Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandro Reyes.
Hi Alejandro, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have a master’s in Architecture from Florida Internal University. After graduation, I felt a little lost and confused, didn’t know if I was going to get a job in Miami and I also no longer felt like this was a place for me. Therefore, I decided to leave Miami and move to NY. I used up all my savings from college, which it wasn’t a lot, somehow I made this last a full 2 weeks in NY.
During this time, I went to many job interviews for high-end retail brands but nobody wanted a recent grad for these roles. Fast forward and I ended up finding a job with this company named OMNI a few blocks away from Madison Square Garden, and here I stayed for about a year. Most of the work they did was with the school board, learned a lot during my stay here. Then, after one and a half years in NY, I decided to return to Miami where I got a job with an Architecture firm based out of Coral Gables, Behar Font & Partners.
This was a very fast-paced learning environment and very demanding, despite learning a lot about the field and the industry at this company this also did not feel right but I was too comfortable and scared to quit. I was scared because I had started my independent life already and I did not want to go back to my parent’s house. Life took care of my comfort by giving me a huge wake-up call and in 2018, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Needless to say, it changed my life drastically. This wake-up call was the one I needed to look for change and look for a career that I would truly be happy doing day in and day out. After the chemo, I interviewed with ANF Group Inc., they are based out of Davie, FL and this was my first introduction to the world of construction.
I have been with them since 2019 and can honestly say I loved working there and in the construction field. They supported my learning curve and gave me the confidence I needed to keep wanting more and more from this industry. In 2020, while still working for ANF, I decided to go after my General Contractor license along with one of my old co-workers from Behar Font, Catherine Anderson. After a year, we got our licenses and decided to start Arko Construction.
We have been doing this for 3 full years now and we could not be happier. The beginning like any other business has been difficult, and challenging, and has made us think of quitting more than once. But recently we have seen a wave of new work come our way, and the best part about it is that it has come through past client recommendations. Making us feel really good about our current progress and reconfirming that we are on the right path.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not! The main struggles I would say have been navigating the minefield that is the clients. We learned very quickly that each client had their requirements, and demands, some were more understanding than others, and some were less knowledgeable than others but refused to listen to the professional they just hired.
However, we understood this being in the Miami market, we know there are lots of unsavory characters in the construction industry taking advantage of people. The other biggest challenge was knowing how to price out a project. In the beginning, we would make very little to no money from a project.
We would not take into consideration insurance, theft, errors in the field, inspector requirements, and two little words we will never forget unforeseen conditions. Thankfully, my business partner Catherine and I are very quick learners and we adjusted fast.
We’ve been impressed with Arko Construction, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a small construction company based in South Florida. We specialize in anything from interior remodels to ground-up constructions of single-family homes, commercial and multifamily.
I believe that what sets us apart from many other contractors out there is the honesty and transparency with which we operate. Our clients have told us they appreciate this time and again compared to previous experiences that did not go so well. We pride ourselves on communication. The client will know exactly what is going on with their property every step of the way without needing to ask.
We would like the readers to know that despite the bad reputation of Miami contractors, we will not abandon you throughout this complex process of designing, building, and completing your dream home. We know the process can be tedious and confusing, especially with municipalities and their sometimes extensive requirements.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My biggest resource for construction knowledge has been my past jobs, no better way to master something than through practice. And of course, the internet is an invaluable source of information.
Pricing:
- Construction pricing on a remodel can range from $180 – $230 per square foot
- New construction can be anywhere from $350 – $500 a square foot
- The client can always go higher on their price because it depends so much on the finishes, meaning tile selections, plumbing fixtures, appliances, lighting fixtures, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Thearkogroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearkogroup/
Image Credits
Amalia & Pedro Ortiz, Arko Construction, and Michael Flores Photography
