Once you start talking to Terry Wynne, of Terry Wynne Builders, it becomes evident that his job as a carpenter and builder is more than just a job to him. It is his passion. A life long Saugerties resident, Wynne has been working with his hands from a young age and was fortunate enough to learn his trade both on the job and formally at Delhi University. Wynne resides in Saugerties with his wife and one of his two children.
How did you get into this line of work?
Well I was always interested in building and started out when I was about 17. There is a kind of romance to building.
What sort of person makes a good builder?
You have to be a good listener. My ideas aren’t always the same as those of my clients, so I really have to listen carefully to what they are asking and looking for. I also need to be able to help my clients realize their vision.
What would you say to someone looking to get into this line of work?
Maybe rethink it. It is a very competitive field and unfortunately, when the economy gets slow, it becomes that much more competitive. I am fortunate enough to have a lot of repeat customers. Folks looking to remodel and build additions. But a young guy or girl starting out may have a hard time getting in.
What is a common misconception about this work?
Sometimes people don’t think that you know what you are doing. With the internet and all this information out there, people sometimes feel that there is a different and better way to do the job. But there is more than one road that leads to Rome. Also, there are pre-conceived notions about certain projects and jobs. Something that you may see on a half hour TV show, something that is started and completed in that time, may realistically take a month to complete. So I have to sometimes bring in a dose of reality. People are going to remember a job well done more than they remember a job done quickly.
Is there a project that you’ve done that you are the most proud of?
Right now I am working on a micro-home. It’s a very neat project. There was a time when a customer gave me a picture of a room from a magazine and said, “I want that,” and I was able to reproduce it from just the picture. We were both very pleased with the outcome.
How are the hours? Does the job provide a good work/life balance?
It works for me. I get up early and go to bed early. Like any business, it is important to manage my time wisely. Since 80% of my clients are folks that come up on the weekends to their second homes, I do end up putting time in on the weekends. But that’s the job.
What makes for a really good day?
Setting a goal and accomplishing that goal, staying on schedule and having happy customers.
A bad day?
Not necessarily a bad day, but it is frustrating when I am very satisfied with a job and it turns out to be maybe not what the customer intended. Doesn’t happen often.
What are some tips that you’d give to someone who is looking to hire a builder? Are there any red flags?
Well if you see them driving around with a shiny new truck and tools, you might want to rethink it! In all seriousness, referrals and word of mouth are the best way to get information about builders. It’s also nice to keep it local. There are many wonderful, capable builders in the area.
What type of advice would you give to someone starting their own business here in Saugerties?
The actual building part of my business, is a small part of what transpires. Business is about the people. You have to talk to people, every day. You need to talk to your customers every day and let them know that you are on the job and that you have their best interest at heart. I spend a lot of time making sure that my customers are happy. As a business owner, I would say that the number one piece of advice I have is to return phone calls. Also, there is a value to getting a “no.” Getting a no from a customer lets me know that I need to tweak something or change the way I am doing something. And me saying “no” to a customer is important too, because their time is valuable and so is mine. I don’t want to overextend myself and not be able to deliver what I promise.
Do you see yourself at this same job ten years from now?
Yes, yes I do. I will be doing this until I retire and I’m not planning on retiring anytime soon. I love what I do.
Join the family! 
