The Story Behind Sandmark
Chapter One: It Started with a Dream
Thirty years ago, we packed up everything we knew, loaded two young kids into the car, and drove more than four hours away from our families to start over.
People have asked us over the years, “Why the Outer Banks?”
The truth is, we asked ourselves that same question more than once.
At the time, Mark had spent nearly a decade building custom homes alongside Sandy’s dad, PD, throughout Northern Virginia. As retirement grew closer for PD, we knew it was time to build something of our own. We talked about staying closer to family. Stafford was an option. Roanoke was another. On paper, both probably made more sense.
But every conversation somehow led us back to the beach.
We had vacationed on the Outer Banks for years and had fallen in love with the slower pace, the salt air, and the feeling you get when your toes hit the sand. We kept imagining what life could look like if Sam and Amanda grew up here instead of Northern Virginia. It felt like a dream—but one we couldn’t stop talking about.
So, we spent weekend after weekend driving down Highway 158, exploring every corner of the Outer Banks from Southern Shores to Manteo. At first, we looked at existing homes, but before long we realized we didn’t want to buy someone else’s dream. We wanted to build our own.
We found a lot, took a leap of faith, and decided our very first Sandmark home would be ours.
People also ask where the name “Sandmark” came from. Thankfully, that story is a little easier. We wanted something that reflected the beach and the life we hoped to build here. “Sand” came naturally… and “Mark” fit perfectly. Of course, Sandy’s name had to come first—she’ll tell you she’s always been the boss anyway. To this day, Sandy’s mom still likes to remind everyone that she came up with the name, and we’re happy to let her keep taking the credit.
Like most new businesses, we didn’t have a long list of clients waiting for us. Our plan was simple: build our own home, make it the very best reflection of what we could do, and hope people noticed.
One of the first things we did after moving here was join the Outer Banks Home Builders Association. It helped us get established, introduced us to incredible people in the industry, and gave us a sense of belonging in a community where we were still the new family in town.
When our home was finished, we entered it into the Parade of Homes.
That one decision changed everything.
We were excited… and maybe just a little nervous. Se poured everything we had into that house because it wasn’t just our home—it was our business card.
We ended up losing our category by a single vote, to a beautiful oceanfront home.
Looking back now, we can laugh about it. At the time, we were disappointed. But in hindsight, that one vote probably didn’t matter nearly as much as the hundreds of people who walked through our home that weekend.
Because over the next few months, three renovation projects came directly from people who had toured the house. Those first clients trusted a young builder who was brand new to town, and we’ll never forget that. Those projects led to more renovations, then custom homes, and before we knew it, Sandmark had begun to grow into exactly what we’d hoped it could become.
Looking back, we sometimes wonder if we realized just how big of a leap we were taking.
Amanda was only three years old. Sam was six. Money was tight. We were learning a new town, starting a business from scratch, and raising two children all at the same time. With no family right down the road from us.
But somehow, it never felt overwhelming for long.
Whenever life became stressful, we’d head to the beach. The kids never needed convincing. Sam often went to work with Mark before school, helping unload tools before getting dropped off in class. Sandy and Amanda spent days making selections, checking on progress, and helping however they could. After school, we’d all end up back at the jobsite together before heading home as the sun went down.
Looking back now, we realize we weren’t just building a company.
We were building a life.
One filled with wonderful clients who became lifelong friends, trusted trade partners who still work beside us today, and a community that welcomed our family with open arms. Thirty years later, we’re incredibly grateful we took the chance.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe that one decision—to leave everything familiar behind and build one house on a quiet lot here on the Outer Banks—would become thirty years of friendships, thousands of memories, and a life we wouldn’t trade for anything.
We didn’t know exactly what the future would hold.
We just knew it felt right.
Somewhere along that first drive south, with “Heads Carolina, Tails California” playing on the radio, we looked at each other and smiled.
We were headed home—we just didn’t know it yet.