Builder Stories

Meet Jeremy Maher, co-owner of Phoenix Home Remodeling in Chandler, Arizona. Jeremy's journey began after a disappointing encounter with a contractor, which motivated him to believe that he could run a contracting business more effectively. Seizing the opportunity, Jeremy, along with his former boss and the boss' brother, formed a partnership and launched a new home construction venture. With an initiative on continual improvement, Jeremy focuses his leadership on the technical side and building out processes to help the business grow. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Jeremy: Guiding the business culture from the start Making effective business decisions with partners Creating specific and well-defined roles for your team Gathering feedback and reviews from customers Constantly improving the business processes Visit the Phoenix Home Remodeling website here: https://phxhomeremodeling.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Greg Junge, owner of Greg Junge Construction based in North Carolina. As a second generation contractor, he was raised in the industry and started with kitchen and bath remodels. He now has focused his business on whole home builds with a goal of $4 to $10 million in annual sales. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Greg: Transitioning from the sub-contractor model to full time employees Adapting from the field to the office Creating processes to grow the business Investing in personal and professional development Ensuring your team feels appreciated Visit the Greg Junge Construction website here: https://jungeconstruction.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Kevin Choquette, owner of Ravin Builders a specialty deck builder located in Richmond, Rhode Island. Two years ago, Kevin made the pivotal decision to shift the focus of his company towards a single niche: boutique deck building. Little did he know that this strategic move would prove to be a game-changer, propelling his average project value from less than $40,000 to more than $160,000. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Kevin: Targeting a very specific type of project to scale the company Managing the growth of the business Tracking project costing and margins constantly Keeping your employees happy Creating a culture of reliability Visit the Ravin Builders website here: https://ravinllc.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Jordan Webb, owner of Deck Masters a thriving deck building company based in Alaska. After starting the business at 16 years old, Jordan struggled to meet the demands of running a business while actively constructing decks. Driven by personal circumstances requiring his family to relocate to Hawaii, he developed systems to remotely manage building 170 decks a year. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Jordan: Finding what motivates you in business Overcoming entrepreneurial obstacles Relying on processes for daily operations Providing a different approach to customer service Simplifying the sales process Visit the Deck Masters website here: https://deckmastersak.com/ Visit the Freedom Brothers website here: https://freedom-brothers.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Felipe Freig, owner of Versa Homes a boutique custom home builder located in British Columbia, Canada. With a captivating journey that began as a skilled tile setter and a detour into the realm of music, Felipe found his true calling when he established his renovation company in 2009. Set to do $35 million in revenue over the next three years, Felipe credits Versa Home's success to working on the business and not in it. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Felipe: Having a mentor to learn the business side of home building Transitioning from home renovations to custom home builds Realizing that quantity of jobs doesn't always equal more revenue Setting up business processes for eventual sale Focusing on video marketing Visit the Versa Homes website here: https://versahomes.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Michael Miller the owner of M3 Decks, a deck building company based in Woodinville, Washington. In business for six years, he built his company out of necessity and quickly realized he needed to better track cash flow and understand the business financials. With a goal of achieving $3 million in projects for 2024, he credits his success to a perpetual thirst for knowledge and the pursuit of finding the best way to do things. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Michael: Growing your business to meet customer needs Making sure you are paying yourself Understanding cash flow Investing in coaching programs Seeking out opportunities to learn more Visit the M3 Decks website here: https://www.m3decks.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Ben Schneider the owner of Peak Sodding, a niche landscape company based in North Carolina. Started in 2019 at the age of 21, Ben saw there was an opportunity to specialize in providing sod for landscaping jobs. Drawn to entrepreneurship at an early age, Ben had to learn on the go as he was building the company. From tracking KPIs to planning out your cash flow with a cyclical business, Ben has figured out vital business processes to streamline his operations. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Ben: Learning how to manage business finances Shifting from employees to subcontractor labor Avoiding the comparison game Planning goals with a cyclical business Creating a service oriented culture and empowering employees Visit the Peak Sodding website here: https://peaksodding.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Matt Blood the solo owner operator of Paragon Tile Installation based in Cumberland, Rhode Island. With over 20 years of experience in the tile industry, Matt initially started his business as a side hustle while working as a full-time firefighter. However, upon retiring from his firefighting career, he dedicated himself fully to his passion. Now he's learning how to refine his sales process to provide a better overall client experience. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Matt: Learning from coaching groups Getting out of your own way Refining the client communication process Developing a process for pricing jobs Finding a niche for your skill Visit the Paragon Tile Installation website here: https://paragonri.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet David Bryan owner of Blackdog Builders a design, build, and remodel firm based in Salem, New Hampshire. With 33 years of business experience and 65 team members, Blackdog Builders is projecting $16 million in revenue this year. David reflects on closing his first business, why he places a huge emphasis on culture and staff appreciation, and the importance of building out your processes and procedures. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with David: Learning how to run a business the hard way Listening to those who have more experience Maintaining a team culture to retain employees Being financially transparent with your team Developing a process and procedure for everything you do Visit the Black Dog Builders website here https://www.blackdogbuilders.com/. Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Liliana Escudero, president of J Designs Pool & Spa, a boutique pool building company in Los Angeles, California. Their typical build is between $350k - $500k and they do not take on more than 10 projects a year in order to focus on excellent customer service. Liliana believes that it is important to learn your trade, find mentors, and stay on top of new technologies in order to keep growing your business. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Liliana: Working with family members Building out a tech stack for your company Learning how to import custom materials Scaling so you work on the business not in the business Building a strong relationship with subs Visit the J Designs Pool & Spa website here https://www.jdesigns.com/ Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com