Like many in the design community, Scott Martin began building in high school. He worked odd jobs through college, and eventually started his own business, D. Scott Martin Builders, a full-service, residential construction company. Martin sits down with MH+D Inside Out to share his favorite business advice: just do the best you can.

Q. What types of projects do you work on?

A. We don’t just build ranches. We build some cool customized pieces also, and we do a lot of built-ins. We’re a small company, and I like a challenge.

Q. What’s your favorite type of project to work on?

A. Mostly new homes. I like these coastal, New England-style homes, too. I also like homes with more unique trim, Greek Revival style.

Q. Could you tell us about the people who work for you?

A. My employees are all long-term guys. I treat them well, and they treat me well back. They know exactly what I want on a project, so that’s reflected in our work. It takes a long time to find a good employee and keep him. And the employment rate’s so low that there aren’t many people out there who are qualified to do what you want. Every once in a while you get lucky and get somebody.

Q. What most inspires you about your work?

A. After I finish a project, when I drive around and there’s tangible evidence of my work over the time. I love that I can just drive by my houses. It’s fun. And my work has changed quite a bit over the years, too..

Q. What’s your business philosophy?

A. My whole idea of how business should be run is very simple:. You do the best you can, and you create the best product you can. That way, the customers are satisfied. By making customers consistently happy with my work, I’ve developed a good reputation. I’ve been in business for 20 years now, and I’ve only had two bad customers, the kind of people that you can never make happy, no matter what you do. I just do a good job, and that’s it.