10 Questions With Mitch Kalmus of Meck Brothers Construction

Mitch Kalmus, owner of Meck Brother's Home Improvement and Construction, has learned in his 26 years of business that pleasing the client comes first and foremost. Through open communication with clients, his team of highly skilled professionals and a business model surrounding persistence and evolution, Kalmus is successfully providing personalized home remodeling services to clients in the New Jersey area.

Patch caught up with Kalmus to learn more about Meck Brother's business and specialties, as well as some helpful tips for homeowners looking to remodel.

Patch: What is the Meck Brother’s definition of success?

Kalmus: As owner of Meck Brother’s Home Improvement & Construction, it is my belief that our success is measured in terms of reviews and referrals. Not only do I take great pride in my customer’s complete satisfaction, but my entire team does as well. I have an absolutely terrific team that is very dedicated in not only pleasing our clients but also in doing the quote-unquote right thing by our clients. Many times doing the right thing for the client is not always doing the right thing by the company’s bottom line.

Patch: Tell us about the Meck Brother’s Home Improvement beginnings. How was the business founded?

Kalmus: The company was originally founded by my stepbrother, Ed, and myself. Meck is a combination of both our initials. Ed and I were estranged for many years. Several years ago we found our way back to one another and became best friends. However, we were both at turning points in our lives, and just a few weeks after a short conversation on a Sunday afternoon at our nephew’s birthday party, I telephoned Ed and asked him if he wanted to do a small job with me. Ed’s response was, “Sure I can take a few weeks off from my NYC union job.” Believe it or not, Ed did not go back, as that job smoothly transitioned into the next job and the next job and so on. Over the next few years we built a great team. However, sadly in June of 2015, Ed decided to leave the team. Today, I am the sole owner of the company and run all day-to-day operations with my right-hand man, Jason Dahlin (Project Manager).

Patch: Tell us about the Meck Brother’s team.

Kalmus: The Meck Brother’s team consist of myself as well as several highly skilled craftsmen each with their own unique individual expertise and skill set. Though I personally know how to do just about everything we do, it is my belief that what makes a great company is first a strong leader. In order to become a strong leader one must surround him/herself with only the most talented individuals. With that said, Meck Brother’s has a team that consists of two master trim carpenters, a framing carpenter, a sheetrock/spackler, two tile installers, an electrician, a plumber, a painter, an exterior specialist, as well as several apprentices.

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Patch: What questions should a homeowner ask when seeking to remodel, replace or install?

Kalmus: Far too many homeowners are either uneducated about how to properly select a home improvement contractor or are caught up in the impulsivity of getting the work done in their home. However, it is most important to carefully screen contractors prior to hiring them. First and foremost in the state of New Jersey, a contractor must be licensed with the Division of Consumer Affairs and provide their license along with their estimate/proposal to the home owner. Second, the contractor must be fully insured. All contractors must have liability insurance in order to be in good standing and operate within the state of New Jersey. Next, if the contractor has employees, he/she must have each and every employee covered under New Jersey State Workers Compensation Insurance. With that said, the homeowner should ask upon first meeting if the contractor is indeed licensed, has liability insurance and if they can have their insurance agent provide a certificate of liability insurance. As a homeowner, do not rely on your own knowledge. Getting an estimate is more than just getting the best price, it is an interview for who might be best suited to complete the job. I am very upfront with the homeowner. If they are simply after the lowest price, then Meck Brother’s may not be the company for them. I try to educate homeowners as to what they need and want.

Patch: Tell us about the services in which Meck Brother’s specializes.

Kalmus: Meck Brother’s specializes in kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, finished basements, deck construction, deck remodeling featuring maintenance-free composite decking, replacement windows, doors, trim and additions, though there may seem like there is a variation in the services, as kitchens/bathrooms and finished basements all share the same skill set and expertise. In the years 2015/16 we remodeled 79 bathrooms, 17 kitchens and six basements. However, if you were to ask my guys what they their favorite job is most of them will say decks, as they are outside in the sun. Any carpenter can build a wood deck, but it takes a talented trim carpenter to build or remodel a deck using composite materials.

Patch: Meck Brother’s Home Improvement is based in Long Valley. How did you come to select this location?

Kalmus: This is simple. I have lived here in Long Valley for the past 17 years, and there is a saying when you start any sort of business, "Market to your friends, family and neighbors otherwise known as your Sphere of Influence." This is what I did. For that reason alone, I love this town. Our office is conveniently located in the Valley Professional Center at 59 E. Mill Road, and our shop is just 2 miles away.

Patch: Meck Brother’s prides itself on its dedication to client satisfaction. How does the company ensure this?

Kalmus: This is a question that I believe I pretty much answered in many of the previous questions, however one comment many of my clients tell me they are impressed with is our communication. From the time of the estimate straight through the completion of the job, I believe in communication. I not only deliver my estimates in a timely fashion but I follow-up. Once hired, I have an open line of communication. If for some reason our paths do not cross, I will send you daily/weekly updates as to what we finished and what's to come in the upcoming days/week. I am also not shy about asking a question to make sure we complete the job to your total satisfaction. In addition, you have full access to talk to my project managers, Jason, John or Tommy.

Patch: How does Meck Brother’s maintain a competitive edge?

Kalmus: I have just two words: “persistence and evolution." As the owner, I am persistent in everything I do. I advertise, I follow up, I educate myself and my team. I openly discuss new concepts with my team. I continuously evolve and strive for better.

Patch: What is the outlook for the future of Meck Brother’s?

Kalmus: This is a tough question to answer. Of course I’d love to be overly confident and cocky and say we are looking to double our sales and production over the next three to five years. However, I am a realist. Like large business, smaller businesses such as ours are very reliant on economic trends. If times are good, homeowners and families are looking to remodel and upgrade. Unfortunately, with the downturn of the economy those same people are simply looking to maintain and fix the existing. Naturally we all love to sell fun, exciting projects that people love, but as I said, I am a realist, and as I mentioned in the previous question I continuously evolve. Evolution in business is not always about growing and making money but at times just surviving and feeding our employees and families. However, my outlook for Meck Brother’s Home Improvement & Construction for the short term economic future is quite bright.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about Meck Brother’s Home Improvement & Construction?

Kalmus: Great question. Visit us online at MeckBrothers.com, like our Facebook page or simply call our office at (908) 955-8250.

Image Credit: Meck Brother's Home Improvement and Construction

This Patch article is sponsored by Meck Brother's Home Improvement and Construction.