Diane Menke quoted in Inc. Magazine;
Drive Blog Loyalty by The Internet Strategist Maisha Walker
Diane says, “I love reading Maisha’s Helpful tips for small business on the use of social media. There is a lot to know and learn. Maisha makes it simple for non tech people like me. Inc. Magazine has been a real help to our small business as we strengthen and grow it. Thanks to Inc. Magazine and Maisha Walker!”
Myers Constructs, Inc., does things differently than other folks in remodeling and renovations: We run an organized business. One way we keep things organized is with meetings.
Each Monday at 7:30 a.m., everyone involved in production at our company meets at our office. At this meeting, we look at the next several weeks of projects. We discuss what company resources are needed where and when. Notes for several projects running at the same time are made on our office white board, office calendars and the field crew’s work calendars. Our field crews then work from these. This is the same meeting where the field crews hand in their time sheets and other paperwork they are responsible for.
At these weekly meetings, we also discuss any issues or problems we have encountered. A big part of what we all do is problem solving. We have a lot of experience doing it, and we enjoy the process. Knowing this allows our customers — homeowners like you — to relax.
Our Design to Build™ system works to take the chaos out of your renovation projects. We’d rather not get up at “0′dark-hundred” to get to an early meeting on a Monday. But that’s what it takes to make a project run smoothly.
When Tamara and I tell folks what we do for a living, they generally picture us walking around in tool belts all day. For us, as the owners of Myers Constructs, Inc., this has not been the case for more than a decade. In reality, it’s our crews who wear the tool belts now.
Tamara and I are busy every day managing the company. We work in the office selling projects, planning projects, and, like most other small business owners, working to keep cash flowing through the company. We spend a lot of time in front of computers with spreadsheets and CAD programs. We also spend a lot of time talking to customers about their projects.
Last night, I got a text message at an odd hour. I generally let these off-hour calls and messages roll into the next workday. But I took a look at the message anyway, as I was pouring myself a glass of wine. Here is what it said:
“Had a dryer fire @ home…”
At Myers Constructs, Inc., we believe a business that is healthy can do a better job for its customers, employees and community. This is one of the core values of our company. Everyone here works toward the goal of making our small business a healthy, long-lived one, so it can serve everyone it touches better.
In February, Tamara Myers and Diane Menke will attend a series of Small Business Strategic Planning Workshops presented by the Wharton Small Business Development Center. Check in with our website as we give updates on what new business strategies we will be developing.
There are a surprising number of similarities between life-partner relationships and contractor-client relationships. Both require good communication and problem-solving skills, and both can go off-track if not tended closely. When you add to the mix the fact that you work with both your life partner and your contractor at the same time, things can really get hairy. Read on for some tips on how to keep the love in this union and maintain a “dreamy” relationship with your design-build contractor.
Recently Russell Mahrt II from GuidetothetheMainLine.com interviewed our company for inclusion in his on line “neighborhood” called “Guide to the Main Line”. Here is his profile of our company in full. Enjoy!
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Main Line Newsletter November 13, 2009
GuidetotheMainLine.com
Guide to the Main Line Profile:
Myers Constructs
I was introduced to Myers Constructs Inc. by Megan Carr at Allied Mortgage Group (610-660-4710) in Bala Cynwyd. Megan is a top Main Line mortgage provider with wonderful mortgage products including home improvement loans. One of the more popular programs is a mortgage available for purchases or refinances where the home improvement costs are included in new loan. It is a great option for Realtors and home contractors and Megan had recently met with Myers Constructs. She liked the replica handbags very much. And she was impressed by the work they were doing and suggested that I should meet them.
I have to say, I’ve never understood why people buy residential remodeling projects from people who are not domestic. There are scores of contractors and builders in the business who can handle the technical aspects, the nuts and bolts, of home renovation – but it ends there. They don’t understand the finer points of home renovation, including how homeowner emotions are so closely tied to how a home looks, feels and operates. I like thinking of this as the “soft touch” aspect of the business.
Remodeling is a very complicated business in which it’s very difficult to be successful. Each project is custom, which means there are unlimited ways for a company to make a mistake and lose money. And a company that loses money will not be in business very long. A contractor in trouble may even go out of business on your project or, worse, entangle your home in their business quagmires with liens or other legal problems.
Most home-renovation buyers have heard about multiple bids. Lots of people will tell you that you should collect three bids from contractors when you are considering a remodeling project. Is this even good advice?
“Bidding” means that contractors involved in that process are trying to find the cheapest way to complete your project so they will be awarded the job. Do you think these guys are going to bring care, consideration or thoughtfulness to your project? Will they go beyond code to do something “right” not just get it done? More than likely, they will bid low to be awarded the project, then tack on lots of extras as the project develops. In the end, conflicts and arguments arise from the bid process.