With his truck and toolkit in tow, AJ Portable Buildings, which is now selling Yoder portable buildings, Shed Doctor Ben Jarrell may not be your typical doctor, but one thing’s for sure – every appointment with him leaves sheds and structures looking (and feeling) good as new. Whether the structure has suffered wear and tear or just needs a few updates to function better, Jarrell is the expert customers can count on to diagnose the issue and find the remedy needed to get it back into top shape, taking the hassle out of the maintenance so you can focus on enjoying your space.
AJ’s is known for its custom-made structures – including quality-crafted Yoder buildings – and is able to bring any design to life and tailor it to fit a customer’s needs. Lifetime craftsmanship warranties also accompany all buildings, meaning the AJ’s team is able to assist in any fixes a building may require at any point in time. As the Shed Doctor, Jarrell is just the person to get the job done, lending a hand to customers whenever their shed needs extra care.
“I always tell the Yoder guy that he’s the nurse practitioner and I’m the doctor,” Jarrell said. “A lot of times, customers are calling here and wanting to know if we can come out and do repairs, or they'll stop me in my truck because they see the ‘Shed Doc’ license plate and ask if I do repairs. Our materials and supplies are exactly what’s used for our Yoder sheds. I know the Yoder sheds inside and out, like the back of my hand.”
With its warranty-friendly approach, the AJ's team understands that things can happen to any structure at any time. No matter the cause of the damage, Jarrell is eager to get on the scene and work with the customer to not only fix the issue but also to provide well-intended and honest guidance and advice on how to best adjust moving ahead.
“We have a lifetime craftsmanship warranty. The owner is very good with taking care of any warranties,” Jarrell said. “I already have the materials in my truck. While I'm there, I fix any problems and explain to the customer what happened – maybe the seal on the door got ripped off because they were pulling it over the extension cord, and it wasn't designed to have an extension cord underneath the seal. I just want to let them know if it happens again, this is what will end up happening. The customer is happy, and I'm happy.”
Even when the unexpected strikes, Jarrell is ready to go at a moment’s notice. He’s always enjoyed problem-solving with each and every customer to find the best solution for the issue at hand. Additionally, with a very quick call time, he is typically able to jump on most projects the same day, bringing an efficient close to any issues a customer may be dealing with.
“I enjoy when I go to a customer's house and they have problems with their buildings and I fix it. They're happy as can be because we have a quick response time,” Jarrell said. “If they call and report a problem today, I'm there within a couple hours or so depending on where I'm at or what I have scheduled for the day. Sometimes, I'm right down the street from their house, so instead of driving past and coming back to the office, I just get the information and go there in my truck because I carry a lot of the supplies and materials, and I take care of it. It’s such a cool feeling when they say, ‘Oh my gosh, I just called two hours ago. It's taken care of already. I’m so happy.’”
Before joining the AJ's team, Jarrell spent his days working long hours in the mills. His need for a different schedule combined with his handyman expertise led him to his current role. Now, he absolutely loves the work he does, even if it took him a bit to find his niche.
"It's a pretty funny story,” he said. “I actually used to be a millwright, so I used to set heavy equipment out in the mills. Then, I left there and started working here in Valpo at BWAY. I quit one day, and my wife asked me what I was going to do for a job. I sarcastically said I could do minor shed repairs, so I came and started working here for Pat Dykes, the owner.”
While at first a bit hesitant if it was the right career move to come to AJ's, it didn’t take long for Dykes to see Jarrell’s potential, and he helped Jarrell excel to become a core member of the team. What started off as a quick-witted reply to his wife turned into his passion, and five years later Jarrell absolutely loves what he does, fully embracing the AJ mission.
“If you’re going to buy a shed, spend the extra money, and it’s going to last you a lifetime. Buy one from AJ’s and be done,” he said.
For more information on AJ Portable Buildings, please visit ajportablebuildings.com.
