By Celeste McLaughlin
In 2006, Ally Turnkey co-owners Michael Kusheba, president, and New Tampa resident Richard Belinc, VP, were playing together in a popular local band, The Lemmings. They also were working hard at other jobs during the day. Michael had owned a carpet-cleaning business for more than 10 years and often talked with customers who had hired contractors and were disappointed in their work.
“I kept looking at terrible workmanship in people’s homes and thinking, ‘I can do better than this,’” he says.
Meanwhile, his bandmate had worked as an assistant buyer at Home Depot and as a regional manager for South Pro Sales, and wanted more control over his work.
“I knew what a hard worker Richard was from playing in the band together,” says Michael, referring to how the group would often play shows in cities as far away as Gainesville, then have to load up their equipment after the gig in the early morning hours and be back at work just a few hours later.
So, the two decided to start a company offering home repair and improvement services in Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Building on Michael’s years of experience in the carpet cleaning business and tapping into Richard’s experience in materials and products, they added exterior and interior painting, residential and commercial housekeeping and mold inspection and remediation services to the mix.
The name of the business is a glimpse into what Michael and Richard want to accomplish for their customers. First, they’re your “ally,” so you have someone you can trust in a sometimes confusing industry often fraught with unscrupulous business people who greatly inflate their prices just because they can get away with it. And second, their work leaves your home in “turnkey”condition — meaning that you can count on them for a wide variety of services that people often hire at the same time — including not only expert carpet cleaning, but also interior and exterior painting and minor repairs.
“We believe we are raising the bar for these services,” says Michael, “We look for ways we can cut costs without cutting quality, to offer our clients quality products ad service without breaking the bank.”
Ally Turnkey has built its business by offering services to families in homes, condos and apartments, and has gained a tremendous amount of experience preparing rental properties for new tenants. One of Michael and Richard’s clients is Invitation Homes, which manages 2,000 rental homes in the Tampa Bay area. Other clients include upscale apartment complexes such as the Post Bay at Rocky Point apartments.
The company turns over rental properties with fresh paint, carpet and tile cleaning, minor home repairs, thorough cleaning (with Ally Turnkey’s own in-house home cleaning team), as well as any other services that are needed.
Richard says that many times, the jobs are upscale rentals — some properties rent for as much as $3,500 a month — and must be turned over very quickly, sometimes within 24 hours of being vacated. In those cases, the jobs must be done perfectly and on time.
“There are so many eyes watching us on those types of jobs,” Michael explains. “We’re used to scrutiny, and that’s made us better at what we do.”
Another area where the company’s complete “turnkey” services are a perfect fit is when it’s time to put your home on the market for sale.
“If you want to list your home for sale, what is it that is going to set your home apart from the others on the market?,” Michael asks. “Sometimes it’s as simple as freshly cleaned carpet and tile, and maybe having your baseboards painted.”
He adds that he and Richard have helped many homeowners in this situation, and can help you determine what is needed to ensure that your home will stand out from its competition.
“We get a lot of satisfaction in seeing the transformation of the homes we work on,” says Michael.
Aimee Ross and her husband Scott live with their kids in Meadow Creek, in the Cross Creek community of New Tampa. In November, they hired Ally Turnkey to paint the exterior of their home.
“We got various quotes, and although Ally Turnkey wasn’t the cheapest, they also were not the most expensive.”
She adds that Richard also happens to be one of her neighbors, but that’s not why she hired Ally Turnkey. In fact, she says that she was impressed that Richard encouraged her to obtain other quotes before making the decision to hire his company. “We are very happy with the results,” Aimee says. “They were done quickly and it looks great,” adding that, “They were patient with the process of obtaining approval from our HOA, and honored the original quote they gave us, even though quite a bit of time passed between the quote and the time the work began.”
Aimee also smiles when she says, “I still love pulling up to my house and seeing how great it looks.” She notes that she plans to hire Ally Turnkey to do interior painting in the near future.
Although many homeowners choose contractors based upon price alone, Michael and Richard suggest consumers do their homework to ensure they aren’t putting themselves at risk by hiring unlicensed, uninsured or underinsured contractors.
“This is such a pet peeve of mine,” says Michael. “We’re trying to compete with people who are paying people ‘off the books.’” He adds that his company pays workers compensation insurance on all of its employees and doesn’t circumvent payroll taxes.
“You have to check out contractors,” he adds. “Even if someone seems like a nice guy, you’re putting yourself at risk if you let someone work in your home who is not properly licensed and insured.”
He tells of a client who recently hired someone to install a new dishwasher. There was a problem and the dishwasher flooded her home. At that time, she called Ally Turnkey for the cleanup and had to pay that bill out of her pocket. (Note-To learn more about how to check if your contractor is properly licensed and insured, Ally Turnkey offers information and links on its website at AllyTurnkey.com.)
On this site, you can read more about what is required of companies and how some people attempt to get around the consumer safeguards that the state properly puts in place.
Speaking of licenses, check out AllyTurnkey’s: Licensed Painting Contractor: PA2838 (Hillsborough)/LP9520 (Pasco), NORMI (National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors) Certified Mold Assessor, NORMI Certified Mold Remediator, State Licensed Mold Assessor: MRSA691, State Licensed Mold Remediator: MRSR693, IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) Certified in Water Damage Restoration.
“We want customers for life,” Michael says, adding that Ally Turnkey offers a quality job for a decent price, without cutting corners. “We’re family men, looking to help (other) families and support our own families at the same time.”
And, speaking of supporting families, “We’re proud that we’ve created a lot of jobs,” Richard says, explaining that their current staff is about 20 people and will increase in the summer, during the company’s busiest time. “When we started nine years ago, it was just us, and we worked from sunup until we couldn’t move anymore. Now we’re giving people opportunities, and we have a great group of people who do a great job working for us. We (the partners) work hard,” he laughs. “So, only apply to work for us if you’re willing to work hard.”
Beyond painting, Ally Turnkey also specializes in mold assessment and remediation. “I do a lot of consulting for people who see mold,” says Michael. “Florida is hot and humid, so mold can be an issue.” In addition to his state license, Michael takes ongoing continuing education classes to be able to provide this service.
For carpet cleaning, the company’s technicians use a truck-mounted, industry-standard hot water extraction system. This system operates at a much higher heat and has more suction than any portable carpet cleaning unit you might rent.
“Carpet cleaners do not have to be licensed, so there are some unscrupulous businesses out there,” Michael says. “You have to watch out for bait-and-switch schemes, such as an $89 special that a company tells you did not apply to your home once they’ve completed the job.” Ally Turnkey promises no high-pressure sales tactics. The base rate for carpet cleaning is $30 per room, all inclusive with no extra charges. Currently, Neighborhood News readers receive a special of $99 for whole-house cleaning, up to 2,000 square feet. (See the ad on page 12 for details.)
In addition to carpet cleaning, Ally Turnkey also offers upholstery, tile and duct cleaning, as well as professional stain removal, bleach spot repair and carpet repair. Ally Turnkey also offers residential and commercial housekeeping services, and many other services, such as countertop, cabinet and bathtub refinishing, and drywall repairs, door replacement, baseboard and crown molding installation, carpentry and tile repair. And, for those services Ally Turnkey does not provide, Michael and Richard are happy to make recommendations, such as for a roofer, electrician or other service provider. The company name says it all: “We’re your ally,” Michael says. “We’re on your side.”
To learn more about Ally Turnkey, go to AllyTurnkey.com. Or, to schedule an appointment for services or request an estimate, call 800-878-2617.
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