Hanks — born, raised and currently living in Chapel Hill — combined his construction experience and his love of the community when he founded Sweat Equity Construction two years ago.

The premise of the company, now entering its third year, is that customers can save money on addition or renovation projects by participating in them, from purchasing their own materials to helping out with the physical labor.

Outside of new construction, “We take any job,” Hanks said of his two full-time employees and himself. “It allows someone with [little] experience to hire us as workers, educators, or to work alongside them.”

He laughs as he recalls a woman who hired him simply to help her look for construction materials.

“I was a professional shopper for a day,” he said.

He also stresses that one of the goals of his construction is to go green: “We desire to be as sustainable as possible.” He cites a garage-studio project he completed for Laura Edwards of Chapel Hill in which door handles, tables, and benches were all made with existing wood from the area.

“He always thinks, ‘How is this going to be used? What can I do with my client to ensure that when others come behind her, there’s no carbon footprint?’” Edwards said.

But for Hanks, it’s about more than just sustainability or saving money.

“I started Sweat Equity to fill two voids,” he says. “Direct contractor involvement, and niche home improvement and construction.” He laments that some builders construct what they feel is best and expect the client to approve.

“I want clients to have a higher level of communication with me,” he said. “I bombard them with questions about their goals and invite them in from the get-go.”

“Projects with me evolve. I want to extract their true desire. ‘Hey, what if …’ is my catchphrase.”

Hanks says almost all 30 of Sweat Equity’s clients discovered the company through word of mouth, and half of them are now repeat customers.

Edwards, who first met Hanks on a general contracting job several years before he founded Sweat Equity, said she enjoys the collaboration.

“I love the personalization of everything,” she said. “He is teaching me things as well as discussing the plans.”

Sweat equity as an idea may not be new. The Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties says there have been companies such as this in the area since the early 1980s, and that they tend to arise in periods of high interest rates. But Hanks is doing his best to ensure that his lasts.

“There’s a lot more time up front building rapport,” he said. “It’s more for the long-term, establishing relationships with repeat clients. I start as your contractor, but I end as your friend.”