Testimonials
February 22, 2003
Dear Kurt,
I wholeheartedly can recommend you and your firm to anyone wishing to build or remodel. I have worked with you since 1997 when my husband and I began what were to become a series of three remodels on my home. The last was completed in 2001. Your bids accurately reflect the cost of the project. You get solid quotes from your subcontractors. You accurately project the cost of time and materials for your crew.
You start on time, and by-and-large finish when due. It’s a push, but you finish. “Doubling the money and the time” has never applied. There is almost always some activity every workday. This does not mean that the minor finish work might not go on a bit beyond the estimated time. For example, when lights I had ordered did not arrive until two months after the project was otherwise completed, you cheerfully came back and installed them.
We employed an architect for the first phase of the remodel. This cost many thousands of dollars and was, beyond the basic design element a waste of time and money. For the subsequent two phases I asked an architect whom you recommended to make an initial appraisal and supply some sketches of ideas. These plans cost only some hundreds of dollars and in your hands were quite adequate to get permits for the job and for you to do your job. Your suggestions for design and décor have been invaluable and offered freely. You listen well and know what translates into a project that can be built and one that cannot. Design elements your suggested have made a real difference. For example, you suggested a wood cap to an otherwise unprepossessing and entirely utilitarian ledge. Your recommendation transformed it into a display shelf worthy of its central place in the house as a piece of furniture. When we got to the last phase, to make a bathroom/dressing area light and handicapped accessible, you were able simply to add your thoughts rapid fire, “The window goes there.” (Now why did neither the architect nor I think of that? It makes the room light and captures solar energy from the southwest.) “You’ll want heat under tiles.” (My older solar home started out overmassed and overglazed on one end, and dark and cold on the other with the thermostat to backup system in the middle. This transforms the back of the house into a warm, area and adds needed mass to save on overall heat bills.) “You’ll want a light above the shower.” (How nice it is to clean up after a long day outdoors with a low light instead of all the early morning bright lights.) You designed and built an innovative deck. Most of the time is in place and extends to hide a holding take for my well water. However you made the deck retractable to expose the tank for maintenance if necessary. Guests have commented on the railing to the deck as an especially attractive addition to the house. So, from engineering, to design elements, to finish work, I’ve enjoyed your friendly expertise.
Your service is excellent. You will be a member of the community not just today, but tomorrow. Throughout a remodel, you stay in constant contact with the homeowner. The same people worked on the first and the last phase of my remodel and most are still with you. You keep records that are helpful in years to come. Just this last year you corroborated that my dishwasher was still under warranty from the 1997 remodel, thereby saving me the considerable price of a repair. You will continue to work with product distributors to hold them accountable if their products (e.g. skylights) fail. At times I’ve had to leave the house to you to fix what needed to be done and to act as a resource for house sitter while I was in another city. There was a problem. You have done it all pleasantly. I am happy to recommend you and your work.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Neal