As you are searching for a team to renovate your existing home or build one from the ground up, you may wonder, “if they have a good reputation, does it really matter if I like them?” In short, yes it matters. Don’t sign a contract with a company that you don’t trust, respect, or like or you’ll most likely regret it later. Major remodeling projects and new home builds are a long-term relationship, and you simply don’t want to enter that arrangement with someone you don’t trust, respect, or like. The signing of a contract is just the beginning of the process with many months, even years of interactions to follow. The design process can take several months as well as the building process and then there is the warranty period after that. We even get calls from clients well beyond the warranty period. In the past week alone, we had clients call from projects completed 8 and 10 years ago! This is a long-term relationship you will be entering into and that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
You don’t have to choose a designer and builder that you want to socialize with, but don’t choose someone you dislike. Your values should align with their values, or you should at least respect their values. If you are uncomfortable with them, ask yourself why. If there is a good reason, why would you trust them with what is perhaps your single most important investment? If you get a feeling the designer/builder operates from a less-than-honest value system, why would you trust them to operate their business any differently? When challenges arise on your project (and they will), it’s important to know that you’ll get an honest answer to why the problem exists and how it will be remedied. There needs to be a level of trust between all parties.
Throughout the process, the team you hire will be making some judgement calls. Often, you won’t even know about those decisions. That’s just part of the business and what we are hired to handle. Obviously, for big decisions we would seek our clients’ input to make sure we are all on the same page. However, when these decisions are being made without you or even when giving advice, you want to know that the team is working in your best interest, as if they are building their own home. There shouldn’t be shortcuts for a quick profit and passing code inspections is a minimum requirement. Your family’s comfort and safety should be top of mind with any decisions being made.
One of the best compliments ever paid to me was from a client I promised when we started construction of his new home that I would build it as if it were my own and not to worry about little hiccups along the way. I encouraged him to bring up any concerns he had throughout the process, but trust that I would address them as I saw best, both in approach and timing. I had almost forgotten about that promise by the time we finished the home, but he hadn’t. At the final walk through, he told me “you promised you would build this as your own home and address all of my concerns, and that is exactly what you did, thank you.”
Values are important. At Custom Dwellings, our core values are “do it right the first time”, “family is important”, “collaborative spirit with accountability”, “maintain integrity always”, and “professional appearance and interactions”. If these values seem to align with what you are looking for in a partner to build your dream, give us a call or fill out our contact us page and let’s get the conversation started!