Buccheri and Home Services by LBR: More than plumbing

In an industry often defined by pipes, pressure, and problem-solving, Buccheri (now part of Home Services by LBR) stands apart by focusing on something deeper: people.

Buccheri and Home Services by LBR is a locally-owned, full-service plumbing company offering everything from water heater installation and repair to pumps, maintenance, and comprehensive residential plumbing solutions. Built on reliability and expertise, the company has earned a reputation for showing up when it matters most.

But for the owners, Wolfgang and Michael, the business is about more than plumbing. It’s about building their local community.

Through the company, they are developing initiatives aimed at supporting local workforce growth, from creating pathways for high school students interested in trade careers to helping experienced plumbers transition toward retirement with dignity and stability. Their focus remains firmly on community—supporting local talent, strengthening the trades, and preserving the identity of a locally owned business in an increasingly corporate landscape.

Q&A with Michael Weiner

Q: Your company has deep roots in the community. How do you try to contribute to strengthening the local trades and supporting the next generation of skilled workers?

A: We believe that our industry is a great opportunity for the next generation growing up in our area. Our leadership team is constantly working with local initiatives to develop the next generation of trade workers. I helped launch an initiative bringing career awareness to HS students about the different types of trade careers, as well as work with Soulful Synergy who train members of underserved communities for “day 1” skills for HVAC, construction, electrical, and plumbing careers.

Q: You’ve mentioned creating a pathway to retirement for plumbers. Can you explain that?

A: We want to keep the great local plumbing businesses local. Many of the owners are not doing what they do for the paycheck, but for their teammates who have worked with them for 20+ years. We believe by partnering with us, we can help make the last years of their career exponentially more enjoyable and less stressful, not only helping them get the monetary value of their hard work growing their business, but also ensuring their great team remain in caring local hands. The real bonus for us is helping the plumbers find joy in training and teaching the next generation of plumbers the beauty of our trade.

Q: There’s a growing trend of outside private equity firms entering the home services space. Why is maintaining a strong local identity important to you?

A: Maintaining a strong local identity isn't just a marketing line for us. We're not a branch office or a portfolio company—we live here, our kids go to the same schools yours do, our technicians have coached Little League and volunteer in the community. When a customer calls at 2 a.m. because a pipe burst, they're calling neighbors who care about keeping water out of their basement, not a call center halfway across the country.

Being locally owned means every decision we make puts our customers and this community first. Pricing is straightforward and competitive because we don't have to cover layers of corporate overhead or private-equity debt service. And when we finish a job, we stand behind it 100%—our reputation in town is our only real marketing budget.

Now, contrast that with the private equity firms rolling up home services. Their business model is crystal clear: buy up local companies, roll them into a bigger platform, cut costs aggressively to hit quarterly numbers, and sell for a profit in three to seven years. Their first loyalty is to distant investors who want a strong return on investment.

We don't have investors demanding an exit strategy. Every dollar we earn either goes back into hiring more local people, supporting and getting involved with the local community. When you choose us, you're keeping money and jobs in the community that raised us.

Q: You’re also working on initiatives for high school students interested in the trades. What does that program involve, and why is it so important to invest in young people early?

A: Great question here, this one is has a personal sentiment to me: One program I work on is all about showing kids, “Hey, the trades doesn’t mean your turning a wrench the rest of your life for nothing.” It is so important to me personally that kids don’t shy away from the trade because they think it means plunging toilets till you retire, sure that might be the beginning, but it could lead to starting a new business or showcasing products for a mfg. You aren’t stuck wearing work boots for the rest of your life.   

Buccheri and Home Services by LBR welcomes individuals and local businesses alike to explore opportunities for collaboration or to learn more about the transition pathways available through Home Services by LBR—continuing the company’s mission of supporting both people and the future of the trades.