Living on site helped the Moskals understand the changes and make adjustments as the project developed. “I told them, ‘I will build it just like the print if you like, but here are two or three different options,’” Jeff says. “I wanted to make sure they were happy and getting the best possible project.”
In the end, Moskal gives the designers and carpenters the ultimate praise for a remodeling project. “I have no regrets,” he says. “There is nothing I would do differently.”
Change, Change, Change Mike Kinter says for changes that involve additional cost, he likes to provide the information to the clients within 48 hours. “This project was large enough that we could work on other parts of the job while we waited for them to make a decision,” he says.
One of the reasons for the high price of the job was that the Moskals chose high-end materials and finishes. The homeowners had an allowance for the fireplace, and the unit that they chose cost more than the allowance, so they paid the difference and Jeff charged them for adjusting the bulkhead to fit the new fireplace. The Moskals had allowances for certain product categories, but they chose to purchase some products directly. They purchased the leaded glass that was set in the dividing wall between the kitchen and hallway through a local supplier and they purchased the front door from a Web site. The $1,600 solid mahogany door and side lights were a beautiful addition to the house. Jeff says the crew tried to accommodate the Moskals’ choices. “But with the door, if it was not right, I would have said, now can we order something from our product lines?”
The homeowners were going to move out during the extensive remodel, but around the time the foundation was laid, they changed their minds and moved their necessary belongings into two rooms and a bathroom. The crew had to clean up every night, build temporary walls, and gut one section of the house and roof at a time instead of doing it all at once. This lengthened the schedule by three to four months.
Kinter Construction did not present a change order for this time and additional materials. However, it can’t be considered a total loss because they received a different kind of return on their investment. The Moskals are enthusiastic clients and have showed off the project to friends and neighbors and allowed Kinter to bring in potential clients. The contractor brought seven homeowners to see the project and sold two of those jobs. The house will also be on the local tour of remodeled homes, where the Kinters expect almost 700 homeowners to view it.