Nate’s Notebook: Our First in a Series of Reflections of a Remodeling Contractor
It’s nice to reflect on what I love about my job, and with the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day, it doesn’t happen enough. I’d like to take the opportunity of this blog post to do just that.
Having been in business for almost two decades, I can look back and find times I relished what I do, like when I built my first mantle and bookshelves for a client. On the flip side are the times when I just put my head down and did the work, like insulating an attic in the heat of summertime or any work in a cramped crawlspace.
I’ve always had a soft spot for designing and building built-in cabinetry. Creating custom storage and integrating the trim to make it look like it’s always been there is a treat. Kitchen design can be fun for the same reasons, especially if the project has a custom built-in element. Helping clients achieve their vision when opportunities show up mid-project is also very rewarding. Sometimes, an unexpected opportunity arises after demolition that allows a client’s goal to happen differently than initially planned or in a more cost-effective way. Figuring out the possibilities and finalizing the add-on with the client can alter the completion date. However, seeing how happy they are with the change is gratifying once we get the go-ahead and make it a reality.
In the same vein is working with a client on a layout that’s very different from their current one. Once the transformation begins, be it removing walls or building new ones, when the client and I see the space in progress for the first time together and we see the vision being made real, the client’s excitement is contagious. It makes the late nights and stress of the job worth it.
These days, the joy I get from the design phase is about equal with the joy I get from custom woodwork. Whether it’s because I know more about design from my years of experience or because I prefer creating in my head more than with my hands, I know I need both pieces in my life to feel content.
I like problem-solving and sketching out ideas, and I also love the ability to make them exist in the real world. For myself, these two aspects go together. The best process is one where the designer is the builder. Construction methods are considered thoughtfully during the design process, and the design goals are clear during the build process. This makes each part better and more seamless because they exist within each other. But I digress.
The most gratifying part of a project is when it’s complete and the client is truly happy with the result and the process. It’s almost sad to say goodbye at the end after seeing each other every day and building a relationship. When I was young and starting out, I wasn’t great at meeting new people and could be intimidated by clients. Now I realize that people are just people. I want to help them turn their house into what works best for them, and I know they rely on me for my expertise to guide them.
My job is to explain to clients what their options are and the pros and cons of the decisions they have to make. I rely on my clients to help me understand their goals before work begins and be able to navigate choices that may come up after we begin. Most times, this outlook works great because we have a common goal of creating their space how they want, and if we communicate well through the project, we are all on the same page and happy with the results when the project is completed.
As a remodeling contractor, the physical work, design process, and client interactions are rewarding and lift my heart. I’m looking forward to getting started on the next one.
Till then, Nate
