Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin and Sara Shipp.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
“Being the son of a plumber/craftsmen, I was introduced to the construction world at a very young age. I watched and learned along the way, taking notes on aspects I liked and disliked in the construction industry. I then decided to step out on my own and developed my own general contracting company compiled with all the years of knowledge and have been successfully fulfilling my dream of building a business for the last decade and a half. It was five years ago when Sara and I started dating that she slowly took on more and more roles at meridian to help me grow the business. We’ve developed systems + processes and Meridian is the well oiled machine it is today because of our teamwork. ” – Justin
“I saw that Meridian could use a woman’s touch and slowly let Justin pass me tasks taking more and more off his plate and presenting new + fresh ideas. I came from a background in events so it was no different learning how to manage plumbing, electrician + tile subcontractors vs. florists, photographers + catering companies! I am SO grateful we get to run a business together, be around for our daughter and get to hang out literally 24/7. The construction game + working with your spouse is not for the weak hearted, but I can’t imagine this ride with anyone else. We balance each other out and make an amazing team!” – Sara
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The construction industry is a challenging beast! There was a lot of hard work and making ends meet when I was first getting started, navigating this business and how to work with subcontractors + homeowners + employees . . . but since then I have learned a lot, spent a lot on education and expanding my knowledge of the industry and feel we are in a position finally where we completely understand our market.
A constant struggle we will have is the misconception of how much an actual remodel costs and the time it takes to complete. HGTV has skewed the minds of the average homeowner that a bathroom remodel can take place in 5 -7 days and costs them approximately $10k. We do enjoy the opportunity to explain to clients and educate them on what n actual remodel costs/takes to complete.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Meridian Design Construction – what should we know?
Meridian Design Construction is a full-service design/build company that works closely with our clients from the beginning design phases all the way through future maintenance/upgrades. We specialize in whole home remodels where we move walls, add square footage, completely gut and renovate the existing space to make it our clients dream home. Both of us are designers and we work with our clients while in the planning phase of architects/draftsmen to help with cost control on the project and make all material selections.
What sets us apart from almost all the general contractors in the area is the software we use and the level of communication we provide. No other construction company (that we know of) in this area is using this level of technology in their businesses and this puts us leaps + bounds above the average remodeling contractor in the area. We have also recently won two national awards and we have all five-star reviews on multiple platforms (Google, Yelp, Houzz, guild quality).
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
A very large part of Meridain Design Construction and our business philosophy is that we donate at least 1% of our gross revenue back into our community. Our recent monthly checks have gone to supporting organizations like Ventura Land Trust + Ojai Valley Land Conservancy in an effort to raise awareness about environmental issues. In the past, we’ve donated directly to families in need, animal shelters, education and many, many more!
We are currently in the idea phase of finding an individual or family that is in need of a remodel due to handicap issues. Something along the lines of making a kitchen or bathroom more accessible for everyday use. I have this master plan to get our subcontractors + community + other local organizations involved to accomplish this gift for someone . . . but with our baby girl due any day – I have not had the time to execute it yet! If you are reading this article and want to be involved/have ideas, get in touch!
Pricing:
- Whole Home Remodel $250k – $350k
- Kitchen Remodel $65k
- Bathroom Remodel $40k
Contact Info:
- Address: 1090 East Front Street
Suite A Ventura, California 93001 - Website: www.mdcbuilds.com
- Phone: 805.340.9777
- Email: hello@mdcbuilds.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meridiandesignconstruction/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/meridian-design-construction-ventura
- Other: https://www.remodeling.hw.net/big50/2018/meridian-design-construction
Image Credit:
Wedding Photo – Teri Kramer Photography; Project Photos – UpMarket Photography (Mark Cochran)
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