A Conversation with Keith D. Martin, Third-Generation Owner of We Do Wow
How long have you been in the remodeling business, and what drew you to it?
I’ve been doing this for 43 years. My grandfather started this Nashville home remodeling business in 1944, and I went to work with him when I was 12. I knew right then that’s what I wanted to do, because I thought it was so interesting, fun, and challenging.
What’s one thing you wish every client knew on day one?
That we understand how stressful it can be. They need to understand that they’re not the only ones who feel this way. Every single person who remodels their home while living there finds it stressful. We try to make the mood as light as possible.
What surprises do you most commonly uncover once demo begins?
There’s not one specific surprise—there are many. We find shortcuts that some subcontractors took to speed up the job and cut corners. We have to go in and correct those problems.
Most home builders and owners don’t know the subs did this because home builders are in their office. Once the walls go up, ceilings go up, everything is hidden. We go in and expose the cavity and see some surprises. That’s why you hire an expert.
How do you help clients navigate the stress and decision fatigue that comes with a big project?
This is not our first rodeo. We’ve done hundreds of bathrooms, hundreds of kitchens—hundreds of kitchens and bathrooms. We take the stress out by explaining how things work and helping them make the decisions.
They get stressed out picking tile, countertops, electrical fixtures, plumbing fixtures, paint colors, doors, windows, glass. We meet with them, and we use the same salespeople over and over again. When we meet with our rep at Ferguson Nashville, Tile Shop, Cedar Direct Tennessee, or Floor & Decor, we’re giving them years and years of experience meeting with professionals. And when you meet with professionals who help you make the decision, a lot of the stress goes away.
We’re with them every step of the way, guiding them and directing them and giving them insight. Expertise that helps them make the decisions. You can’t ever beat someone at their job.
What’s your approach when something unexpected comes up mid-project?
There’s nothing new under the sun. There’s nothing we haven’t dealt with before.
What do you love about working in the Middle Tennessee area?
It’s where I grew up. It’s on a street where I had donuts with my grandparents. It’s where I went Easter egg hunting with my cousins. It’s the town I love. And I want to do my part in improving it, in my own little way.
What makes We Do Wow different from other contractors?
We answer your phone. Always. We always call you back. And we do one project at a time. We don’t want to take on multiple projects that force your project to take longer or not receive the attention and dedication it deserves.
How do you communicate with clients throughout a project?
Text or email or phone calls. Whatever the client wants to do.
What’s the most rewarding part of the job for you?
I like to take on a project and design it and finish it in a way that enhances my client’s way of life.
For instance, my base cabinets or my vanity cabinets—I love to build drawers. Because time marches on for all of us. I don’t want my clients having to open a door and pull everything out just to see what’s in there. If you pull out a drawer, you know what’s there. It’s time-saving, it’s convenient. I like to build drawer stacks, as opposed to cabinet doors.
Any favorite “reveal moment” stories you’d be willing to share?
I just remodeled a bathroom that my grandfather remodeled in 1960. It was touching for me to demo wood that he himself had nailed up and installed before I was born.
My grandfather worked for the original owner of the home, and I did this job for the granddaughter who inherited the house.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Call or Text: 615-305-0921
Visit: wedowownashville.com
Stop By: 231 Public Square, Suite 300, Franklin, TN 37064
We answer the phone. We call you back. We do wow.
