Meet Hip and Gable Builders
Teresa Evans is the Design Consultant for Hip & Gable Corporation. She shares a little bit about her role in the company and why it’s a benefit to home buyers.
Hip & Gable Corporation
Left to right: Mark Evans, Teresa Evans, Mark Golden. Top, Max Mahoney
DDH: How is having a person in your role advantageous to the homeowner?
TE: Hip & Gable is a custom builder with a capital “C” and that requires an extremely high level of communication throughout the building process. Once a contract has been signed, I function as the company’s primary interface with the client regarding design and decorating selections. We believe in building strong relationships and providing clients with a gracious amount of attention to guarantee that we meet their objectives. One of the reasons that Hip & Gable has been so successful in meeting the needs of discerning clients is our ability to guide them through the maze of decisions that must be made when building a custom home. Over time we have cultivated relationships with vendors and subcontractors that are recognized in the area for quality and integrity. We leverage these relationships to provide our clients with a broad array of selections at competitive prices. I schedule appointments and accompany our clients on numerous visits throughout the selection process. I am familiar with the clients’ production schedule, budget and house style. Because I know the timing and budget, as well as the pros and cons associated with many of the different choices I can lead them to make informed, confident decisions. This methodical approach also ensures that the project stays on schedule. Often, the selection process can be overwhelming or even intimidating for many clients. Having me as a resource takes away much of the stress and anxiety. Finally, it is my responsibility to document all of our clients’ decisions and selections clearly and concisely. This means that Hip & Gable’s clients experience fewer delays and mistakes during the course of building and results in happy clients!
DDH: What mistakes do you see home-owners make most frequently?
TE: Staying within budget! In the early stages, we produce an estimate of costs based on the client’s description of what they want in their home. However, it is almost impossible for clients to anticipate some of their choices in advance. For example, they may tell Mark they want tile in the laundry. Later, while standing in the tile showroom, they see the slate, marble and granite tile and they can’t resist “upgrading”. After all it’s only a few hundred dollars – but by the time they choose to lay the tile on a diagonal and add a decorative border, the change results in a large overrun. We do our best to keep the client informed about actual costs as we go, but it is sometimes difficult for them to see the forest for the trees… for the record, a home can be built on budget or even under budget — we’ve done it!
DDH: How much input do you have in the final design decisions?
TE: Different clients require different levels of assistance. Some clients know what they want, others are wishy-washy or indecisive, and some are just plain clueless! I have learned to “feel” the clients out with regards to what they want from me. I encourage our homeowners to decorate in their own style and make sure their home reflects their taste. But I also try to help them avoid pitfalls from many perspectives – budget, design & style, and functionality as well. If I see something that I think is not going to work, in most cases the client has asked for my input, and I will share alternative solutions.
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