Todd Achter is Maxim Enterprises’s Milwaukee man.
Todd’s coverage once stretched across the southeast corner of Wisconsin, but he has since downsized to an 85 by 55 mile area around the city of Milwaukee. Financially he’s benefitted from downsizing, and his area is also easier to navigate since he mostly works in the city.
“Having such a vast territory we were losing money on a daily basis,” Todd said. “It’s not about size; it’s about controlling the area you have.”
The owner of Barrier PPS has a pretty good understanding of how to control his area after seven years of experience in the business. April will mark his fifth year with Maxim. Prior to managing property preservation, Todd worked with his father in home improvements from the age of 13 all the way up to 30. After his father retired, Todd and friend Craig Polka, another Maxim contractor, decided to venture out into a different business.
“It’s been a fun ride so far,” he said. “It’s an interesting industry. You never see the same thing twice. You never know what to expect on a daily basis. That’s what makes it fun.”
He hasn’t always thought of the work as fun, though. The first job Todd had was a trash out, and he wouldn’t consider it a positive first impression.
“The first job I ever did I walked into the house and there were piles of dog feces everywhere in the basement,” Todd said. “I had a strong stomach, but after that I didn’t have a strong stomach anymore. I lost my cookies after that.”
Todd said he had serious doubts about getting into the property preservation business after this first job, but he kept going and now finds the work enjoyable, especially initial secures.
“The only reason is because we’re the first ones in the house and it’s kind of an adrenaline rush. You never know what to expect.”
Todd has gotten over the bad odor that trash out left him, but he still runs up against challenges in his work.
“The biggest gripe I have is with payment,” Todd said. “Clients expect you to get a job done in one to seven days but they want to hold off payment for 60 to 120 days. I have no issue not getting paid when work is late, but I have an issue when I know it’s done on time and right. Contractors live for their money.”
When he’s not touring Milwaukee working on homes, Todd is a dog trainer on the side. A big bird hunter, he trains hunting dogs like his two German short hair pointers.
“My ultimate goal is to open up a game farm and train hunting dogs,” he said.
Todd is looking to work in property preservation for five or ten more years before moving on to his dream job of owning the game farm.
In addition to his hunting dogs, Todd has also trained his boxer, Eddie, to be a guard dog while he’s at properties. If they are unsure of the safety of the home, Todd sends Eddie through first to make sure it’s secure. While they’re working on the properties, Eddie stays in the truck and protects the equipment.
Between property preservation and dog training, Todd is a busy man, but he also has a family he makes time for.
“I’m trying to change my business a little so I can spend more time with them.”
At the end of his work day, Todd goes home to his wife of 10 years, Shannon, and their two daughters, Peyton (4) and Mackanna (8).
