By Ryan Hecht, Arvada Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director
Beams to Basements has been transforming homes since May 2019, with a focus on quality renovations and clear communication. Although owners Mim and Josh Ward did projects in Arvada before moving here in August 2020, it is now their main service area.
“Arvada is ideal for us due to the number of homes with unfinished basements (our ideal project) and outdated designs,” said Mim, who runs the business side while Josh handles the technical details and labor. “Plus, with local building regulations being unique, it’s been helpful to know the ins and outs of the permit processes here.”
How did you get started in this industry?
Mim: Josh started working as a carpenter building multi-million dollar vacation homes in Summit & Park Counties in 1993, where he was trained to high-end quality standards. After moving to the Front Range, he shifted to working on primary residences, where our projects impact people’s daily lives. With my background in public sector communications, I joined Josh to manage all the details and customer service that are key to our success. It’s incredibly rewarding to guide homeowners through the technical aspects of their projects and help them take the next steps, even if we aren’t the right fit for the job. We also love getting invited back for another project (and our 100+ 5-star reviews on Google & Angi) because it shows that we earned the homeowners’ trust!
What is unique about your services?
We renovate and remodel existing homes to maximize the living space from Beams to Basements, turning homeowners into happy customers. Our ideal project is to finish an unfinished basement because we don’t have to undo someone else’s work. Of course, all of the things that we do in basements, we can also do everywhere else in the house: demo, framing, insulation, electrical, plumbing, heating, drywall, tile, hardwood floors, plank flooring, doors, windows, trim, paint, bathrooms, kitchens, and custom carpentry. What sets us apart is our commitment to clear communication. We provide detailed, itemized estimates to help homeowners make informed decisions about their projects. This transparency ensures there are no surprises, and it helps us work together with our clients to achieve the best results.
How big is your team?
We’re actively hiring for our first full time employee besides the two of us. But our team is much bigger! We’ve been building a network of licensed, vetted specialists whose values and quality standards match ours, so we can complete more parts of the project together, like environmental testing for projects that involve demo. We’re in the planning stage of renovations for an Arvada home that will involve ten of our trusted subcontractors and local suppliers.
What have you learned about each other as business partners?
Honestly the hardest part about being in a relationship together are the things that have to do with the business. But also being in business with Josh is a gift because I know that he has top-notch quality standards, is professional with homeowners, and he’ll work hard to build a good life for us. I know he’s going to be professional. I know he’s going to do great quality work.
We don’t have children together, so our proudest achievements are building this business on our integrity and totally remodeling our home.
Do you feel like there is a safer space to be critical?
We can take a tone to each other that we wouldn’t, say, to a subcontractor.
On the same hand, one of the most important things is the boundaries that we create when we talk about work. I will say to people on the phone, “Josh is on a job site. So I’ll talk with him about that tomorrow.” And sometimes I have people say, “Isn’t that your husband?” Yes, but when he gets home from work, we’re going to talk about our lives and not do work stuff in the evening. Otherwise, things just get muddled and then it ends up being all business. And that’s no fun.
What notable changes have occurred in your industry since you started or even recently?
We started Beams to Basements just 10 months before the pandemic, which was quite an experience! Construction was deemed essential, so with everyone staying home, we stayed busy creating home offices and classrooms. However, the supply chain fell apart, and material prices soared, making it challenging to keep up. Fortunately, prices have now stabilized, and lead times on materials have shortened, making it much easier for homeowners to plan their projects.
You also started this business at the peak of the do-it-yourself contracting fad. How do you combat the trend of DIY home renovations?
That’s a great question because I totally understand, especially as a homeowner myself who did remodel our own house, people wanting to manage budget and manage expenses. I also love HGTV shows, but they make it seem easier on tv.
Depending on the project we may need to work with permits. Which means we need licensed electricians or licensed plumbers. We emphasize to clients why we want that specialist and why the building department requires it. Faulty electrical is the number one cause of a home fire. So you want a licensed electrician there as opposed to you doing it yourself.
Quality is also a priority. We check our specialists’ work before bringing them onto projects to make sure that our standards align. For example, our tile installer has 27 years of experience and expert precision. Those TV shows and social media make it seem so easy to install tile yourself. Sure, you can save money on the installation cost, but you won’t match our professional finish. When the tile is exposed to water, like on a kitchen backsplash or shower floor, improper installation can lead to catastrophic water damage.
There are parts of a project that somebody could DIY themselves if they wanted to, including demo and paint. But even with paint, there’s going to be a difference in the crisp edges and amount of time it takes when we can bring in WOW 1 Day Painting.
What have you learned about this business community and/or serving the people or Arvada?
There’s a spirit of philanthropy in our community. I’m impressed with how many business leaders we’ve met through the Chamber who volunteer and fundraise outside of their jobs or directly through their businesses. We’ve contributed financially and with service hours to many of their efforts, which has introduced us to great mission-based organizations that we can continue supporting.
What is your favorite business book, podcast or news resource?
Who Not How, which is a great reminder that you don’t have to do everything for your business. As owners, we need to focus on the higher level tasks that we’re uniquely qualified to do (project supervision, blog writing), but technology or another person can handle other tasks (like scheduling).
What have you found most valuable to being a member of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce?
I’ve tried to maximize our membership by being involved all over the organization. I’m in a weekly lunch group and Inspiring Women, where I share successes and root for others. We’ve gotten leads from and given referrals for many people in those groups. I’ve also attended ribbon cuttings to support new local businesses. I’ve gained new skills as a business owner at lunch & learns and workshops from the Business Resource Center, and gotten Ali’s help with research when I’ve been stumped. Our active participation has made Arvada feel more like home.
Beams to Basements Contractors
beamstobasements.com
720-610-6615
BeamstoBasements@gmail.com
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