Building a successful construction company is no small feat. Statistics show that only 36.4% of construction firms in the United States survive their fifth year in business. Yet Chris Rapczynski, founder and president of Sleeping Dog Properties, has survived and thrived through three decades of industry shifts, economic fluctuations, and unexpected challenges.

Since founding his company in 1993, Rapczynski has steered his Boston-based design-build firm through numerous obstacles that would have sunk less resilient businesses. His ability to adapt to change while maintaining unwavering standards of excellence has positioned Sleeping Dog Properties as a luxury construction and renovation leader.

Weathering Economic Storms

Every business faces economic headwinds, but few industries are as susceptible to market fluctuations as construction. Rapczynski's approach to these challenges reveals much about his business philosophy.

"At Sleeping Dog, we're a unique company. In most recessions, we flourish," Rapczynski explained in an interview. This counterintuitive success during downturns stems from strategic positioning: "The reasons why are because there's more employee base available, there are more subcontractors available, and our client base tends to be buyers in the low time."

This insight shows Rapczynski's keen understanding of market dynamics. When traditional homebuying slows due to higher interest rates, his wealthy clientele pivots to renovation. "Let's say a $5 million house that you have a mortgage on, and it's 2.5% mortgage. Now, the mortgage rates are 7%. You're definitely not going to move to almost double or time and a half your interest rate, but you might renovate," he noted.

This adaptability has allowed Sleeping Dog Properties to maintain steady growth even when competitors struggle. Rather than seeing market shifts as threats, Rapczynski identifies the opportunities they create.

The COVID Challenge

No recent challenge has tested the construction industry, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Supply chain disruptions, material shortages, price increases, and health concerns created unprecedented obstacles.

Rapczynski's response was to double down on the day-by-day approach that had served him well throughout his career. "Take it day by day," he advised. "I think it's been tough. It's been tough for employees, it's been tough for suppliers, it's been tough for clients. I don't know one person who's not felt the pain of the impact of the global dynamics of the pandemic."

Instead of reacting with panic, Sleeping Dog Properties implemented strategic adjustments: "We've tried to lean up our operational business format and do more with less, try to be flexible for people's lives and be adaptable to change and not let that change be a moment of stress."

This human-centered approach to crisis management exemplifies Rapczynski's leadership style. Rather than focusing narrowly on profit margins during difficult times, he maintained perspective: "We might not make profit in this moment or in that job or this item, but we're alive, we're happy, we have good lives. Those are the important balances that I focus on."

The pandemic response highlighted another key aspect of Sleeping Dog Properties' adaptability: their comfort with chaos. "Our zone is a zone of chaos," Rapczynski explained. "When we go into any project, we create chaos and have to live through that and the impacts of that for people. And so there's no more suited tradesmen out there to do it than the people at my company."

Material Innovation and Supply Chain Adaptation

The pandemic accelerated existing challenges with material availability and costs. Rapczynski's response showcases his practical creativity when faced with supply constraints.

One example comes from changing kitchen design trends. When Wolf ranges became unavailable due to manufacturing delays, clients and designers had to rethink kitchen aesthetics. "You can't get a Wolf range, which used to be stainless steel, and everything else was stainless steel, so now we're seeing black metals, as an example," Rapczynski observed. "You might get a Bertazzoni black metal porcelain stove, and then you might go with a black metal refrigerator or black metal faucet or black and stainless steel."

This adaptation transformed a supply chain problem into a design opportunity, creating fresh aesthetics that might not have emerged otherwise. It's this ability to find silver linings in constraints that has helped Sleeping Dog Properties maintain momentum through various material shortages.

Rapczynski also displayed foresight in anticipating how rising costs and tariffs would affect his business. "Right now, as a builder, we are up against high material costs right now, tariffs between our two importing countries, Canada and Mexico; anything that comes in here is going to be taxed, China. And that's a threat. So we have to be adaptive," he explained in a recent interview.

Embracing Technological Advancement

The most impressive aspect of Rapczynski's adaptability is his willingness to embrace new technologies in an industry that is often resistant to change. Despite being established in his career, he continues to look forward rather than backward.

"About two years ago, Sleeping Dog Properties began an initiative on preparing ourselves for the evolution of what would be artificial intelligence overlays into some of the white collar jobs of our business," Rapczynski explained.

This proactive approach to technology adoption gives his company a competitive edge. While many construction firms wait until technologies are widespread before implementing them, Sleeping Dog Properties has been an early adopter of tools like Matterport scanning technology.

"We use a product called Matterport, which is a scanning document that scans a house. When we go to do a measurement, we scan the house, and then that LIDAR scanning, radio scanning... that does the measurements for me so that I know the wall placements," Rapczynski explained. This technology allows his team to create digital twins of properties, improving accuracy and efficiency.

The company has also integrated AI into design processes that allow them to generate bathroom and staircase options based on specific parameters quickly. This blend of traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology represents the forward-thinking approach that has kept Sleeping Dog Properties relevant across three decades.

A People-First Approach to Business Challenges

Throughout all these adaptations, Rapczynski has consistently focused on people— clients and employees—as the foundation of success.

"The human stock of our company is held in the highest regard," he stated. This appreciation for his team has meant investing in their growth and development, even when it requires paying above-market rates to retain talent. "We are constantly entrenched with headhunters trying to recruit or steal my people. And so I'm always having to defend against that which means I have to pay people more than the market, which typically means that I have to charge a bit more."

This investment in people has paid dividends through enhanced quality and consistency. By creating a stable, skilled workforce, Chris Rapczynski has built a company capable of weathering various storms with minimal disruption.

The same people-first philosophy extends to client relationships. When clients faced changing financial circumstances during projects, Rapczynski's team worked to find creative solutions rather than simply enforcing contracts. This flexibility has built long-term loyalty, with many clients returning for multiple projects and referring friends and colleagues.

The Key to Lasting Success

After thirty years of navigating industry shifts, what emerges as the secret to Rapczynski's enduring success? According to him, it comes down to a deceptively simple principle shared by a mentor: "Take everything one day at a time."

"While you have to be mindful of those things as a business owner, I don't let the longer-term prospect affect me emotionally," he explained. "I look at the day to day and I take it day by day, and so it helps me compartmentalize all of the volume."

This balanced perspective—being strategic about the future while remaining present-focused—has allowed Rapczynski to make calm, rational decisions even during turbulent times. Combined with his emphasis on process, quality, and people, it forms the foundation of an adaptability that has carried Sleeping Dog Properties through changing markets and positioned it for continued success.