MOSES LAKE — When Uziel Ortega launched Steadfast Home Services earlier this year, he wasn't sure whether the phone would ring.

After leaving a stable job and betting on himself, the Moses Lake resident spent his first weeks as a full-time handyman driving around town, studying material prices, watching instructional videos and waiting for customers.

"I probably got three calls in the first couple of weeks," Ortega said. "I was a little nervous."

Those worries didn't last long.

Months later, Ortega has grown Steadfast Home Services from a one-man operation into a team with two full-time employees and one part-time worker serving homeowners across the Columbia Basin. Along the way, he has built a reputation for tackling everything from door installations and flooring projects to minor plumbing, drywall and home maintenance repairs.

The business grew out of skills Ortega developed over years of helping family and friends with construction projects, roofing jobs and home renovations.

"My brother became a roofer right out of high school, and I'd help on projects here and there," Ortega said. "Then I started doing repairs for family members, friends and people they knew. It just kept growing."

After purchasing his first home, Ortega immersed himself in renovation work and realized he enjoyed solving problems and improving homes.

Eventually, he decided to take the leap into business ownership.

"I didn't see myself doing anything else long-term," he said.

Today, most of Steadfast Home Services' clients are homeowners, although Ortega also works with landlords, property managers and commercial property owners.

What he enjoys most, he said, is the personal side of residential work.

"Everybody sees their home differently," Ortega said. "When you're helping someone create the space they envisioned, that's rewarding. You're not just fixing something. You're helping make their home feel like theirs."

One recent project stands out among the hundreds of jobs he has completed.

A homeowner going through a difficult period in her life called about a long list of repairs she felt unable to manage on her own. During their initial conversation, Ortega said she became overwhelmed describing everything that needed to be fixed.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, he rearranged his schedule to help.

After completing the repairs, Ortega walked through the home to ensure every item on the list had been addressed.

"She started crying because she was so relieved," he said. "It wasn't really about the repairs. It was that all of this stress had been lifted off her shoulders."

Experiences like that remind him why he started the business.

"That's the best part of the job," Ortega said. "Being able to help somebody and give them peace of mind."

While repairing homes throughout Moses Lake and surrounding communities, Ortega has also noticed recurring maintenance issues that often lead to larger and more expensive problems.

Near the top of the list is poor water management.

Despite the Columbia Basin's relatively dry climate, Ortega frequently encounters water damage caused by overflowing gutters, inadequate drainage and deteriorating exterior caulking.

"People think because we're not Seattle, water isn't a concern," he said. "But we still get enough rain to cause damage."

He recommends homeowners inspect their roofs, gutters and siding at least twice a year, ideally during the spring and fall.

Small cracks around windows and doors, lifted shingles or clogged gutters may seem minor, Ortega said, but can allow water to penetrate walls and foundations over time.

Another commonly overlooked issue involves heating and cooling systems.

Many homeowners remember to replace air filters but never clean the rest of their HVAC equipment, he said.

"Dust accumulates everywhere in the Basin," Ortega said. "Your HVAC system is pulling that in all the time."

Regular maintenance, including professional cleanings and inspections, can improve efficiency and potentially extend the life of expensive equipment, he said.

As summer transitions into fall, Ortega said homeowners should also consider cleaning gutters, inspecting drainage systems and addressing pest control concerns before insects begin seeking warmer places to nest.

He encourages residents to pay attention to warning signs that something may be wrong in their home.

Unusual sounds, musty odors, visible stains, warped materials and recurring moisture all deserve investigation, he said.

"Most big repairs start out as small repairs," Ortega said. "The sooner you catch them, the better."

For homeowners wondering whether a project should be tackled themselves or left to a professional, Ortega suggests a simple rule.

Basic tasks such as changing air filters, replacing smoke detector batteries, and routine inspections are typically manageable for most homeowners. Roofing repairs, crawl-space work, electrical issues and anything involving potential safety risks are often best left to trained professionals.

As Steadfast Home Services continues to grow, Ortega hopes to expand his fleet and eventually have multiple crews working throughout the region.

For now, his focus remains on helping homeowners protect what is often their biggest investment.

And whenever business ownership becomes challenging, he looks to his biggest supporters: his three children.

"They tell everybody about the business," he said. "Teachers, friends, everyone. They've been behind me since day one."

For Ortega, that's all the encouragement he needs to keep building.

"At the end of the day," he said, "I just want to help people take care of their homes."

Steadfast Home Services

509-793-5457

Facebook: Steadfast Home Services LLC

    Earlier this week, Steadfast Home Services was asked to come out and assemble a playset for a client. Owner Uziel Ortega said they will do most projects around the house and to give him a call to find out if they can help.
  

    Steadfast Home Services owner Uziel Ortega said he enjoys doing kitchen renovations. He said a lot of the time a new back splash, fresh paint and some other touch ups will make a kitchen feel “new” to homeowners.
  

    After a windstorm struck Grant County in early May, Steadfast Home Services did a lot of fence repairs in the area to help local homeowners.