As part of celebrating Sandmark’s 30th anniversary, we’re taking a trip back to where it all began. We recently came across this newspaper feature written about Mark just a few years after moving to the Outer Banks—and it’s amazing how much of it still rings true today.
From The Archives: The Man Behind the Circular Sign
Who is Mark Martin? This particular Mark Martin does not drive on the NASCAR circuit, although he is a fan of the one who does. This Mark Martin is the driving force behind Sandmark Construction. This Mark Martin moved to the Outer Banks in August of 1996 and was selected as the Outer Banks Home Builders Association’s “Builder of the Year” in 1998. So how does the new guy on the block gain such an honor in two short years of residency and building on the Outer Banks?
If we asked Mark to answer that question, he would shrug it off, and credit his achievement to the high caliber of his subcontractors. His conversation would then highlight his son’s and daughter’s accomplishments and activities, and then finish up with comments about his wife’s constant support. So, in order to find the real story of Mark Martin and Sandmark Construction’s quick climb to success, this author has chosen to let the facts stand alone.
Mark, a graduate of George Mason University, and his wife, Sandy, had vacationed on the Outer Banks for ten years before deciding that it was the place they really wanted to call home.
Upon reaching that conclusion, they sold their home in Centreville, Virginia, and began construction on their home in Southern Shores. Mark worked on the new house on weekends while finishing his construction projects in Reston and other areas of Northern Virginia.
In about six months their home was complete and when the 1997 Parade of Homes came around, Mark, who was a member of the Outer Banks Home Builders Association by that time, entered it in the competition. He will be quick to tell you that today he is still signing building contracts with people who visited his home in 1997. Those who were not then ready to build, but who were pleased with what they saw, have now called on him to build or remodel their homes.
So, can we now assume his success was due simply to joining the local HBA and putting his new house in the Parade of Homes? Not quite! This is where we have to get up close and personal. Despite the formidable challenge of re-establishing his business in a new location, he became active with the Outer Banks Home Builders Association, racking up a record of service on the Board as a director in 1997; Director and Chairman of the Parade of Homes Committee in 1998; Director, Chairman of the Remodelers Council, and Chairman of the Parade of Homes Committee in 1999. Is this kind of service the key to success? Only partially.
To Mark Martin part of moving to a new area is becoming a member of that community, it’s more than simply putting a name on a mailbox. Being a real part of a community translates to giving back in some way for the greater good of the area and its citizens. His service with Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and volunteering as an assistant coach and Boy Scout leader in his son’s activities show his commitment to the community. Additionally, when Mark hears of someone who needs a hand, he’s there to help, whether it’s moving furniture, cleaning up after a fire, or just pitching in to help complete a project.
Having painted a relatively comprehensive picture of the man behind the Sandmark sign, it is fairly simple to demonstrate how he applies his personal core values to his operation of Sandmark Construction. Mark’s portfolio is filled with unsolicited letters from satisfied owners of new homes and remodeling projects. Time and again these letters stress the clients’ gratitude for his professionalism, integrity, craftsmanship, ability to communicate, and attention to detail. In the words of one client, “It is refreshing to come across a builder who builds each home as if it were his own.”
Sandmark Construction’s stated mission is to build a high-quality home at a reasonable cost, whether a year-round residence, vacation home, rental cottage, or investment property while forging a builder-client relationship based on trust and open communication. Additionally, Sandmark Construction specializes in large remodeling projects under the same mission guidelines.
But back to our question, Who is Mark Martin? There may be more than one answer. Simply put, Mark Martin is Sandmark Construction, but the best answer may be someone you need to talk to before you plan to build a new home or move forward with plans to remodel your existing one.