and built by the company owner.
“The big push for the landscaping division occurs in late spring,” explains company director of landscaping Rob Kennedy. He points to a property just mowed and maintained, ready to greet a homeowner returning to the Cape for the first time in several months. “Returning homeowners want their properties to look pristine, with a splash of color in neat beds and lawns neatly trimmed,” Kennedy emphasizes.
That’s where the Walker Mower comes in handy. When Kennedy came on board 10 years ago, he lobbied for the mower because it was ideal for the environment, with its bagging capability, quality of cut and maneuverability. Working equally well on big and small properties alike, he said that the mower’s trimming capability allowed him to reduce crew size from three to two employees.
“Walker Mower operators attack properties a little differently than those who use other brands,” Kennedy relates. “Our crews are trained to blow out the beds and do the string line trimming before they mow,” he explains. “The mower, then, just picks up the debris along with the grass clippings. The efficient collection system also cuts spring and fall cleanup time in half.”
Service Mentality
The mowing and maintenance crews account for approximately 75 percent of the landscaping division’s revenue. The other 25 percent comes from the color and enhancement crews supervised by assistant director of landscaping Angela Cenzalli. All together, the company maintains 87 full-service accounts.
“Putting in a 60-hour week is normal for us this time of year,” says Cenzalli, who is president of the Cape Cod Landscaping Association. “Just because E.J. ( Jaxtimer) builds the homes doesn’t mean we automatically get the work. It’s very competitive on the Cape with upwards of 1,000 landscape contractors vying for work.
“We don’t advertise and we don’t get involved in price wars,” Cenzalli continues. “We rely on our reputation, quality standards, responsiveness and service mentality to get the message to prospective customers. If they want, we will respond to house alarms, and clean and ready their outdoor furniture, along with providing other services. I can even recall one occasion when we actually put a turkey in the oven. All customers have our cell phone numbers so they can reach us virtually any time during the week. I think what makes us a bit different is that we all love what we do. I don’t believe companies can provide the high level of service required here unless employees have a strong work ethic and love what they do.”
The company owner sets the high standard. From his high school days, Jaxtimer wanted to be in the construction business. These days, he still gets to the office before anyone else and is often the last one out the door in the evening. This Cape Cod native emphasizes that he doesn’t have a secret formula for success, but instead has followed a couple of simple rules.
“I’ve always tried to surround myself with smart people,” Jaxtimer says. “We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and finding people who can do something better than you is paramount to success. Under Rob’s supervision, our landscaping division has grown from literally nothing into a $1 million-plus operation, and Angela has taken our color operation to a different level.”
Community service also takes a top priority. The company is very involved with the Special Olympics, helps spearhead fundraising efforts for cancer research, and has worked to bring a local clinic to the area.
“Yes, we’re in business to make a profit,” says Jaxtimer. “But there’s also the big picture to take into consideration. On the business side, while making a profit is imperative, you have to ensure that the customer is completely satisfied and that your work is top notch. On the community side, we hope that our involvement will benefit other people.”
Kennedy and Cenzalli say that their employer’s attitude extends to the workplace where he treats everyone like family. “Don’t get me wrong, E.J. expects a lot from his employees,” Kennedy adds quickly. “He’s a perfectionist who wants nothing less from his people. But he also appreciates the effort.” Cenzalli agrees, “Just as we want to develop long-term relationships with customers, E.J. wants to develop the same with his employees.”
As they put it, you can’t become the ultimate property manager without first becoming the ultimate business owner—one who empowers his people and instills pride and passion in what they do.
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