You've been saving ideas on Instagram and Pinterest with wild abandon, but now it's time to take the first step and find a team of professionals to work with. Interviews, real budget numbers, and meetings don't quite bring the same thrill of instagram. After walking through this process with thousands of people, we've noticed trends about the best way to go about finding your dream team that won't make you frustrated before your project even starts.
FIRST, narrow down the possibilities based on the information you have. This could be:
-A builder on social media that you've been following,
-a referral from a friend or neighbor,
-a job site you drove by that impressed you
Narrowing down the options to a very short list of 2-3 in-person meetings will help you from getting overwhelmed.
SECOND, assemble your WHOLE team from the very beginning. For our clients, we lead this process by recommending certain professionals from each specialty that will best suit the uniqueness of the project and the personalities of our clients. Our curated list of the best of the best allows us to bring in pro's that deliver excellence time and again. Home Energy Designer, Interior Designer, and Architect are key players in any large custom project that we want around the design and planning table from the very beginning of every project. Each professional has their specialty and unique perspective and can offer valuable insight while a project is being planned. (You can read more here about what a great Builder brings to the design process.)
THIRD, decide to trust the team you've assembled. Distrust is the joy killer of creativity. If you want unique ideas and enthusiasm from your team, let them see that you trust their expertise and are a team player. This doesn't mean you have to go along with every idea or let them take total control of the direction of your project. It simply means that you show up assuming everyone is working towards your best interest and happiness. If things are headed in the wrong direction, or a detail is misunderstood, communicate respectfully and continue to move forward. You will likely find there is no end to the lengths your design team will go to make a happy client even happier!
Hopefully these tips will help guide you in finding a unique builder/remodeler that is just as unique as your project is.
