Potter Contracting

If you can dream it, we can build it.
By Alina Makhnovetsky

One of Matt Potter’s favorite jobs this year was a family room conversion in Furlong, Pennsylvania. The room was completely revamped by vaulting the ceiling and adding skylights with sensors that close the skylights when it rains, a new stone fireplace, extensive floor re-design, and custom window treatments with motorized blinds. The room was completed with custom distressed cherry cabinetry, which flawlessly wrapped around the fireplace, turning a once bland room into a comfortable family getaway.

Potter Contracting is celebrating its 25th year in business. Over the years, Potter has grown his business into a full-scale building, design and remodeling company. Potter Contracting is a full service firm that specializes in interior and exterior whole house remodeling, as well as commercial fit outs. The company has four locations and 10 crews on the road each day. This allows Potter to tackle jobs of all sizes, ranging from small repairs to large, complex projects.

Potter Contracting’s success is owed to impeccable quality of workmanship, superior solutions and Potter’s own straight shooting approach. He is fair and candid with his clients and believes the keys to a successful client-contractor relationship are open communication and integrity, along with high quality standards.

According to Potter, repeat business is essential for success. “I based my company model on a commitment to say what I mean and mean what I say. If you say you’re going to be at a client’s home at 3:30, be there, and for goodness sake, do a job that exceeds your client’s expectations.”

This can be clearly seen in the fact that the family room conversion in Furlong was not Potter’s first job for clients Margaret and Tom Burke. Initially, the couple called Potter Contracting over ten years ago to replace a deck. “They had some unique circumstances and couldn’t find a contractor to come up with a design that would fit their needs,” recalls Potter. This is when being a design and build firm is important. “My wife, Robyn, is a very successful interior designer, and we often bounce ideas off of each other. We work hand in hand with our clients and really listen to what they are looking for and hope to accomplish,” stresses Potter.

The Burke’s had a 10-foot deck with no stairs, a hill beneath the deck, which despite their best efforts, would not grow grass and instead remained constantly muddy. There were also two large propane tanks that did not do justice to their backyard. Potter Contracting presented a design that retained the high deck, this time with a staircase leading to a newly constructed lower level deck. The concept also included a privacy area with gate access to the propane tanks, while extensive latticework and landscaping completed the transformation. “Once we earned their trust, they had us back over the years to do the kitchen, the master bathroom, finish their basement, add a new roof, new siding, new windows, custom shed and garage. We also did some electrical work, plumbing and painting for them,” says Potter. “I consider Margaret and Tom to be good friends, as well as customers, and I feel very strongly that by building such good relationships our community is better off.”
Potter is devoted to his wife of 16 years and their two boys, Christopher and Zachary—who have shown they are a chip off the old block, by constructing their very own treehouse. He also has a strong commitment to the community, which is why he has spent significant time remodeling several vacant and greatly dilapidated, farmhouses in Hilltown, Pennsylvania. Miraculously, Potter was able to utilize the foundation and frame of the houses, but the rest had to be gutted. Recently, both houses were completed with extraordinary results, and Potter added one more milestone to his resume with these historical restorations.

Potter’s passion for people, as well as his professionalism, are evident not only from the stellar workmanship of his team, but also in a guarantee he extends to each of his clients. Potter guarantees all new work for 10 full years. For those who dream of remodeling their home, Potter is willing to offer his ideas and share a DVD that showcases some of his accomplishments.

Potter Contracting offices are located at 115 N. Main Street in Dublin, 327 N. Easton Road in Willow Grove, 109 E. Main Street in Lansdale and 66 Market Street in Hatfield. For more information, call (215) 651-4850 or visit www.pottercontracting.com. For a free DVD, please email them your information at pottercon@fast.net.

Alina Makhnovetsky is a freelance writer and lives in Philadelphia, PA.