Nightmare Turned Into Sweet Dreams

Murphy’s Law states, “What can go wrong will go wrong.” That was the case with Brandon and Sherri Wilson’s new home in Midland, N.C. The couple’s original August 2006 occupancy date came and went—without even the framing being finished. “And then, one year into building our custom home,“ recalls Brandon, “our builder suddenly passed away.”

The couple contacted other builders for help but found no takers until they met Joe Balich of Meridian DesignBuild Ltd., a remodeling contractor and custom home builder based in Mint Hill. Balich began his career as a Boston carpenter and, having cut his teeth on historic renovations, “I was used to coming into a project and having to deal with whatever I found there.” Later he obtained a Massachusetts contractors license, branched out into residential remodeling and custom home construction, and then brought those skills to Charlotte in 1990.

His nearly 30 years of experience in renovation, remodeling, and custom homes served Balich well in turning the Wilsons’ nightmare into sweet dreams. “After the shock of the previous builder’s death,” Brandon remembers, “we were at a loss. Joe immediately put our minds at ease. He corrected mistakes that had already been made on the project and then improved our home in ways we never would have asked—all on time and within budget.“

In fact, the Wilsons now see their nightmare in a new light. “As we sit in the home of our dreams,“ he relates, “we think the way things happened was a blessing in disguise.“ Though their trial is unusual, the couples’ desire for a dream home is shared by families across the Charlotte metro area. To realize their dreams, Balich reports that many homeowners are opting to remodel their current dwellings, by making over their kitchens and bathrooms or by building additions.

“Since new homes are overbuilt in some areas and aren’t getting top dollar for resale,” Balich relates, “baby boomers are saying, ‘I like my current house and neighborhood. So let’s just redo the house to fit our current lifestyle.’’’ To accomplish the job, Meridian employs a “design/build” approach to construction. Rather than doing design and construction under separate agreements, the method brings the two functions together from the start of the project. “That way,” Balich explains, “we ensure the design can be built cost-effectively and provide you with a realistic budget and schedule.”

Balich advises homeowners that, when contractors see a client is getting a reasonable number of estimates from experienced firms, “then the builder knows you’re serious.” For his part, “I like it when customers educate themselves and conduct phone interviews with prospective builders. It shows me the project isn’t just a contract but a partnership.”

To get ideas for your next remodeling project see the Meridian DesignBuild gallery of additions, kitchens, and bathrooms at www.meridiannc.com or call 704-241-7353.