The Cost of High-Quality Building
One of the most satisfying aspects of my job is when I get to share the behind-the-scenes stories about our projects, what makes the NS Builders brand, how the team works together, and what I’ve learned from past mistakes.
When we close the book on each successfully completed project, there are a few chapters of the story that the homeowner may never read. Or you—the fans who follow our projects every week on social media—may not see. In this episode of NS Builders Podcast, I delve into the hidden costs of high-quality building and how to meet the challenges successfully.
THE COST OF HIGH-QUALITY BUILDING
When I first started out as a carpentry company, I wanted to do top-notch work. And I really tried to put my best foot forward, but sometimes I allowed the quality to suffer. It quickly became apparent that if my goal was to produce high-quality, I had to not only use the best products but hire the right people—those that shared my passion and had the expertise to make it happen.
That was a turning point for me. I had to focus not just on building, but on building the business. And let the people I trusted to focus on the actual execution. That meant at times we had to increase the time allotted in the schedule (sometimes you underestimate how long an aspect of the job will take), rip it out (sometimes you just have to start over to make it right), and eat the costs of additional hours and materials.
THE CHALLENGES OF HIGH-QUALITY BUILDING
There’s no room for indecision in this business. And making the hard decisions—week after week, project after project—is definitely a challenge. And even in our seventh year of NS Builders, we still struggle with making the right decisions. Whether it’s decisions made in the field or those back at the office that will affect the schedule for everyone involved, it’s something you can’t put off.
The stress factor notches up when decisions that feel like they can make or break a project have to be made. For example, we are known for flat walls. And that is what our clients expect. But we had a job where we ran into framing issues. Mistakes were made. Now it’s time to have the board hangers come in to work their magic, plastering begins, and soon we realize we’ve got issues because the walls and ceilings aren’t completely flat. Accentuating the problem is a skylight that will shine down a ton of natural light—drawing attention to the walls.
So we had to make a decision on how to address the problem—which included a deep conversation about what went wrong and the best way to fix it. These honest conversations with your team, the subs, and the homeowner can be a challenge, but you must have them.
IT’S ALWAYS WORTH IT
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned that has affected all other aspects of my business, it is that it’s always worth it to do the right thing—fix any mistakes, deliver the highest level of craftsmanship every time. Even if it means taking extra time and it costs us. And when a frank conversation with the homeowner needs to be had—just do it, don’t put it off. Openly communicate the progress and if you need extra time to finish the job.
For example, we won’t compromise the product for the schedule. That’s thinking short-term. Instead, if we need another week to paint—the paint job will look better and last longer—then that is what drives the schedule. Sure, the homeowner might be frustrated that the schedule is now behind by a week. But we’ll have a clear conscience that the product and execution were done right. That week’s delay is only a blip on the radar of time. The homeowner is going to forget all about the scheduling hiccup quickly, but they will enjoy looking at those painted walls for years to come.
Focus on the big picture—delivering the highest quality of work for every client, every time.
It’s time to discover what NS Builders can intentionally craft for you! Contact us today to get started on your custom dream home. Together, we can make it happen.
—Nick Schiffer