Builders — the Good, Bad & Ugly

How do builders want to be remembered? In the real estate service industry there are numerous ways to differentiate a builder from the competition. Service…product…ability, but every differentiation tactic involves the same strategy — managing expectations and every client and partner will measure a builder for how well he managed expectations. read more →

01 May 2011
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Site Context — Man and Natural Influence

Getting to know a person can be easy. You sit down, share a cup of your favorite brew and ask questions. Almost effortlessly, you discover similarities. It might be something physical you notice immediately like height, eye color or hair color (whether bottled or bald). But as you converse, you learn about unique hobbies, interests or values that define the person. The inquisitive dialog is how you become acquainted with each other. That’s how I spend the first part of home design — getting to know the family. But in getting to know the site, I engage in a very different type of dialog. read more →

07 Apr 2011
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Your Home — My Novel

I just finished reading a good novel. In my after-novel bliss, I wondered what made this one so enjoyable. Like any good novel, it was an interesting, well-developed story with lively characters, drama and closure. I’m no author, but I’ve dabbled in the literary arts and learned though my experience writing articles and this blog that it takes thought, organization, talent and hard work to create a lucid, enjoyable and meaningful story. read more →

16 Mar 2011
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Architects and Technology

I’m a sucker for inquiring minds and am eager to share my thoughts with most people who are willing to listen — except solicitors. If you don’t believe me ask the unsuspecting caller who thought they called for a quick question and I corralled them for an hour discussing design, market conditions, the weather and which line is truly the slowest at Target. So despite needing to finish a set of construction docs this evening, I paused to answer an aspiring architects questions about architects and technology. read more →

15 Feb 2011
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Seal of Approval

You probably think of architects as creative types. You see them as die-hard professionals constantly redefining normal, pushing borders and thinking innovative, but you may not realize architects have to follow certain practice rules that unlicensed professionals may not. Have you ever seen an unfinished construction document labeled with a disclaimer “not for construction”. Did you wonder if the architect was trying to avoid responsibility or preserve a copyright? Actually your architect is accepting the responsibility required of ethical design professionals — protecting you! read more →

10 Nov 2010
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Which Came First — Bid or Budget?

There is no definitive answer to the age-old argument about which came first the chicken or the egg, but there is an answer to the construction dilemma bid or budget. I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in the construction industry where an owner describes a project and a builder provides a number. That seems simple enough, but once the project starts the owner’s desire and builder’s cost diverge and the project fails leaving a jilted owner and a broken builder. This unfortunate situation is avoidable as long as you know what to ask and what you get when you ask. read more →

05 Nov 2010
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You Need an Architect When…

I’ve heard every raging battle about whether you need an architect or a designer. An architect is more experienced, but a designer costs less. An architect sees the big picture, but a designer has real-world experience. An architect organizes multiple design disciplines, but a designer is fast. An architect is busy, but a designer is easier to find. An architect is creative, but a designer is practical. And the list continues endlessly, but I say “Stop the madness”. Quite simply, you have to pick the right professional or designer for your specific project. It’s deciding who or what you want, but sometimes the law requires an architect for projects of a certain size or scope and you need to know which ones to keep yourself safe and the designer out of trouble. read more →

26 Oct 2010
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My Husband — The Architect

My husband (the architect) asked me to share what it’s like to live, eat and sleep with an architect. Since I’ve only been married to one person and it’s Eric and he’s always been an architect, I don’t know if life with an architect is any different than life with a doctor, engineer or sanitation worker, except maybe the smell. But, here’s what it’s like to live with my husband, the architect. read more →

22 Oct 2010
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