When Disaster Strikes Twice, a Local Wick Builder Finds a Way
“You’ve got to be kidding!”
Those were the first words out of Kim Gee’s mouth after she received an unexpected call from her client, Marty of M&T Trucking.
Kim, the owner of Gee Building Systems, had just been informed by Marty that his garage had burned down after one of the semi-trailers stored in the building had caught fire. But that wasn’t what surprised Kim. After all, accidents happen.
What shocked her was that she and Marty had recently placed an order to rebuild that garage after it had received significant damage from a tornado. That included a large order of new steel, new doors, and everything needed to replace one of the end walls that had been destroyed.
At that point, a builder working within a big-box system might have walked away from the project, considering it too big a hassle. But Kim isn’t just any builder. She’s a local Wick builder, and Marty lives near her.
Instead of walking away from a complicated situation, Kim helped turn a setback into an opportunity for Marty’s business.
What the Owner Wanted
Marty needed a new building. Fast.
After the fire, he quickly found a new site to construct a completely new building. Both Kim and Marty admitted they were a little spooked by the bad luck the previous location seemed to carry. Working closely together, they developed plans for an entirely new facility that could accommodate Marty’s semi-truck service.
“Kim did a great job of getting us going,” Marty said. “I think she might have even put us ahead of some people because winter was coming, and trucks don’t start in the wintertime. I had nowhere to go, and she got it going.”
One of the keys to Marty’s success was having a building that allowed his semi trucks to be stored in a protected interior environment. Based in Iowa, winters can be brutal, and summers can bring unexpected tornadoes and windstorms. The building needed to protect both the trucks and the business from whatever the weather delivered.
But the new building would do more than help Marty survive a difficult situation. It would also help him grow.
What Was Special About the Building
Kim often notes that one of the biggest mistakes customers make is undersizing their buildings. For Marty’s new facility, she designed a 51′ x 136′ building that would allow the business to expand in several ways.
With the additional space, Marty created a service area where a subcontractor now performs rig repairs. That addition created a new revenue stream alongside his existing trucking operation.
The building also includes a separate office area with space for administrative work, along with an air-conditioned break room for employees that includes shower facilities.
“She made it very easy. She told me what she could do — I don’t remember her saying she couldn’t do anything,” Marty said. “She wanted to make sure we were taken care of.”
Making that happen was not particularly easy at the time. The tornado that damaged Marty’s original building had also affected more than 30 other buildings in the area. Despite the workload, Kim understood what the new building meant for her neighbor’s business and worked to keep the project moving forward.
Buildings and Relationships That Stand the Test of Time
Marty was fortunate that he had already begun working with Kim before disaster struck. Other builders he had worked with in the past simply could not match her responsiveness or personal approach.
“Other builders weren’t as personal,” Marty said. “They were more expensive. And they were way out on the building time. I really liked her. She told me what she could, and how she could do it, and what she could do.”
Marty also notes that he can call Kim any time of the day or night, and she will send a crew to help with whatever he needs or answer any questions he may have. If she doesn’t know the answer right away, she will research it and send him an email once she finds it.
“The relationship with your builder is very important,” Marty said. “They know what you want, and they get it done.”
That’s the kind of relationship Kim Gee and local builders deliver to their clients. No matter the circumstances, they are there for their neighbors. And that’s why the buildings they construct last as long as the relationships they build.
Interested in a project like this? Find a builder in your area!
