Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2016 - 16

Hot Topic

A Better Way to Choose
Your Contractor

IMPROVED METHOD

W h y b i d d i n g d o e s n 't a l w a y s w o r k f o r
residential remodeling

FOR THOSE WHO DESIGN BUT DON'T BUILD OR REMODEL, here's a
helpful hint to ensure that what we create gets finished. Daunting as it may
seem, when a homeowner plans to remodel they'll have to choose a company
to manage a process that leaves many overwhelmed and frustrated - but
ultimately delighted. Having worked in all three roles as a general contractor (former owner of a high-end design/build firm), a homeowner who
has lived through several remodels and new home construction as a
helpless customer and now as a designer, I urge my clients to do
something unconventional: select their contractor before or
during design.
CONVENTIONAL METHOD

In residential remodeling, the conventional process
is: client contacts a designer, establishes a budget and
communicates a wish list. The designer offers scenarios and draws plans outlining the client's wants
and needs. Plans, including construction details, are
given to several contractors to bid, and of course budget is a major factor - everyone wants the most bang
for their buck.
But bidding can minimize the distinctions between
companies, which are reflected in behaviors other than
money. No two contractors detail everything alike. Regardless
of the minutiae imposed by designers, there are many methods to
complete a project's tasks. It's not reasonable to only compare prices
because it's impossible to know the same job is being performed. So the
client isn't truly able to comparison shop; it's never "apples to apples." As
if that weren't enough, when bids arrive and it turns out the job costs more
than budgeted, the designer must be paid to redesign the project - or
worse, works for free.
Skip this paragraph if technical stuff bores you. Here's an example of
how contractors interpret a detail not spelled out by a designer. When
applying interior trim to a window, the apron below the bottom of the
window stool may be cut in several ways. The edges may have a straight
vertical cut, or they may have a slightly angled cut, which looks a little less
clunky. Or perhaps a 90-degree chip is cut from its ends and a tiny return
is inserted to create a fine profile. Different contractors may choose different levels of detail. Every trade involved encounters numerous choices.
Multiply this by infinity.

BY ADAM GIBSON,
based in indianapolis, who
specializes in luxury home additions, kitchens and bathrooms,
entertainment spaces and commercial suites. He brings an
outside-the-box imagination,
an ear attuned to his clients'
needs, eco-friendly technologies and the desire to create a
healthy indoor environment to
each of his designs.
www.adamgibson.com

Sure, create a conceptual design, but before the
client spends money for its completion, urge them
to choose their contractor. Better yet, get them to
interview contractors (preferably based on your
recommendations) before you finish your conceptual design. You'll assure them the contractors you
refer are of similar quality, and the client will be
able to make selections based on how they relate,
rather than solely on price.
Here's the part about saving our clients'money.
The contractor will work with the designer to stay
within the budget.This is where best-intentioned
designers often fall short. The contractor,
based on practical experience, has a better
idea of costs. Most designers are more
than willing to consult with the
contractor who will be working
on the project because they're
assured what they design will
be built. Once a preliminary
estimate has been established, the client can give the
go-ahead to complete final
construction documents. My
experience has shown that the
ballpark estimate usually falls
within 20 percent of actual
cost, assuming there has been
good communication between the
contractor and me regarding expectations and quality level.
Additionally, working with the contractor often makes us designers look better because
we're assured our vision is affordable. Designing something too expensive only shows clients
what they wish they can have - after paying for
the design but not the construction. When the
designer and contractor work together, vision can
be fulfilled.
I've recommended this avenue to many clients.
Some heed the advice, and others feel they may
be taken advantage of once the contractor knows
s/he's getting the job. In my experience, nearly
100 percent of clients who've followed my lead,
as time-consuming and unintuitive as it sounds,
have been delighted with the results. Just sayin.'

Kitchen & Bath Business / SEPTEMBER 2016 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.adamgibson.com http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - September 2016

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