Does Everyone Hate Their Contractor by the End of Their Project?
This question was posed to me by a close friend after he was unable to get the contractor he had hired for a renovation to return any of his phone calls or emails. Unfortunately, my friend had hired this contractor simply because he had the lowest price. I had to wonder what he had been expecting? The truth is, you get what you pay for.
“The process was surprisingly good, considering the work was being done on the third floor...but I handed it all over to Matt and he handled it from there. Even when there were subcontractors in our house, one of the RIC crew was there to supervise them. ”
We’ve talked in past blogs about what makes the design/build process different as well as the tools we use in the design/build process. We think these two things positively affect the outcome of our projects so that we can confidently say “No! Our clients don’t hate their contractor by the end of their projects!”
One of the main differences in our approach to a client’s project that helps in the construction process is the upfront work that we do in the design and planning phase. Some of this is the design/build process and streamlining the people involved in that process. But much of it is simply up-front project planning to ensure a smoother workflow.
When time is taken in the design and planning phase, not only does a project flow more smoothly, it is also more likely to finish on time and on budget. Busted budgets and extended timelines are a major reason people begin disliking the sight of their contractors. You may start to feel like you only hear from them when there’s bad news. Many times that’s inevitable when a contractor starts opening up walls or diving into the depths of an existing home, but planning ahead for these issues or investigating potential problems beforehand can reduce these headaches.
Additionally, having one point person for both the design and the construction phase of your project can avoid miscommunication and alleviate stress for both parties. Many times, an architect’s or interior designer’s plans may be interpreted differently by a contractor. In cases like this, who do you call to get it fixed? Are the contractor and designer talking to each other? Probably not. This puts you squarely in the middle of any questions, issues or disagreements. The design/build process eliminates this sticky situation by providing both services seamlessly. We do work with subcontractors on many of our jobs, but we are always the point person for your concerns.
Take it from a repeat client, Ethan Lindbloom, who has had us design and build an attic renovation and a kitchen remodel in his own home, an investment property overhaul and a brand new building. In regards to his attic renovation he says, “the process was surprisingly good, considering that the work was being done on the third floor . . . but I handed it all over to Matt and he took it from there. Even when there were subcontractors in our house, one of the RIC crew were there to supervise them.” Ethan didn’t hate his contractor by the end of each of these projects, and you don’t have to either.