Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good
Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Regina Lee.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hello everyone and
welcome to another episode of
the Good Neighbor Podcast.
My favorite thing to do is talkto local business owners in the
Charlotte area, and today Ihave with us Michael Tuggle.
He is the owner of Tuggle ProServices.
Welcome, michael.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Thank you, it's good
to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yeah, I've heard
about you years and years, so
I'm super excited to have you onour show today and learn more
about you.
So kind of give us a broadoverview of what do you guys do
at Tuggle Pro Services.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
So it is a unique
company that I've built
Generally work with homeowners,hoa management companies,
property managers, residentialside as well as commercial.
I have some commercialmanagement companies I work with
as well, so with that it can besmall things of hanging a sign
(01:06):
or fixing a sign, all the way upto water damage, sheetrock
repairs, full renovations ofhomes or condos, offer some
emergency services at times aswell.
So it's kind of a unique niche.
Also, do some property walksand inspections.
(01:28):
Could do thorough maintenanceinspections, looking for roof
issues, siding issues,waterproofing issues,
landscaping issues, signage.
Basically, if you think of acommunity and it might need
something to be fixed, that'swhat I would do.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
That's amazing, and
how long have you been doing
this?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I have been doing
this now for oh my gosh on my
own probably eight or nine yearsnow I kind of lose track at
this point.
But working with HOA managementcompanies and construction my
entire life.
How did working in thatindustry take you to owning and
(02:17):
operating your own familybusiness now, having to hire
handymen, electricians, roofersand having to oversee all these
complex projects, and really sawa need that we could just go to
one person, um, and say, hey,I've got this project.
(02:38):
It needs to be overseen.
So the thing that's unique alsoabout my company is that if
you're not hiring me to actuallydo the work and my contractors,
I do offer supervising.
So if you have a large projectand you're comfortable with your
contractor, or it's a projectthat has multiple contractors
that you've already lined up andyou need somebody just to kind
(03:01):
of oversee that project, I offerthose services as well of
coordinating with yourcontractors, not just my own.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Well, if you've been
in Charlotte, tell me again.
How long have you been inCharlotte?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Since 99, so what's
that?
26 years now, boy?
Have you seen some growth?
Yes, see lots of changes andnew buildings and teardowns and
everything.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, when you see
someone buy you know a million
dollar house and then tear itdown, you know like something
else.
What are some of the trendsyou're seeing now with
renovation?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
You know, that's kind
of a hard one.
It's kind of unique to eachperson of what their desires and
tastes are.
Um, you know, I feel like it'sgoing back to like shaker
cabinets.
Uh, I feel like the grays andstuff are kind of out okay
that's good to know going goingmore towards, um, still neutral
(04:02):
colors, but not the gray.
So that's kind of a uniquething.
You know, always the stainlesssteel appliances are still
always in.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Do you guys offer
like painting?
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yes, we do painting
as well.
I have, like I said, I havesome guys in-house for smaller
projects and then I I actuallyhave partnered with other
contractors as well for largecomplexes.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So, since you've got
the background in managing
projects and now you're actuallyon the other side, what do you
think?
What advice would you givesomeone who's considering a
remodeling project let's sayit's kitchen or bath, or add?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
on room.
I think it's to make sureyou're comfortable with who
you're hiring and understandingmaking sure that they're
knowledgeable, because I do feellike there's several out there
that are not, and it's notalways the best to go with the
cheapest at all.
Get multiple quotes.
Generally, you're going to fallright in the middle.
(05:10):
Middle to the high level isprobably the best way to go
Somebody that's large enough tohandle the job but not too large
to have all the massiveoverhead to be the highest bid,
Because I feel like you tend tokind of lose personal connection
(05:32):
.
Sure, what is really importantto me and my company is building
long-term relationships andbuilding relationships to the
point of like I don't even getthat job, I still want to, I
still want to hear about yourproject, you know, and having
the care of like hey, I'minvested in what you're doing as
(05:54):
well.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
So let's say I'm
doing a kitchen remodel.
Do I come to you with my planthat's been drawn by someone?
Are you able to offer thatservice as well?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
I'm able to offer
that service as well, but
welcome If you already haveplans.
You already know what you want.
That's great.
If not, I have severalarchitects that I work with,
several engineers that I'veknown for years and years, so
I'm able to connect with themand turn things around quickly
(06:27):
too.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Well, the fact that
you've been in the area so long
is such a plus, because you dohave those great relationships
and you know the people thathave been around a while and are
in it for the real reason.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
What sets you guys
apart?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
from others.
Well, besides what I've alreadymentioned, the personal care
and the relationship building, Ithink it's just the unique
knowledge and perspective that Ihave gained over the years that
I take into every job oflooking not just with blinders
(07:05):
on of this project but lookingat where it's going to take you
and what other things thatproject might affect, and not
just blindly going into what youwant done right.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Right has technology
over the years, the changes and
gosh everything is so taking now.
Has that affected or helpedyour business?
How has it changed?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
for you.
I think it is.
I think it has helped a lot.
I've always loved computers.
Growing up I had a Texas andTexas instrument computer when
they first came out.
You know, had the old really olddial up, you know where you
lift the phone and put it on themodem, so, but I've kind of
kept up with it.
(07:49):
Through the years I've actuallydone an evening course in IT
and repair and software, so Ithink it's helped.
Definitely it's helped mecreate my own systems for the
company and with contractorsthat I've worked with if they're
(08:10):
subbed out, or my own guys I'vecreated a system that they can
see everything right there ontheir phones.
Everything's unique, so if theyhave any questions at all, they
have the tools and knowledgethat's right in front of them.
Of course, I'm always incommunication with them as well.
(08:33):
So technically, technology hasreally helped, I think, in a lot
of ways, and AI, I think, isgoing to improve things as well.
Just improve communications,make things quicker.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, I had on a
phone call yesterday my first AI
operator and I couldn't eventell.
I mean she did introduceherself as an AI operator.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Otherwise I would not
have known.
I mean, it was pretty, prettyamazing it is, it is.
I do worry, though I hope itdoesn't go to the point where we
lose a personal touch.
Yeah, it's like I said, therelationship building and trust
building is the key andcornerstone of who I am and my
company.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
What do you like most
about what you get to do every
day?
Speaker 3 (09:25):
You know it's
building.
It's actually buildingrelationships and sharing
knowledge.
Sharing knowledge is somethingI really do enjoy Sharing, like
(09:47):
the building construction, howit's put together, understanding
of the waterproofing elements,how things connect together, and
being able to share that andexplain that to board members or
homeowners and you know andpersonally being there with them
so that they can put hands onit as well and fully understand.
It's not just a conversation.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
I really enjoy that
so kind of help me wrap my head
around the hoa piece that you dokind of describe what that
means so um ho, hoas ishomeowners associations, so they
are basically.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
They have a board of
volunteer homeowners that
oversee the community.
Most of the times they hire amanagement company, so the
management company runs thecollecting of the dues,
violations and then themaintenance side, which is where
I would fall in.
Like I've said before, I workedwith a for 14 years, worked as
(10:43):
a maintenance coordinator with amanagement company, so I have a
longstanding background in thatat this point over 20 years
working with managementcompanies and boards.
So when there's issues intownhomes or condos or even the
single family homes, you have acommunity pool.
The HOA is responsible formaintaining that and that's what
(11:07):
your dues would go towards isfunding and upkeeping repairs.
Hopefully they've had a reservestudy done, which that gets into
even more.
We have a reserve advisors comein, they assess everything that
the association maintains andowns and then give you actual
budget of like, hey, thisplayground has 15 more years.
(11:30):
You're going to need to replaceit in 15 years.
Here's how much you need to besaving every year to cover that
expense at the time.
So with going back to Tug ofPro services and working with
HOAs is understanding thoseunique positions, those building
(11:51):
elements that need to bemaintained, and understanding
how all that works together withthe budget, with the board,
with the community as a whole,all the way down to the single
resident.
You know who's paying theirdues and once they're gutter
cleaned, you know aren't thosemeetings fun?
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I was on the board
one time of my old neighborhood
and I thought this is tough.
You know when, especially whenthere's bad stuff you have to
talk about.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
But yeah, when
there's bad stuff you have to
talk about.
But yeah, it's a hard thingbeing on the board.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
It's a very thankless
job, yeah, well, you must have
that wonderful attitude that youcan just stay calm and, uh, you
know, do what needs to be doneyeah, I think the.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
I think my background
, like I grew up in the church,
I was homeschooled, didconstruction throughout my life
with that, you know, and I'vehad tons of challenges or I'd
like to say opportunities.
I don't like to look at thechallenges, opportunities for
growth and to work throughthings.
You know, it's given me thatunique patience to work through
(12:58):
things and understand like, hey,you know what they're
frustrated about something, andcoming at it, to look at their
side and have some empathy oflike, yeah, I get it, that is
that is frustrating.
You know, I hear yourfrustration.
Let's, I want to help you workthrough that.
What can we do together tosolve this issue?
Speaker 2 (13:17):
That's wonderful,
wonderful attitude.
I see why you're so successful.
So when you're not running thisamazing company, what do you do
for fun?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Well, I have five
children, so they keep me busy
and they have a lot of fun.
Three of them are adults.
At this point I've only got twoleft at the house, but I live.
In the evenings coming in weall sit down.
They'll have a movie nightwatch a movie and jammies.
Or we'll have a game night.
Um, play ticket to ride, um,you know, some type of game
(13:49):
board or Uno or something.
Um, it's more of a movie nightnow that they're getting older.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Um but you know it's
still on.
You know, probably at leastonce a month we have all the
older kids still come homebecause they all live like five
to ten minutes from me and we'llhave a giant game night.
We'll have a giant ticket toride game with everybody, and
you know that's, that's a lot offun.
I also have a garden that westarted up this year, built a
race garden in the back, sowatching that and my 12 year old
(14:21):
daughter loves it and shehelped me plant and clean out
weeds, and so that's that's whatI do in the free time.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
That's how I was
raised.
And the old fashioned trimmerswhere you you know, get back
into the knees and have to trimthat edge.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Yeah, I thought it
was child labor torture.
You know it's you know, it'sbuilt skills for the future.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
So let's end by
letting our listeners know how
to find you, Michael.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Well, you can go to
TuggleProServices.
com.
There's a form there you canfill out.
You're welcome to call meanytime, 704-207-8753.
Voicemails text you can text.
I tend to have a hard timekeeping up with them sometimes,
especially in the evening.
I'll look at it and then forgetthat I came through.
(15:13):
But emails through the website,phone calls any of those ways
would be great.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Go ahead and spell
Tuggle, so you're easy to be
found.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yes, a lot of people
ask me that it is T-U-G-G-L-E.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Tuggle Pro Services.
Michael, it has been a pleasuregetting to know you better.
What areas of Charlotte do youwork in?
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Basically anywhere in
Charlotte.
We've gone all the way up toMooresville, all the way down
into Rock Hill.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
So Gastonia, any of
that, all the way down to Monroe
, so it's a pretty wide area.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Well, if you need
anything done around the home or
your HOA needs someone, you arethe man.
Thank you, Michael.
I hope we get to meet out.
You are the man.
Thank you, Michael.
I hope we get to meet out inthe community sometime.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Thank you, I look
forward to it and I appreciate
the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Thank you for
listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go toGNPSouthCharlotte.
com.
That's GNPSouthCharlotte.
com, or call 980-351-5719.