Details, Details, Details…

Attention to detail is the hallmark of any good custom home builder.  When it comes to attention to detail, Charter Bay Home Builders proudly stands with the best Tampa custom home builders.  There are many ways that having a caring, competent, and detail-focused builder will positively manifest themselves, but one very good indicator is the size of the homeowner punch list at the end of the building process.  The “punch list” is the final list of items the homeowner wants completed before the project is considered complete.  The longer the punch list, the more likely your builder’s quality didn’t meet your expectations.  It’s indicative that their attention to detail was disappointing, and the overall process was difficult.  Conversely, the shorter the list, the higher the quality, the better the attention to detail, and the better the overall process likely went.

We recently completed another Chinese drywall remediation project in northern Tampa Bay.  In addition to being a Tampa custom home builder we have also spent the last three years remediating homes that have Chinese drywall.  These projects are a good fit for us because they are large in scale and require a great deal of organization, coordination, and attention to detail.

The final punch list we received on that Chinese drywall home is a good example of our high standards and how they allow us to build great homes.  This is the complete list of items we received:

  • Change out the kitchen nook light fixture bulbs.  Homeowner wanted them to be a little brighter.
  • Remove small sticky spot from hallway wood flooring.   There was a small area (1″x2″) of tape residue from the installation of the new wood floors that we missed.
  • Replace water supply line to refrigerator.  This was a mistake on our part.  One of the things that makes Charter Bay Home Builders unique from most every other custom home builder in Tampa is our relentless focus on improvement.  Every necessary activity to build a custom home, or remediate a Chinese drywall home, is outlined through extensive proprietary To Do lists.  These lists ensure we deliver consistent results over and over again.  The key to our success is not only that we take the time to create these lists – and actually use them – but that we are continually updating and improving them.  Continual Improvement is not a vague idea or concept at Charter Bay.  On average, we make 5-8 process improvements every single day!  Most of these are small improvements and tweaks to our systems, but the compounding effect of this activity over several years is a building process that is predictable (continual surprises during your custom home building project are a bad thing), efficient, and most of all enjoyable for our clients.  So, how does this relate to the refrigerator water line, and why did we miss it?  Prior to delivering a new home to our clients we go through and check that all items within the home are working properly.  The To Do list for this activity includes things like running the dishwasher and washing machine, checking that the hot water works in all plumbing fixtures, testing all lights and fans, etc, etc.  The To Do list also includes running the fridge water line, but it missed a key detail to ensure the line was trouble free.  At Charter Bay we do make mistakes, but our rule is that we only make the same mistake once.  As such, we have modified our pre-closing To Do list to include running and checking the fridge water line, and as such we will never have this item on a client punch list again.
  • Add three additional shelves to pool bath closet.
  • Change dining room light to a dimmer (not an original contract item).
  • Change kitchen backsplash outlets to ivory (not an original contract item).
  • Replace wall sconce in pool table room (homeowner accidentally broke it while moving a piece of furniture).
That’s it!  This is the entire punch list on a project that took nearly six months to complete.  Note that there was not one single punch list item involving drywall, millwork, cabinets, paint punch items, etc.  This is how it should be.  We devote a tremendous amount of time and energy throughout the process ensuring our quality standards are met, and punching out a home, so that our clients never have to.  Our standards should never fail to exceed those of our clients.  As a fun side fact, our client on this home used to be a residential building inspector!

 

 

Charter Bay Home Builders is a full-service Tampa Custom Home Builder,  Tampa Chinese Drywall Contractor and Remediator, and Remodeler working throughout the greater Tampa Bay area including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee, and Sarasota.  Charter Bay can help with your Custom Home Building, Chinese Drywall Problems and Remediation, Additions, larger Kitchen Remodeling and Bath Remodeling projects, and major Renovation and Remodeling needs. In addition, as one of the few Tampa custom home builders, or remodeling contractors, with multiple green building and green remodeling certifications (FGBC Certifying Agent and NAHB Certified Green Building Professional), Charter Bay can also assist those clients who want green features and sustainable building practices incorporated into their projects. Visit our website – www.CharterBayHomes.com – today to learn how “The Charter Bay Way” delivers: “Yesterday’s Values • Today’s Technology • Tomorrow’s Vision” (813) 357-9030 (CBC1255041)

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer:  This article, and anything provided through this article – or this site – does not constitute legal advice.  Nothing from this article should be construed as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article, or this site, without seeking advice from your own attorney.