Nothing to Hide: Taking Photos, Onsite Client Meetings & Private Home Inspectors

One of the goals I’ve had for this blog is to open up about our company and about me personally. I know we are running a business here, but we’re also working with people on a very personal level. Building a custom home is a big investment. It can also be an emotional roller coaster. I think it’s important to know who you are doing business with and who’s behind the scenes making the decisions. That’s why I want you to know about NDI. And me. We have nothing to hide. So what do we encourage our clients to do that others may shy away from?

Get Your Camera Ready

We are constantly looking for ways to improve the client experience. One thing we have found is our clients LOVE being on site! They love seeing the progress and watching each phase as their dream home is being built. We encourage our clients to take LOTS of pictures! Not only for their scrapbooks but also for their records. This is especially important before the drywall is installed. It can be very helpful down the road to know where the plumbing lines are run throughout the house. I’ve referred back to my pre-drywall pictures a couple of times, and I was always thankful to my husband who took them. Pictures are also a great way to communicate questions and concerns. Do you see something at your house that triggers a question? Since just about every device has a camera these days, it’s easy to snap a picture and email it over to your Project Coordinator. We never want our clients to feel bad about asking us a question. That is why we are here!

Five Scheduled On Site Meetings

While our Project Managers and our clients are in constant communication and often running into each other on the site daily, we also have five scheduled site meetings throughout construction. At these meetings, the Project Manager will discuss the phase just completed and review any questions or concerns the client may have. We also review site work tasks that might be coming up. For example, at the Foundation Walk, the Project Manager will ask the client to bring the electric meter (obtained from the power company) to the next site meeting (Frame Walk). Our clients love the interaction with the Project Manager, and we love getting the client onsite with us to review progress. The five scheduled on site meetings occur after the following phases: foundation, frame, pre-drywall, cabinet, and final.

Private Home Inspectors

I often get asked if we allow private home inspectors. My response is always ABSOLUTLEY! While we have our own quality inspection process and the county has theirs, some clients still want the peace of mind a private home inspector can provide. I advise clients to hire the inspector to come in BEFORE drywall. You will get a more thorough inspection at that point than if you wait until the house is completed.

We aren’t perfect but I think we spend a lot of time trying to perfect our process and improve the experience for our clients. I sleep really well at night knowing we’re doing right by our clients and we have nothing to hide.

Dream Big. Build Smart.