Steven Jeffcoat is in the construction business in the Lowcountry, an extremely competitive industry. He recognizes the importance of going above and beyond the norm to set himself and his business apart from the others. He understands that when someone hires a contractor to work on their home, they expect to receive exactly what they are paying for. He knows that to stay in business, a contractor must meet the expectations of every client. Steven Jeffcoat is dedicated to achieving just that by offering his clients integrity, expertise, and experience.
Experience
“My dad started building homes on Hilton Head Island in late ’70s,” Jeffcoat said. “So, when I was just a boy, he had me helping lay foundations and frame houses. Then later in my high school years, I learned interior trim and cabinetry.”
Jeffcoat still works with his now 79-year-old dad, Clyde, who is still involved in home design. He brings tremendous knowledge and expertise to guide the staff and clients at Steven W. Jeffcoat Construction. Notably, Clyde designed and built actor Tom Berenger’s house at Camp St. Mary’s.
“It is a blessing to be able to work alongside my dad and absorb as much as possible from him,” Jeffcoat said.
In the early ’90s, Jeffcoat quit construction and went into law enforcement. For two years, he served as a deputy sheriff in Orangeburg County where his family home is. In 1993, he met his wife Wanda, and in ’95 when they married, they moved back to Hilton Head and he started Steven W. Jeffcoat Construction, Inc.
The first house he built was on Jonesville Road for his high school buddy and football teammate, Terry Jones. “I remember that with a huge sense of accomplishment: I was able to achieve a big goal, not just for any client, but for a special friend,” Jeffcoat said.
Growing up on Hilton Head Island in the ’80s and learning how to install foundations and the framing methods of that time gives Jeffcoat the upper hand as he has been building in the Lowcountry for so long. “Many times I’ve walked into a home and immediately recognized that there was formerly a wet bar on the original build,” he explained. “Then the clients would bring out the plans, and sure enough, there used to be a wet bar. I can look at a bathroom with the same perspective.”
With his experience in framing, he can quickly assess what can be accomplished in wall removals. This is the intuition that comes from 25 years of design experience and the knowledge to achieve a client’s dream kitchen or bathroom within the limited, defined space.
Integrity
Jeffcoat also credits his dad for teaching him the integrity he brings to each job, to give his clients his very best.
“My dad would say, ‘Son, it takes a lifetime to build integrity. One screw up can hurt you the rest of your life, so always be honorable no matter what the cost.”
He remembers a Sea Pines client referred to him by James Wedgeworth who hired Jeffcoat for a kitchen remodel in hopes of selling the home. When Jeffcoat was figuring the estimate, he made a mistake on the cabinet cost by leaving the number 1 off the cost $13,000. Jeffcoat honored that quote, ate the loss, and never personally told the client.
“Now, I rely more on my staff to go behind me, checking figures carefully back and forth to make sure I no longer make those mistakes,” Jeffcoat said. “From that act of integrity, I learned to delegate and trust others more to help me, and I kept the respect of my client. Thankfully, I’ve not made a mistake like that again.”
Jeffcoat cites industry licensing as a sign of integrity. There are so many companies around that are not licensed, and many remodelers don’t pull building permits to remodel.
“We got a call the other day about a relatively new home in Woodbridge,” Jeffcoat said. “The owner was having a problem with the shower. We found that the shower was installed without a water pan, which means that the original job was likely done without a permit. A licensed contractor will provide permits, so there will be inspections all along the way to ensure the contractor is doing the job correctly and the client is getting what they are paying for.”
Expertise
Along with Jeffcoat’s experience and integrity, his staff lends their own expertise to each remodeling project. Nick Parrish is the designer at Jeffcoat Construction. Working with Nick is the first step in the design process. He goes into the client’s home, takes all the measurements, and presents different designs for the client to consider. Nick works hand in hand with the client to define their vision and bring their ideas to life.
Nick’s dad, too, started him in the construction business. Nick’s freshman year in high school, his dad began working for Jeffcoat Construction. Nick would come over, paint walls, and clean up job sites. Nick brings the expertise of CAD and 2020 Design programming to each project and helps each client to define their vision.
Gandy Rogers is the project manager at Jeffcoat Construction. She started about 15 years ago working in countertops and tile. She loves the pace of the construction business, the design process, and that something is always new and different. New to Jeffcoat Construction, Gandy’s role is day-to-day operations, project management, and customer relations.
“I like doing all of the behind-the-scenes activities, taking things off of Steven’s plate, and checking his estimates for any costly errors,” she said with a sly grin.
Off the job
Jeffcoat and his wife Wanda have four children and one grandson: Rebecca, 25, is a single mom and office manager, and Landon, age 5, is her son; Sarah, 21, is a schoolteacher and just got married; Laura, 19, is a 911 dispatcher at the sheriff’s office; and Will, 17, is homeschooled and helps his dad enormously with supervising jobs, installing cabinets, and framing.
“Wanda is 100 percent ‘Mimi’ all the time,” Jeffcoat said. “She loves teaching Landon life skills and molding his mind and heart.”
The couple enjoys spending time on their boat, camping, and grilling out. Jeffcoat has served as a Sunday School teacher, deacon, and on the board of trustees. He also supports and volunteers with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and served on the Student Improvement Council at Bluffton Middle School. Jeffcoat supports many of the local schools’ sports programs with a desire to invest back into his community, occasionally speaking at team meetings. He is a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association, and the South Carolina Trooper’s Association.
In both 2020 and 2021, Steven W. Jeffcoat Construction was named Best of the Best Contractor/Remodeler and Best of the Best Kitchen and Bath Remodeler by the Island Packet Lowcountry’s Best. In 2021, they were additionally voted Best Homebuilder.
For more information, visit stevenwjeffcoatconstruction.com, email swjeffcoatbuild4u @gmail.com, or call (843) 686-3226.
