“Our number one goal is to create and manage a collaboration that works between the homeowner and architect or designer and ourselves”, Don Moore, CEO of DLM Construction, recently noted, “it’s not just relationship building, it’s respecting each party’s role as being integral to a successful home building project.”
DLM Construction, a family-owned and operated construction business primarily working on the East End of Long Island for the past 40 years, is proud of their success in creating collaboration between the key parties involved in expanding and renovating residences, most of which are “second homes.” These projects can run into the millions of dollars and it is of utmost importance that there is clarity of communication, regular updates and respect for all parties involved.
It begins with understanding a homeowner’s vision which is both overt and implied. Getting to know the homeowner and understanding and respecting the time they want to dedicate to decision-making personally, versus, perhaps, their preference to give more decision-making to an architect or designer they hired, can be critical. Some homeowners want to be “in the weeds”; others do not. Some want to make every minute decision; others do not.
Similarly, it’s important to know how and when to approach and communicate with an architect or designer with whom the homeowner has contracted. Some architects/designers want to know if/when ANY (even very small) modifications are required, perhaps due to an unseen structural issue. Others expect a construction firm of our ilk to simply make the necessary modifications and advise them afterwards. It’s always easier when we’ve worked with an architect or designer on another project; the preferred flow of communication has been established.
A recent project (pictured above) in Remsenburg, in the Town of Southhampton, is a case in point. It involved both an expansion as well as a renovation of every single room in the large house. There were a myriad of details involved. Without a collaborative effort, the project could have been unnecessarily bogged down.
Focus on collaboration is not only important regarding work flow; it is critical with regard to time and money….for all parties.