With a long history serving the Naples, Florida communities as SBC Construction, Steven and Emma Cowan recently transitioned their construction business to Alair in order to expand their ability to help beautify and enrich the Naples communities where they work and live.

“Emma and I are excited to join team Alair as the designated partners for Alair Old Naples,” said Steven Cowan, Partner at Alair Old Naples. “Alair’s values and unique business model that is focused on providing a better construction experience for homeowners is what ultimately inspired us to transition our successful SBC Construction business to Alair Old Naples.”

The Cowans recently celebrated the official launch of the Alair Old Naples office with the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and other community and market partners at a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at a luxury waterfront home they renovated. The stunning home overlooks the spectacular Gordon River in Aqualane Shores where Alair Old Naples is currently building another luxury home.

The location gave guests a unique opportunity to see the quality of design-build projects the Cowans are introducing in the Naples region. “Naples is a truly wonderful and special city, which we love, and we are excited about the potential we have as Alair Old Naples to help shape and enrich our communities through our projects,” said Emma Cowan.

When the Cowans are not building homes or the community, they can be found watching soccer, boating, or enjoying the beautiful Naples beaches and waters on their paddle boards.

Steven and Emma welcome anyone interested in learning more about Alair Old Naples and their approach to building or remodeling homes to get in touch.

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Ensuites

For example, consider ensuites from the 1980s. These usually consisted of a toilet and sink and that was it. Today, ensuites have large vanities with double sinks, free-standing tubs, custom tiled shower units, and even steam showers, not to mention that they might even be larger than the master bedroom.

With such a demand for customization when it comes to your living space, the amount of options is almost never-ending. So, it’s easy to see how your project can go wrong pretty quickly. The question is then, how do you create certainty for your project? There are three key things you need to know.

You need to Have a Plan

This might sound pretty obvious, but it’s the simple things that people usually overlook. This can either be a plan of action or a set of blueprints. Both are necessary. Blueprints are an easy requirement. You need something on paper to communicate to your general contractor or sub-trades what you’re looking at doing. Not having this basic piece of information for communication purposes is a recipe for disaster. A plan of action is needed as well since you need to logically communicate the step by step process of how you’re going to get from point A to point B. A simple example in a renovation scenario would be how to get rid of an old kitchen and replace it with a new one using a different layout. This no doubt sounds simple, but there are many steps, permits, and sub-trades involved in getting to your end result.

You need to know what you want

Knowing what you want is very important. It helps determine what your goals are when you’re all done. You don’t need to know exactly what you want, but having a general idea will definitely help. Websites like Houzz and Pinterest are great resources. They can help you visually communicate what you want to your design and construction team.

Having a clear vision of your goals will save you time and money. You want to be always moving towards that vision. Otherwise, if you may make drastic changes during the process it could increase cost and delay your schedule.

Execute your Plan

You have your plan and you know what you want, now you need to execute that plan. This is much more difficult than it sounds. Things are not going to go exactly as you planned. There are going to be surprises. People won’t show up when they said they will. You might even have the flooring you picked out suddenly go out of stock. You need to be resilient, flexible and creative in how you can handle the challenges that will come up to pursue the end goal of your vision.

Always have a Plan “B” in Mind

Planning for uncertainty means having a contingency plan and budget in place. You may not know what you’re going to encounter when you rip down those old walls, but you can plan to have a contingency fund in place that will help you deal with surprises.

When it comes to renovating your home, Alair Homes Camrose is here to help. Our design and construction team provides expert project management and guidance in following all of these steps. And all the while, we ensure you remain in charge. Contact us, and let’s work together to bring your vision to life.

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Locally owned and operated by Cody Byrd, Alair Homes Hickory offers professional custom home building and home remodeling services to families in Hickory, Lenoir, Morganton, Granite Falls, Lake James and many surrounding communities. The team is committed to quality throughout every stage of the home building or home remodeling process, meticulously overseeing every detail to ensure superior craftsmanship with a focus on client satisfaction.

As a third generation professional in the construction industry, Cody is an experienced general contractor who takes great pride in the services he provides to families across the Catawba Valley. His previous company Vision Design Build Remodel maintained a strong reputation in the community resulting from his hard work, exceptional client satisfaction rating and commitment to value and integrity. Cody’s dedication to the community is also evident in the positions he holds including as the Immediate Past President of the Caldwell County Home Builders Association, the Region 9 Vice President of the NC Home Builders Association and an active volunteer in his children’s schools and local youth sports programs.  

Cody states, “My drive to provide outstanding experiences for every client and my determination to improve the overall construction process stems from the fact that my clients are my neighbors and friends, they are people in my own community. I value the relationships I build with them and am committed to helping them to make the right choices for their family, choices that will ultimately improve their quality of life.”

Alair Homes Hickory is well situated to provide clients with support for projects of all scopes and sizes. From million dollar custom homes with a view of Grandfather Mountain to starter homes in Granite Falls or kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects across Burke county, this Hickory design and construction team begins each project with a detailed consultation to learn about the client’s wants and needs and provide solid advice regarding challenges and goals. Throughout the process, the team also leverages their reputation to secure discount pricing on materials and supplies, and those savings are passed along to clients with complete transparency.

Alair Homes Hickory brings a better construction experience to Catawba Valley homeowners. If you have a project in mind, contact their office to schedule a no obligation consultation and discover the many advantages of working with these esteemed professionals.

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Alair Homes is the largest and fastest growing premium construction management franchise in North America and recently awarded Diane and Chad Hatfield of Hatfield Builders & Remodelers in Plano the rights to become Alair Homes Dallas. Hatfield is the second partner to join the Alair Homes network in the Dallas area.

James Hammel of JRH Design + Build proudly joined Alair in 2017, making him the Alair North Texas Regional Partner. “The addition of the Hatfield group to our region will not only add a new, fresh perspective, but it will strengthen us in terms of manpower, clientele and mobility,” Hammel said. “Alair is particularly selective of the builders chosen to join our team. In order to become part of the Alair team, contractors must already have a thriving business. Hatfield has an excellent reputation, and with more than 15 years of experience servicing the Dallas area, this will make Alair Homes a force to be reckoned with.”

Founded in 2005, Hatfield Builders & Remodelers, a full-service design remodel firm, is known for its proven process, commitment to make things right, and helping its clients truly change their lives by renovating their homes. The company has an outstanding reputation for its award-winning projects, creative design, superior craftsmanship, and commitment to its clients. The firm has won dozens of industry awards for project building excellence and is ranked amongst the top remodeling firms in the country. Owners Diane and Chad Hatfield have both been featured on ProRemodeler’s 40 under 40 lists, and the company is a Big50 winner that was also honored with the Service Excellence Award by Guild Quality for delivering exceptional customer experiences.

“We are thrilled to be the second Alair partner in Dallas and part of an innovative company that is focused on teamwork, partnership, and excellence,” Chad Hatfield said. “The Alair network is an impressive group. The opportunity to create a better business by working with other excellent builders is rare. While receiving the backbone of support, services and branding that is uniquely Alair, we believe we will certainly propel our business forward. We are excited to be able to focus on what we do best – changing our clients’ lives by transforming their homes, all while ensuring they receive the absolute best design, project management and pricing. When builders and remodelers combine their strengths, talents and expertise, they immediately become more valuable to their clients, as all parties now have access to even more resources.”

The Hatfields were drawn to Alair Homes because of its unique Client ControlTM model that combines the best qualities of cost plus and fixed price contracting. The company’s cloud-based proprietary software system allows clients transparency to access information about costs, materials selections and subcontractor bids throughout every stage of construction. Clients are in 100 percent control of their project when using this system.

“This system will allow our clients to have an even better experience by taking the uncertainty out of building and remodeling. This allows us to be a trusted advisor, and keeps all parties on the same page,” Hatfield said.

Diane Hatfield believes Alair truly aligns with the vision, values and goals she and Chad have for their future. “Each time we talk to anyone in the Alair team, we feel in complete alignment on all levels. Alair Homes’ power is in the people behind the scenes, and they have created a vast network of experts that is changing the home building and remodeling industry as we know it. Not only does each client have a dedicated builder but also a project manager who is part of the process from start to finish, which creates a very positive experience. Chad and I are honored to learn and grow with James Hammel and his team locally. We are excited to take our business to the next level and know that becoming an Alair partner is the best decision for us and for our clients.”

Hatfield Builders & Remodelers will continue to operate while their team completes projects currently in progress. They are committed support and honor warranty issues on all current and completed projects.

About Alair Homes Dallas
Alair Homes Dallas is an award-winning custom home and renovation company currently serving the great communities of Park Cities, Preston Hollow, North Dallas, Plano, Richardson and surrounding areas. Alair Homes Dallas is led by the North Texas Regional Partner, James Hammel, and Partners, Diane and Chad Hatfield. Utilizing our proprietary construction management system, Client Control™, Alair Homes Dallas builds a transparent partnership with its clients by allowing customers to maximize their involvement in the home building and renovation process. Alair Homes Dallas truly believes that Living Better Starts Here™; from multi-million dollar whole home remodels and custom builds to major kitchen and bath renovations, all with the same level of care, craftsmanship, and top-notch customer service. For more information about our Dallas and Plano locations, visit www.alairhomes.com/dallas/.

About Alair Homes
Founded in 2007, Alair Homes began franchising in 2012 and has since grown to more than 120 offices across Canada and the United States. Alair is in the business of helping individuals, families and businesses overcome the obstacles they face to live a healthier, happier, more comfortable and more productive lifestyle. For more information, visit http://www.alairhomes.com.

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Alair, the largest and fastest-growing premium construction management franchise in North America, is proud to announce that CBC, Inc. is transitioning to Alair Gold Canyon. Alair Gold Canyon is the second Alair office now serving the greater Phoenix market. Vince Stark, owner of CBC, Inc., brings over twenty-eight years of experience in the construction industry and has over two decades bringing the Arizona luxury lifestyle to the Gold Canyon and greater Phoenix market.

Top Gold Canyon Custom Home Builder

What started with building churches in Michigan almost three decades ago has led to great custom home building success in the Phoenix metro market. CBC is listed as a top builder in Home Builder Digest and has been featured in industry-leading publications including Modern Builder and Design Magazine.

“Although we had a thriving business, when we were introduced to Alair we realized that our clients could have an even better experience with us. Alair’s Client Control™, which offers clients absolute transparency of their project, allows for an enjoyable, informed experience ensuring no unpleasant surprises along the way. That along with the culture of Alair and the Alair process is unlike anything I even knew was possible in the custom home building and renovation industry,” Stark says. 

Gold Canyon A Great Place to Call Home

Vince is a huge fan of Gold Canyon and touts the five golf courses, world-class hiking in the Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains, the short distance to shopping, and Phoenix International Airport, but he boasts mostly on the people that live here. Stark says, “This is a close-knit small community of individuals dedicated to making and keeping the area special. My wife Leslie, of 34 years, who is a well known real estate agent in town, and I are proud to call Gold Canyon home, and I look forward to bringing Alair’s mission of ‘Living Better Starts Here’™ to the area.”

The Alair team enthusiastically congratulates Vince Stark on being awarded this prestigious Alair partnership in the Phoenix, Arizona market, and is confident that the community of Gold Canyon will greatly benefit. 

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Home renovations can transform your house into a thing of beauty. If you decide to pursue a home renovation, you need to game plan for success.

A former Edmonton Eskimo and 2013 Grey Cup winning champion as a Saskatchewan Roughrider, Alair Homes Edmonton partner, Graeme Bell is no stranger to game planning.

Bell says much like on the football field when game planning for renovation success you need to have a cohesive team with a strong offense.

“The most successful jobs are successful on paper before putting them into practice. The smallest details can have the biggest impact,” says Bell.

The same procedures and analytics should be followed for a small scale or major renovation. However, the length of planning will be different depending on the type of project.

He stresses that it’s important to hire a business before a contractor. You want a company that has proven longevity in the industry.

“On the field, you always have to have a contingency plan for every probable situation. The same goes for home renovations,” adds Bell.

Game planning tips for successful renovations

1. Build trust and do your research. It’s important to make sure the company you are planning to hire has been in business for more than a couple years. Ask for references from the past and current clients. It’s also a good idea to confirm there are no lawsuits pending against the company you are considering to hire.
2. Hold your renovation company accountable. From tiles to faucets to waterproofing – everything that’s going into your home needs to be defined.
3. Plan for the unknown. One of the biggest complaints in the industry is timing and budget of a project. Unexpected issues can arise. Always understand how your contractor has planned for the unexpected using a timeline and financial contingency.

Build confidence in your home renovation company

Every detail counts. Ensure the renovation company explains their processes and game plan for your project including budget. There should be a play-by-play from start to finish.

Ask about the skill set of trades people that will be working in your home. Gaining knowledge about the entire team will help build confidence. Like on the football field, the best teams have valuable first, second and third line players who help accomplish the overall goal.

Renovation payment structure

A well-organized company will have an accounting system in place for projects. Companies sometimes deal with multiple trade contractors that will need payment in layers throughout the job.
Never pay the full amount for your home renovation upfront. There will need to be some financial commitment, usually around 10 -15 percent.

Communication helps lead to a winning project

Renovation companies can re-invent some amazing spaces in your home, but you need to work together. If you feel any changes need to be made voice your opinion to the project manager. You should be happy with every aspect of your renovation and the renovation company should feel the same way.

At Alair Homes we can guarantee true transparency in home design, building, and renovations.

We have the ability to share timelines, costs and any project changes through our online system. For years, we have executed projects from custom home building, remodeling, and major renovations. Each project continues to be handled with dedication and commitment.

The post Game Planning for Renovation Success appeared first on Discover Alair.