The Value of Personal Attention

story by JENNIFER BROWN-CARPENTER

In a world full of companies prioritizing volume over quality, David Summerall is taking a different road. At Summerall Custom Construction you won’t be “one of many” names on a set of plans, you will know exactly who you’re working with at all times, and maybe even more important, the owner, David Summerall will know exactly who you are and what’s happening with your job.

David limits the number of projects he takes on and is personally involved with every phase through completion. In fact, he is so committed to his involvement, he even provides clients with his personal cell phone number so they can reach him at all times.

David’s “less is more” philosophy is showcased in how he runs his business every single day. Prioritizing attention to detail and efficiency, David only runs a few jobs at a time. This allows him to provide higher quality work to his customers and enables him to visit each of his job sites every single day. This atypical approach is in stark contrast to the majority of other builders who rely on others to monitor and maintain their projects.

“My goal was never to take over the world. I saw an opportunity to offer a better service and have had a very positive response from my customers.”
Throughout his career, David worked for some larger construction companies in the area. He enjoyed the work, but not the disconnect of having so many jobs happening at once. He felt he did not have the time or resources to give 110% to each project or the attention that every client deserves. All of this combined led David to open Summerall Custom Construction in December of 2018.

David and his crew work on residential jobs, ranging from remodels to new construction, as well as commercial work. While acquiring a residential license is no small task, the real achievement is the commercial license. The documents necessary are more intense, and the test is much harder to complete. David proudly holds both licenses, although his passion is for the residential build. He also never has more than two large jobs going at once.
One of the reasons David limits the projects he takes on is because it allows him to be fully focused and to prevent error on the job, as well as gives him plenty of time to spend with his wife, Alison, and 4-year-old son, Beau.

David is the main and only point of contact for his customers. He’s a self-proclaimed “one-man-show.” This is important for David, not only to provide exceptional work but to create long-lasting relationships with his customers. He knows that having a personal relationship with the “boss” of the company gives his customers a real sense of security.

Not only does this type of business model develop relationships and provide security for the customers, but it means that David is also creating relationships with the different tradespeople that are also working at his job sites. “I can’t go anywhere without seeing at least 3 or 4 people that I know, and that’s exactly the way I want to conduct my business.”

One of the great things about working in a trade job is the ability to see the difference your work has made. David loves being able to drive by houses he has built or remodeled for families. To be able to see the mark you make in your work creates a real sense of pride, as well as a feeling of responsibility for those you serve.

David has no plans to change his way of doing business. He wants to work hard and well, deliver high-quality work, and cultivate personal relationships with his clients, showing them the value of personal attention.