OK, what questions do I ask my potential Builder?
Well, these questions listed below are the most commonly asked questions we get as builders. These should definitely be on your list. But if you have more questions, please, ask us!
How long have you been building houses?
The short answer, Mike & John have each been building for over 20 years. That's over 40 years of combined building experience. When you choose Greenside Design Build you truly get 2 builders for the price of one!
The long answer:
Mike
Mike has been building houses since they were "knee high to a grasshopper". Mike's father was a builder developer and Mike was on the building sites by 10 years of age sweeping up and gradually moving up the ladder to project manager in his early twenties. They have personally performed everything from punch lists, excavation, carpentry, trim carpentry, sewer & water utilities, electrical, and flooring. Not to mention all the back end office duties from accounting, scheduling, sales, and acquisitions.
John
John served his time as a carpenter in Ireland for six years before emigrating to the States. When he arrived he immediatly jumped in to the construction game and established his own carpentry contracting firm. He framed dozens of high end single family homes, townhome projects, renovations and remodels. He then went on to work for his uncle (Mikes father) as a project manager in tandem with Mike.
Do you have a team of subcontractors you use on a consistent basis?
We have a team of subcontractors that we use MOST of the time on our projects. We say MOST because we don't like to give all of our work exclusively to one subcontractor as their prices tend to creep up when they know they are assured the job. To avoid creeping prices we always have 2-3 subcontractors for each trade that we weed out. We ensure our subcontractors are trusted professionals in their particular field and the quality of their work is completed with the utmost precision to better deliver exceptional results.
From time to time Mike & John will self perform various subcontracts (such as carpentry) if it requires special attention or to achieve extra cost savings.
Do you have a list of references?
Yes, follow this link to see our updated homeowner reference list. Homeowner References.
Who will oversee construction of my home?
Mike & John have direct owner involvement on all of their jobs. Either one or both will visit the job every day. They are the project managers so you can be rest assured that every aspect of construction is supervised by hyper qualified individuals. While the majority of John's time is spent in the field supervising Mike's time is split between the field and the office so Mike can create and manage the schedules, budgets, construction draws, and estimates.
Who will help us with all the selections & finishes for our home?
Greenside believes that timely selections make for a smoother and more efficient build process. That is why we offer the services of an interior designer included in all our custom build projects. Our designers can help you immensely with your finish selections and keep you on budget. They can be heavily involved by making all selections for you or lightly involved by giving you their professional opinion on your selection. Its up to you!
Do you build on client owned lots?
Yes, we build on client owned lots all the time. We like to keep a proportionate mix of build-to-suit jobs and spec home inventory.
Do you have lenders you work with that you can recommend?
Yes, we have construction lenders/banks that we have a track record with and are already approved builders for most of the reputable lenders in the area. Many of them offer construction to end loan one-close type loan packages. We can supply you with a list at your request.