builder - ME Whittaker Builders, Inc.

Builderprofile
(l-r) Penny and Mark Whittaker
W
hether their remodeling project is as small as a new closet
or as extensive as a two-story addition, a homeowner usually
looks forward to the results but not the renovation process.
Clients working with M.E. Whittaker enjoy a rare advantage; not only do
they end up with a home that’s functional and beautiful -- they also have
an easy construction experience.
“When we work with a customer, we may be in their house for months,
so it’s really important that they have a good experience all the way
through,” explains Mark Whittaker, president of M.E. Whittaker Builders,
Inc.
“We have carpenters on staff that understand how to communicate with
a client who is there with their family possibly all day during construction,”
he says. “They understand how to keep the house clean and how to
make it safe every day while they’re doing the work.”
M. E. Whittaker is a highly versatile design, building and remodeling
company that can complete everything from replacing windows to
building a million dollar house. Headquartered in northwest Columbus,
the company builds and remodels homes throughout central Ohio.
Whittaker, who started his business 29 years ago, works closely with
his wife, Penny Whittaker, vice president of M.E. Whittaker Builders, Inc.
Together, the two are the heart of a very hands-on family business -- and
the core of a team that builds strong connections with their clients.
“This is our company so we’re really invested in it,” says Penny. “We
want our clients to be happy -- really happy. It’s not just a job.”
M.E. Whittaker’s team also includes longtime employees who are
deeply committed to the company and its clients. These include their
project manager/lead carpenter who has been with them since the
company was founded, another lead carpenter who has been with them
for more than a dozen years and an office manager who has worked with
them for 19 years.
“There’s consistency because we are a team that hasn’t been broken
up, we’re all on the same page,” says Mark.
M.E. Whittaker performs both interior and exterior renovations
including additions; kitchen, bath, lower level and master suite remodels;
sunrooms and screened porches. On every project, they draw on their
extensive experience to problem solve and create seamless work.
The company has the distinction of being a Pella Certified Contractor,
and they often do Pella window replacements.
Flair for design
The Whittakers start any project by sitting down with their clients for an
in-depth discussion. “Anything that would involve design -- that’s where
we would get started,” says Mark. “Usually everything has to start with
design.”
For the Whittakers, design is a natural starting place: both Mark and
Penny have a good eye and a powerful ability to improve the look of any
space.
To keep projects running smoothly and cohesively, most
of the company’s design work is done in-house. “We’re the
filtering system from a design standpoint,” says Mark. “We’re
very much involved in the design aspect.”
As the design evolves, the Whittakers help their clients
visualize how their project will look. Says Mark: “We try to make
sure our clients are comfortable with what they’re seeing and
they understand it.”
To assist clients in making product selections that will function
well, fit into their budgets and also look stellar in their new space,
Penny, who has interior design experience, provides a unique
--
service: she takes them shopping. “I’ll meet them at all the supply houses
and make their selections with them. I know all of the products well and
I guide them.”
hardscape features -- and he took that talent out on his own when he
started M.E. Whittaker in 1982. Mark is so adept at construction that
he also provides value engineering consultation services to real estate
professionals and architects, as well as project development services for
DIY homeowners.
Penny, who is from the Cleveland area, worked as a high school home
economics teacher and then ran her own custom window treatment
business before joining Mark in M. E. Whittaker. “I enjoy the relationships
I have with my clients,” she says. “I like seeing the projects when they’re
completed and I like to go back after people have lived in it for a while
and see the design, the functionality of it, and how they live in it.”
Throughout their 29 years in business, M. E. Whittaker has been able
to create a business largely based on referrals because of their strong
track record and enthusiastic clientele.
Mark, Penny and the rest of the M.E. Whittaker team create close
relationships with their clients. The company’s files are packed with letters
from homeowners who not only love the way their projects turned out - they also loved working with the Whittakers and their staff. The letters
often mention the friendliness of company personnel, their reliability and
hard work, their accessibility, and the harmony homeowners felt from the
M.E. Whittaker crew, even while their houses were torn up.
“It’s hugs goodbye, and
whenever we see them
again,” says Penny. “We
get people at the end
that will say, ‘we’re so
happy with the quality of
our new space, it’s really
been fun, we enjoyed
the process from start to
finish.’”
Attention to detail
Even before M.E. Whittaker begins construction, their attention to
detail comes into play. To set a solid foundation M.E. Whittaker creates
clear, detailed project proposals and contracts. M.E. Whittaker makes
sure all the elements tie together so there are no surprises during the
process.
“We want everything worked out ahead of time so when we start
we have a minimal amount of stoppages or redirections,” says Mark.
“We have what it takes to take a potentially chaotic process and keep it
orderly and efficient.”
Additionally when the company creates construction elements, they
make sure the details are solid. Well-crafted carpentry is a company
hallmark, and M.E. Whittaker even has its own woodshop where their
carpenters make everything from mantels to trim.
Says Mark: “I like things to have clean lines and be beautifully
carpentered. I built the business based on things being done correctly,
not just in the end but all the way through the process.”
Once the remodeling work begins, M.E. Whittaker goes the extra
mile to make sure the process is as easy for a family to live through as
possible. Whether it’s creating a temporary setup to ease homeowners
through a kitchen update, being careful not to let an escape-prone pet
run out an open door or thoroughly cleaning up the work site -- company
personnel create strategies to help homeowners.
Another way the company makes construction easier: they keep
communication channels open. M.E. Whittaker makes sure that people
can reach them easily. Homeowners don’t get stuck in voicemail -- the
company’s phones are answered in person by their longtime office
manager and clients have the project managers’ cell phone numbers.
Solid team
Originally
from
Worthington,
Mark started out in the landscaping
business. He quickly learned that
he enjoyed carpentry and creating
At a Glance
BIA Involvement
• Member since 1994
Other Distinctions
• Remodelers Advantage MVP Award
• Pella Certified Contractor
• A-plus Better Business Bureau Rating
• Architectural Certificate of Merit for
Worthington historic district home, 2008
• Top 25 List, Business First Remodelers
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Contact M. E. Whittaker at 1005 Old
Henderson Road, Columbus, OH 43220, (614)
459-8904, mark@mewhittaker.com or penny@
mewhittaker.com or visit www.mewhittaker.com