Continuing education isn’t often associated with fine homebuilding. So much of the skill and craftsmanship of high quality builders is acquired over years of practice and based on techniques that may have been around for decades, if not longer in many cases. But techniques do evolve; new tools change efficiency and outcomes. Technologies play a greater role in our homes, and above all, materials and design options continue to grow.
All of these point to the role of advising on the part of your contractor. Black Canyon Builders specializes in new custom home construction and remodels. Many of our clients have a strong vision of what they would like – from design to floorplan to finishes. Some come to us only knowing that they want a timber frame home, and the rest is up for discussion. In both cases – and the full spectrum in between, I consider it my job and responsibility to advise fully on available options and alternatives.
To be clear, understanding options and alternatives is not about dissuading anyone from having what they want. It is the opposite, and it’s a trait everyone should expect from a reputable builder.
Almost anyone who is having a home built or remodeled is balancing their tastes and their needs with their budgets. Understanding the options available is critical to making informed decisions with which they’ll be happy in both the short and long term. When a homeowner is faced with a decision that doesn’t fit neatly and directly into all three buckets (tastes, needs, budgets), my team and I take pride in proposing the pros, cons, and alternatives. Because we take our own continuing education seriously, as well as our knowledge of materials and trends, we are at the ready to guide our clients through difficult decisions.
Here’s an example of what I mean, from outside of the building industry. Let’s say an engaged couple is selecting flowers for their wedding. Not being florists, they may not realize that flowers have certain seasons, and therefore are more affordable at one time of the year or another. If that couple selects an out-of-season bloom that pushes their budget, a responsible wedding planner would advise them of their options: stick with their choice and the resulting high costs, look at comparable in-season flowers that will have a similar effect but stay within their budget, change the date of the wedding. There are more and less drastic measures, but an attentive advisor will be knowledgeable and open to all of them.
In a nutshell, this is a responsibility I take very seriously. My job as your contractor is not to talk you out of what you want or persuade you into something else. It is to provide you with enough, clear and succinct information to make decisions that will make you happy in the long run.
