The value of a hands on, on-site general contractor
A hands on general contractor who is at your job site to notice when things can be adjusted, and homeowners who are flexible enough to appreciate nuances make all the difference.
A picture might be worth a thousand words, but there are times in life when nothing replaces the value of being there. That’s definitely the case when it comes to the licensed, professional contractor working on your Charlotte remodeling or home renovation project. You see, while design/build professionals pride ourselves on offering comprehensive services for our clients, there are some things that simply look, feel and function differently in real life than they do on paper – no matter how solid the design. That’s when having skilled tradespeople on site who are empowered to offer their expertise, a general contractor who is at your job site to notice when things can be adjusted, and homeowners who are flexible enough to appreciate nuances make all the difference.
Want an example of how this benefit of design/build works in real life? On one recent job, we designed a two-story rear addition that wrapped over the front exterior and featured three small windows above the existing front roof. The goal for what initially was envisioned as unfinished attic space was to bring in some natural light and create a visually appealing front façade. When our trades were in the process of framing out the space, they noticed that the original placement of the windows would have had them sitting too low on the roof. Because they have worked with us for years and felt empowered to point out an issue rather than just build to plan, we were able to move the front of the dormer forward on the roof, raise the windows off the existing roof, and create a far more inviting interior space.
The space was so ideal, in fact, that it we couldn’t imagine leaving it unfinished. We surprised the homeowners with the idea of creating a master closet in the space that would soon be filled with natural light. The wife was ecstatic, and now has a master closet that was far better than she could have ever imagined.
This type of plan adjustment is only possible when you have a true design/build team in your corner. All too often, contractors and tradespeople are so engrossed in building what the plan says that they don’t take a necessary step back to see when the plan needs to be adjusted. The key here is that every home and homesite is different, and particularly in the case of remodeling, things don’t always fit together exactly as even the best conceived plans envision. While that presents challenges for the professionals remodeling your home, with the right team, it can create some amazing opportunities as well.
