About Us

I started in 2001 with a small company, Northwest Investment Realty, buying and renovating neglected houses in the Mt. Airy-northwest area of Philadelphia. As I built up tools, equipment and means to do this work, I took on more and more carpentry and repair jobs for other homeowners.

In 2004, I retained insurance and licenses, and incorporated NWIR Construction, Inc., specializing in custom renovation in old houses and bringing together the phases of residential general contracting with a full-time crew of 4-7 employees.

In 2015, the operation was reduced to Custom Work in Older Homes by Caleb Schodt, licensed and insured sole proprietor. I work every day with my brother Joe, partner in the company. Every sub-contractor I use are small, local owner operators, masters of their area and companies I have been working with for 10+ years in plumbing, electric, roofing, painting, mason, floors, locksmith, architects, engineers and more.

In 2019 we downsized to working almost exclusively in the Northwest neighborhoods of Philadelphia. It's saved gas and many other costs. And we do our work withing few miles of our shop, home lumber yard, other suppliers and three of the best hardware stores in the Delaware Valley. And 15+ years of traveling to free estimates all over the city and metro area was very expensive and ultimately paid for by our contract clients, which we never liked and no longer happens.

The map shows our Northwest zip codes and main area of work, Zone #1, where we offer free estimates. For Zone #2, homeowners must send pictures and description of the work to receive a free estimate, or pay $50 deposit at the time of appointment, good toward NY work from us for one year. At this time for any new estimate beyond zone #2, multiple pictures with description of each project must be sent by e-mail and proceed from there.  In general, we collect approximately $10 per mile in deposit for estimate appointments on-site.  This is measured from Germantown Av & Johnson St., the center of our above locations.

Please contact us for all your home improvement and repair and thank you for visiting my web-site.

Caleb L. Schodt, Owner
Carpenter & Licensed Contractor
Joseph Scott, Vice President
Marianne Braush, Office Manager

City of Philadelphia L&I Contractor License #23805
State of PA Registered Home Improvement Contractor #61788
US EPA RRP Certified # R-1-87262-12-01136
Commercial Liability & Insurance by State Farm, Weychert Agency, Conshohocken, PA

Certificate of insurance with homeowner listed as co-insured available with all contracts