Scared of contractors? This will put things in Perspective

I am old-school when it comes to creating relationships…I believe in face to face meetings, making/receiving first impressions, possibly even hand shakes to decide whether I want to do business with the person or not.  I know there will be many people who are rolling their eyes being in the age of just “googling” everything.

However, with running a business with gazillion todo lists, I am getting more used to the idea of “meeting” people through digital contacts.  Especially, if the initial contact makes you to stop and pause to read their entire marketing (aka mass emailing) pitch email, you know there is “something special” in their approach.

Arian Mohseni from Intricate Building Group Ltd is such a person who contacted us to introduce his company. After the initial phone call with Arian, I asked number of questions that my clients would like to know from a construction company.  He was gracious to share all his secrets.

How does your company approach each construction project?

To put it in simple terms, WE BUILD.  We like to think of ourselves as a construction clinic – we examine a project; we determine what needs to be done within a budget and timeline; we put together a team of professionals and manage them; we bring together all the pieces of the puzzle in order to fix, rejuvenate, or build; we give the clients the good news that their project is completed successfully.  Just like going to a full-service clinic that can handle all kinds of health issues, at Intricate Building Group, we handle all kinds of construction needs – residential, commercial, institutional, & industrial.  We’ve been doing this for 20 years, mostly in the high-end home building market and commercial fit-outs.  We are extremely detail oriented, and “need” conscious.  We have developed a trade data base of over 4000 trades and suppliers that span everything from A to Z.  Our approach to each project is very simple – we implement the Golden Rule in everything that we do: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.  Our style is to be extremely transparent in all our communications and transactions.  We enter a business relationship with the idea that it is a collaborative effort, meaning that we only play the part of a conductor, if you will.  We need everyone’s input and effort, especially the clients and designers, to make beautiful music.

What are the secrets you can give to potential clients, especially in the beginning stage of the project?

The biggest tip I can give to a contractor is:

1. Educate Yourself – learn all the new materials and techniques that are available in your field.  Be hungry about education.
2. Educate Your Client – give them all the options so that they can make the right decisions for themselves.  Never assume that the client “can” or “cannot” afford a certain item.  Most clients appreciate having all their options and cost implications laid out before making an educated decision.
3. Be Honest and Firm – about everything:  Your hourly rate, project percentage, material costs, supplier choices, your knowledge, being able to start or finish on time, etc.  Be open about everything, even if it means you don’t get the job.  Lies will always come out, and your integrity with yourself says a lot about who you are and how you live your life.

We are all part of the same team, and work towards the same goal – a successful project and a happy client who will refer us to others.  at Intricate Building Group, we work very openly and closely with our consultants and architects.  We issue regular monthly project reports to all parties and we include them in all electronic communications with clients, trades, and suppliers.  We never take anything for granted – the smallest bit of misinformation or miscommunication can have large ripple effects on the outcome of the project, so by getting everyone involved and informed, we can eliminate or minimize those risks.

Your advice for potential client thinking about the project?

The only advice I can give to potential clients is this: Don’t be afraid.  Whoever you choose to handle your construction needs, will have some degree of proficiency in what they do, or you would not have chosen them -they were either recommended by someone you respect, or you selected them among a group of other qualified individuals, based on your own criteria.

Be cautious with those who hide prices and only like to use their own “friend” trades or suppliers – chances are that they owe them a favor, and your project is the repayment of that favor.  Always get at least 3 quotes in writing so that you can compare and contrast for each segment of work involved.  Don’t be shy to ask lots of questions and at anytime if you are not comfortable with your contractor, don’t feel bad about letting them go (always have an escape clause in your contract).  It’s your project, it’s your money, and it’s your life.  Our job is to make it enjoyable for you.  Have fun with your project and don’t take it too seriously – if you have chosen the right people, it will be professional, smooth, and lots of fun.  So don’t be afraid – it’s only construction.  Not life and death.

What’s your “life outside of your office” look like?

For us, life outside of work is all about the family.  We have thousands of years to be dead and gone, and only a good 50 years or so to spend it with our loved ones.  Time goes by every so quickly that we need to stop and enjoy the little moments, before they are forever embedded in our memory banks.  Our family includes the people we work with, people we work for, and those who enrich our lives every single day.  We work hard, we play hard, and we live an honest life with everyone who is in it.  At Intricate, we are a family and you will be part of ours too.