When something goes wrong at home, knowing who to call can be just as challenging as fixing the problem.
ABC Home & Commercial Services learned that firsthand. When its pest-control technicians began hearing customers ask if they knew a good electrician or someone who could fix a noisy air conditioner, the family-owned company saw an opportunity. It sought to become a trusted company homeowners could call for a range of home service needs.
That idea has guided ABC from its start as a pest-control company in 1949 to a full-service provider today, with more than 600 Bryan/College Station-area specialists, organized by trade, working as a close-knit team to meet myriad homeowner needs.
How did ABC get started?
Bob Jenkins, Sr. started ABC Pest Control in 1949 in San Antonio with his wife Sandy after getting out of the U.S. Army. Over the decades, the company expanded into additional home services and Texas markets while remaining family-owned and operated.
As homeowners’ lives became busier, the value of having one trusted company capable of addressing multiple needs became increasingly apparent.
“We realized that the homeowner was often juggling more than one need at a time,” President and CEO Bobby Jenkins said. “What they really needed was someone they could trust to care for their property inside and out. We’ve seen that need become even more pronounced over the decades as life in Central Texas has gotten busier.”
That philosophy continues to guide ABC’s approach to growth. Rather than simply adding services, the company looks to build specialized teams with the licensing, training and expertise necessary to do the work well.
What services do they offer today?
ABC started with pest control in 1949 and gradually expanded as homeowners asked for help with other aspects of maintaining their properties. Today, the company offers a wide variety of home services across multiple locations in the greater region—including Bryan, College Station and more. Their comprehensive range of specialized services includes:
Pest control: Protecting homes and businesses from common pests, rodents and wildlife
HVAC: Heating, cooling and indoor air quality services
Plumbing: Repairs, installations, water treatment and related services
Electrical: Repairs, installations, safety and home technology
Lawn and landscaping: Lawn care, landscaping and irrigation services
Tree care: Tree trimming, health assessments, removal when necessary and other arborist services
Handyman: Replacing, repairing and upgrading almost anything around the home
Garage door services: Tune-ups, repairs and emergency services
Appliance repair: Servicing and repairing dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and more
Exterior cleaning: Gutter and window cleaning and power washing
Pool services: Pool cleaning, maintenance, repairs and equipment services
Commercial services: Experts in providing services to schools, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, retail environments and more.
As technology has changed how homeowners live, ABC has also invested in tools and services to address newer needs, including electric vehicle charger installations, smart whole-home electrical surge protection systems, water filtration and water-conservation solutions. Its specialists also use technology, such as thermal imaging cameras and radar to identify hidden slab leaks and moisture problems while minimizing the need to open walls.
Although expanding into new services and technologies may have changed what ABC does, it hasn’t changed how the company serves homeowners.
Why does local ownership matter?
For ABC, family ownership is fundamental to its customer-service philosophy.
Jenkins said family ownership means decisions are made locally in the best interest of customers, who are also often neighbors, rather than by a distant corporate office whose technicians may shoulder high-pressure sales quotas.
“Our specialists are empowered to give you an honest assessment and fix the problem correctly, not try to sell you something you don't need,” Jenkins said.
That local accountability also extends to the company’s hiring and training practices. ABC specialists are thoroughly background-checked, drug-tested and extensively trained to meet the standards required for their respective fields.
The goal is for homeowners to feel a sense of relief when an ABC specialist arrives because they know the person entering their home is trustworthy, a master of their craft and conscientious.
How does ABC preserve its family culture as it grows?
For ABC, growth has not meant leaving its roots behind. The company invests in its employees and maintains close-knit teams, many led by people who have been with ABC for decades.
That culture also extends into the community, with ABC supporting organizations including Caritas, Ronald McDonald House and the American Heart Association.
“What will remain unchanged is our heart,” Jenkins said. “ABC will always be a family-owned, locally accountable institution where personal relationships mean something.”
What’s next for ABC?
As ABC looks toward its next generation, Jenkins expects the tools and technology used to serve homeowners to continue evolving, including smarter diagnostic equipment, increasingly sustainable service vehicles and technologies designed to conserve energy and water.
But the purpose behind the work, he said, is expected to remain much the same as it was when ABC first began: serving the neighbors who call Central Texas home.
“Our family has been so deeply blessed by this community for over 75 years, and staying involved, whether that’s bringing families together at Zilker Park for Kite Fest or helping neighbors through hard times, is simply our responsibility,” Jenkins said. “It’s just what you do when you care about the place you call home.”
Ready to get started?
From pest control and HVAC to plumbing, electrical, pool care and beyond, ABC Home & Commercial Services provides a range of home services for Central Texas families. Homeowners can learn more about its services or connect with an ABC specialist.
Website: www.abchomeandcommercial.com/
Address: 1009 North Earl Rudder Freeway, Bryan
Phone: 512-837-9500
Hours: Available 24/7 for emergency service requests
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel, with the Community Impact Storytelling team, using information solely provided by the local business as part of its “sponsored content” purchase through our advertising team.
Frequently asked questions
What services does ABC offer in the Bryan/College Station metro area?
ABC provides a total-home solution including pest and rodent control, AC and heating repair and installation, plumbing and drain cleaning, electrical services, appliance repair, lawn care and landscaping, pool maintenance, water quality and softener solutions, handyman services, exterior cleaning, and garage door maintenance and repair.
Is ABC Home & Commercial Services still family-owned in Austin?
Yes. Unlike many local home service contractors in Central Texas that have been acquired by national private equity firms, ABC remains a locally owned, family-operated business led by owner Bobby Jenkins.
How does ABC maintain quality across so many home service lines?
Rather than acting as general contractors, ABC builds dedicated teams of licensed specialists for each trade it enters. For example, while tree care is one of ABC’s many landscaping offerings, it employs more ISA Certified Arborists than any dedicated tree care company in the state. Its teams across divisions include Texas Master Plumbers, Board Certified Entomologists and TDLR-licensed Master Electricians.
How does ABC ensure the quality and safety of its specialists?
Every ABC specialist is a direct, full-time employee who undergoes background checks and drug testing. Specialists also receive ongoing training.echnical training from in-house master tradespeople.
What is ABC’s “No Surprise Guarantee”?
ABC’s No Surprise Guarantee ensures that the flat-rate price quoted to a customer for a diagnostic, repair or installation project is the final price they pay, with no hidden fees or surprise surcharges.